Donald Whiteside
July 23, 2020
David Stiff
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 8/02/72
- Place of Birth: Melbourne (VIC)
- Position: F/C
- Height (CM): 205
- Weight (KG): 102
- Junior Assoc: VIC - Knox
- College: Boston (1992–1995)
- NBL DEBUT: 4/04/92
- AGE AT DEBUT: 20
- LAST NBL GAME: 14/03/08
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 36
- NBL History: Hobart 1992-96 | North Melbourne 1997-98 | Adelaide 1999-02 | Sydney 2003/04 | Melbourne 2005-08
- Championships: 6
- Adelaide (1999, 2002), Sydney (2003-04), Melbourne (2006, 2008)
NICKNAME/S: Stiffy
BIO: David Stiff was born in Melbourne (VIC) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Knox basketball program.
NBL EXPERIENCE
David Stiff made his NBL debut with the Hobart Devils at 20 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.
After his 1992 stint with the Hobart Devils Stiff took up a scholarship in the United States with Boston College where he played for three years.
1995
Upon returning to Australia, he re-joined the Devils and played a further two seasons albeit by 1995, Hobart was struggling financially, and coach Bill Tomlinson would continually struggle to maintain a roster with his younger talent being snapped up by richer team’s while his veteran players were retiring. Anthony Stewart (Perth) and imports Lamont Middleton and Calvin Talford (both Europe) were not retained from the previous season as all three received more lucrative offers elsewhere. Wayne McDaniel retired, as did Keith Nelson, after a severe knee injury. Veteran point guard Darren Perry, who himself was still recovering from a ACL injury, was the only player from the team’s fully contracted roster to return in 1995.
Tomlinson would add Jerome Scott and veteran big man Andre Moore from Brisbane as the team’s import players.
The team would be led by Scott (23.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists) and Moore (17.8 points and 10.6 rebounds) while Stiff added 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists over the course of a difficult season where the team managed only four wins for the entire year. The only bright spots that season were the emergence of rookies Darren Smith, who averaged 12 points and 5 rebounds, and the 19-year-old Stiff whose stellar play earned him the 1994 NBL Rookie of the Year award.
Some oldschool NBL Dunk Comp highlights #straightfromthetapes pic.twitter.com/8GqXQ3x4wm— RANDOM HOOPS (@HoopsRandom) May 23, 2024
1996
In 1996 Stiff averaged 15.9 points, 9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists as the Devils finished with a record of 8-18 during the regular season.
NORTH MELBOURNE GIANTS
1997
With the demise of the Hobart Devils Stiff would head to the mainland to play under coach Brett Brown who was facing similar financial struggles to the Hobart Devils. Despite this the team’s import duo of Darryl McDonald (17.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 8.9 assists) and Mike Mitchell (15.8 points and 6.1 rebounds) alongside leading scorer Pat Reidy (20.2 points and 5.7 rebounds) was enough to keep the Giants competitive. Stiff would average 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists as the team finished the year in third place, behind a 18-12 record.
The Giants handily defeated the Canberra Cannons (2-1) in the Elimination Finals but would fall to crosstown rivals Melbourne (0-2) in the semifinals.
1998
Stiff would average 11.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.
ADELAIDE 36ERS
1998/99
1999
After playing for the North Melbourne Giants in 1997 and 1998, he joined the Adelaide 36ers for the 1998/99 season and won his first championship. He continued on with Adelaide for another three seasons, where in 2002 he won his second championship.
Over the next two seasons, Stiff earned a personal three-peat as a member of the Sydney Kings’ back-to-back championship teams.
In 2004, he again switched team’s, joining the Melbourne Tigers and averaged 6.1 points and 3.5 rebounds. Alongside Melbourne Tigers legends Andrew Gaze, Lanard Copeland and Mark Bradtke, he helped guide the Tigers to sixth place finish in the regular season behind a 17-15 record. The team would defeat Perth 108-88 in the first round of the elimination finals before losing to the Townsville Crocodiles in the second elimination final, 100-112. This game would be the last for Tigers legends Andrew Gaze and his father Lindsey who had decided to retire at the end of the 2004/05 season.
In 2005, the Tigers were forced into rebuilding mode as legendary figures Andrew Gaze and his father Gaze retired while Tigers stalwarts Mark Bradtke and Lanard Copeland headed to Brisbane. By a stroke of luck, Chris Anstey, who after three seasons in Europe had decided he wanted to return to play in Australia, began talking to the Tigers, who were now the only NBL team in Melbourne.
With Anstey on board and Stiff, Rashad Tucker, Darryl McDonald, Dave Thomas, Stephen Hoare and Daryl Corletto returning the team then looked to add a batch of young talent to help usher in a new era of Tigers success adding Tom Greer, Braith Cox and Matt O’Hea. Stiff would go on to average 7.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists a game to compliment Anstey, who was named the Philips Most Valuable Player of the 2005/06 Philips Championship season.
Together the Tigers finished with a 25-7 record which was also the best record ever recorded in team history and included a impressive 15-1 home record. After eliminating the Perth Wildcats in the semifinals in two straight games Stiff and the Tigers would go on to defeat the defending triple-champions, the Sydney Kings in three straight games.
In 2007/08, in what was his 15th and final season, Stiff won his sixth championship as a member of the Tigers.
Stiff sits equal first for most individual championships in league history (six) alongside CJ Bruton, Damian Martin and Jesse Wagstaff.
David Stiff played fifteen seasons across five NBL teams. This included the Hobart Devils, North Melbourne Giants, Sydney Kings, Adelaide 36ers and Melbourne Tigers. He averaged 9.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2 assists in 453 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 30th in total games played.
– 27th in total rebounds
– 47th in total steals
– 10th in total blocks
HIGHLIGHTS:
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 | 36 | Melbourne | 22-8 (2) | 37 | 480.0 | 169 | 112 | 31 | 54 | 58 | 11 | 12 | 42 | 83 | 76 | 136 | 56% | 0 | 3 | 0% | 17 | 38 | 45% | 55% | 56% | 11 |
| 2006-07 | 35 | Melbourne | 25-8 (2) | 30 | 621.0 | 228 | 114 | 48 | 47 | 67 | 16 | 23 | 57 | 85 | 102 | 173 | 59% | 0 | 4 | 0% | 24 | 49 | 49% | 58% | 59% | 18 |
| 2005-06 | 34 | Melbourne | 25-7 (2) | 37 | 884.0 | 279 | 203 | 85 | 99 | 104 | 27 | 33 | 72 | 115 | 117 | 213 | 55% | 0 | 4 | 0% | 45 | 71 | 63% | 57% | 55% | 20 |
| 2004-05 | 33 | Melbourne | 17-15 (6) | 34 | 616.0 | 209 | 120 | 49 | 55 | 65 | 21 | 28 | 49 | 112 | 86 | 180 | 48% | 3 | 16 | 19% | 34 | 50 | 68% | 51% | 49% | 16 |
| 2003-04 | 32 | Sydney | 26-7 (1) | 40 | 1,116.0 | 341 | 265 | 78 | 78 | 187 | 37 | 43 | 84 | 150 | 140 | 307 | 46% | 6 | 23 | 26% | 55 | 79 | 70% | 49% | 47% | 21 |
| 2002-03 | 31 | Sydney | 22-8 (1) | 26 | 433.0 | 132 | 127 | 31 | 53 | 74 | 17 | 19 | 31 | 78 | 60 | 118 | 51% | 0 | 4 | 0% | 12 | 30 | 40% | 50% | 51% | 18 |
| 2001-02 | 30 | Adelaide | 17-13 (3) | 38 | 1,282.0 | 469 | 323 | 111 | 117 | 206 | 46 | 37 | 111 | 154 | 205 | 416 | 49% | 7 | 21 | 33% | 52 | 89 | 58% | 51% | 50% | 24 |
| 2000-01 | 29 | Adelaide | 16-12 (6) | 19 | 452.0 | 138 | 100 | 40 | 40 | 60 | 13 | 14 | 39 | 77 | 60 | 131 | 46% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 18 | 32 | 56% | 47% | 46% | 17 |
| 1999-00 | 28 | Adelaide | 22-6 (1) | 31 | 992.0 | 419 | 283 | 86 | 108 | 175 | 39 | 44 | 110 | 114 | 181 | 343 | 53% | 3 | 10 | 30% | 54 | 113 | 48% | 53% | 53% | 35 |
| 1998-99 | 27 | Adelaide | 18-9 (1) | 33 | 803.0 | 308 | 196 | 61 | 92 | 104 | 29 | 42 | 65 | 112 | 119 | 237 | 50% | 3 | 12 | 25% | 67 | 112 | 60% | 53% | 51% | 30 |
| 1998 | 26 | North Melbourne | 9-21 (11) | 30 | 933.0 | 355 | 205 | 74 | 91 | 114 | 39 | 25 | 86 | 125 | 153 | 284 | 54% | 1 | 7 | 14% | 48 | 97 | 49% | 54% | 54% | 24 |
| 1997 | 25 | North Melbourne | 18-12 (3) | 35 | 1,145.0 | 481 | 290 | 67 | 127 | 163 | 35 | 45 | 100 | 165 | 194 | 338 | 57% | 3 | 13 | 23% | 90 | 169 | 53% | 57% | 58% | 24 |
| 1996 | 24 | Hobart | 8-18 (12) | 26 | 1,032.0 | 414 | 233 | 92 | 107 | 126 | 42 | 40 | 94 | 130 | 167 | 299 | 56% | 2 | 9 | 22% | 78 | 120 | 65% | 58% | 56% | 30 |
| 1995 | 23 | Hobart | 4-22 (14) | 19 | 658.0 | 291 | 143 | 60 | 61 | 82 | 20 | 33 | 65 | 97 | 115 | 237 | 49% | 2 | 4 | 50% | 59 | 93 | 63% | 52% | 49% | 23 |
| 1992 | 20 | Hobart | 9-15 (11) | 18 | 261.0 | 118 | 55 | 9 | 22 | 33 | 11 | 14 | 24 | 40 | 47 | 96 | 49% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 24 | 43 | 56% | 51% | 49% | 22 | Totals | 453 | 11708 | 4351 | 2769 | 922 | 1151 | 1618 | 403 | 452 | 1029 | 1637 | 1822 | 3508 | 51.9% | 30 | 131 | 22.9% | 677 | 1185 | 57.1% | 54% | 52% | 35 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 | 36 | Melbourne | 22-8 (2) | 37 | 13.0 | 4.6 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 3.7 | 56% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 0.5 | 1.0 | 45% | 55% | 56% | 11 |
| 2006-07 | 35 | Melbourne | 25-8 (2) | 30 | 20.7 | 7.6 | 3.8 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 5.8 | 59% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 0.8 | 1.6 | 49% | 58% | 59% | 18 |
| 2005-06 | 34 | Melbourne | 25-7 (2) | 37 | 23.9 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 5.8 | 55% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 1.2 | 1.9 | 63% | 57% | 55% | 20 |
| 2004-05 | 33 | Melbourne | 17-15 (6) | 34 | 18.1 | 6.1 | 3.5 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 5.3 | 48% | 0.1 | 0.5 | 19% | 1.0 | 1.5 | 68% | 51% | 49% | 16 |
| 2003-04 | 32 | Sydney | 26-7 (1) | 40 | 27.9 | 8.5 | 6.6 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 4.7 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 7.7 | 46% | 0.2 | 0.6 | 26% | 1.4 | 2.0 | 70% | 49% | 47% | 21 |
| 2002-03 | 31 | Sydney | 22-8 (1) | 26 | 16.7 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 4.5 | 51% | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0% | 0.5 | 1.2 | 40% | 50% | 51% | 18 |
| 2001-02 | 30 | Adelaide | 17-13 (3) | 38 | 33.7 | 12.3 | 8.5 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 5.4 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 4.1 | 5.4 | 10.9 | 49% | 0.2 | 0.6 | 33% | 1.4 | 2.3 | 58% | 51% | 50% | 24 |
| 2000-01 | 29 | Adelaide | 16-12 (6) | 19 | 23.8 | 7.3 | 5.3 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 4.1 | 3.2 | 6.9 | 46% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 0.9 | 1.7 | 56% | 47% | 46% | 17 |
| 1999-00 | 28 | Adelaide | 22-6 (1) | 31 | 32.0 | 13.5 | 9.1 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 5.6 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 5.8 | 11.1 | 53% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 30% | 1.7 | 3.6 | 48% | 53% | 53% | 35 |
| 1998-99 | 27 | Adelaide | 18-9 (1) | 33 | 24.3 | 9.3 | 5.9 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 7.2 | 50% | 0.1 | 0.4 | 25% | 2.0 | 3.4 | 60% | 53% | 51% | 30 |
| 1998 | 26 | North Melbourne | 9-21 (11) | 30 | 31.1 | 11.8 | 6.8 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 5.1 | 9.5 | 54% | 0.0 | 0.2 | 14% | 1.6 | 3.2 | 49% | 54% | 54% | 24 |
| 1997 | 25 | North Melbourne | 18-12 (3) | 35 | 32.7 | 13.7 | 8.3 | 1.9 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 9.7 | 57% | 0.1 | 0.4 | 23% | 2.6 | 4.8 | 53% | 57% | 58% | 24 |
| 1996 | 24 | Hobart | 8-18 (12) | 26 | 39.7 | 15.9 | 9.0 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 3.6 | 5.0 | 6.4 | 11.5 | 56% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 22% | 3.0 | 4.6 | 65% | 58% | 56% | 30 |
| 1995 | 23 | Hobart | 4-22 (14) | 19 | 34.6 | 15.3 | 7.5 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 12.5 | 49% | 0.1 | 0.2 | 50% | 3.1 | 4.9 | 63% | 52% | 49% | 23 |
| 1992 | 20 | Hobart | 9-15 (11) | 18 | 14.5 | 6.6 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 5.3 | 49% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.3 | 2.4 | 56% | 51% | 49% | 22 | Total | 453 | 25.8 | 9.6 | 6.1 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 7.7 | 51.9% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 22.9% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 57.1% | 54% | 52% | 35 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 35 | 20 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Knox 1991
David Stiff played college basketball at Boston University from 1992 to 1995, competing at the Division I level with the Terriers during a transitional period for the program in the early 1990s.
Across his three active seasons, Stiff was used primarily in a guard role, contributing as a perimeter defender and ball-mover while providing depth and experience within Boston University’s rotation.
He played during an era in which the Terriers were building consistency within their conference schedule, with Stiff’s minutes and responsibilities increasing as he progressed through his collegiate career.
By his senior season in 1994–95, Stiff was regarded as a steady, experienced contributor whose value extended beyond the box score, offering leadership and continuity on a young Boston University roster.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Malaysia - Petronas (1999), Petronas (2002)
David Stiff joined Petronas for the 1999 Malaysia Basketball League season, playing his first recorded season in Malaysia with the Kuala Lumpur-based club sponsored by the state-owned oil and gas company Petronas. Stiff returned to Petronas in 2002 for a second stint in Malaysia.
COLLEGE
Stiff played college basketball at Boston University during the 1992–93 season after graduating prior to 1992, and he remained with the Terriers program from 1992 through 1995.
In the 1992–93 season, Boston University competed in the America East Conference under head coach Mike Jarvis, and Stiff appeared in regular-season action as a freshman while contributing minutes off the bench in a roster that included future NBA guard Dana Barros.
During his freshman campaign, he recorded limited minutes in a developmental role, registering points and rebounds across his appearances while gaining experience in conference play and postseason eligibility competition.
In the 1993–94 season, Stiff returned as a sophomore for a Boston University team that again competed in the America East Conference, adding frontcourt depth and rotational minutes as the Terriers continued their run of competitive league performances.
Across his sophomore season, he contributed scoring, rebounding, and defensive presence in limited minutes, building on his freshman-year experience within the system and maintaining active roster status throughout the campaign.
By the 1994–95 season, Stiff completed his junior year at Boston University, continuing in a supporting role within the Terriers’ rotation while competing in America East matchups and non-conference contests against Division I opposition.
Over his three-year collegiate tenure from 1992 to 1995 at Boston University, Stiff accumulated game appearances in NCAA Division I competition, contributing as a frontcourt reserve and participating in conference tournament play during his time with the Terriers.
AWARDS
- ABA Youth Player of the Year (1990)
Related
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