BIO: Marcus Timmons was born in Dexter, Missouri (USA) and attended Scott County Central High School in Sikeston, where he starred on one of the most dominant prep teams in the state’s history. He led Scott County Central to a 130–3 record and a Class 1-A state championship across his four-year career, earning Missouri’s top high school basketball honor, Mr. Show-Me Basketball, in 1991.

FAMILY: He is the uncle of NBA player Otto Porter Jr.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Marcus Timmons made his NBL debut with the Illawarra Hawks at 24 years of age. He scored 30 points in his first game.

After losing both coach Alan Black and their leading scorer and rebounder from the past four seasons in Melvin Thomas the Hawks looked to rebuild in 1996. Although many felt the void left by Thomas and Black heading to NSW rivals Sydney would be difficult to replace, incoming coach Brendan Joyce had just the player in mind. New arrival Marcus Timmons surprised everyone by being one of the premier forwards in the competition, proving to be a more than adequate replacement for Thomas. Timmons led the team in points (21.9 ppg), rebounds, (12.3 rpg), steals (2.3 spg) and blocks (1.0 bpg) but still the Hawks struggled to find wins during the year and finished in 10th place behind a 9-17 record.

Import point guard Andre LaFleur in his sixth season had begun to show clear signs of slowing down, averaging 18.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists, all career lows. Hawks legend Greg Hubbard also struggled to overcome a back injury which saw him average 6 points in 16 minutes per game (lowest minutes of career) and retire at the end of the season.

1997
1997 – 17-GAME WIN STREAK DELIVERS SECOND TITLE
After the blowout loss the Tigers suffered at the hands of the South East Melbourne Magic in game three of the 1996 NBL Finals, the team chose not to re-sign long-time import Dave Simmons and replaced him with athletic wing Jarvis Lang.

The season began poorly with the team for multiple reasons. After missing Melbourne’s first three games (1-2), Mark Bradtke returned to the lineup after a stint in the NBA with Philadelphia, but even that didn’t go to plan. A victory over the Adelaide 36ers in his first game back was later stripped from the team due to the proper paperwork not being lodged for his clearance.

With a record of 3 wins, 9 losses fans and media began to lay the blame on Lindsay Gaze and called for him to step down as coach. The Tigers players, however, knew the slow start was due to their efforts and with renewed focus, as well as the mid-season decision to sack Lang and replace him with Marcus Timmons who had spent the previous season playing in Illawarra, putting up 21.9 points per game and finshing was third in the league for rebounding with 12.3 boards per game (a number that was better than Bradtke’s) and also in the top 10 in the league for steals.

After one trial practice session, the Tigers signed Timmons and everything began to click and he became the missing piece to their early-season puzzle. From 3-9 the Tigers went on to end the regular season with a stunning 19-11 record, Timmons would finish with averages of 17.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists as the team finished in second behind the South East Melbourne Magic.

The Tigers received a first round bye in the play-offs, thanks to their top two finish in the regular season, before meeting North Melbourne in the semifinals. They would enter the playoffs on a incredible 13-game winning streak, extending it to 15 games after they defeated North Melbourne 107-99 in game one and then eliminated the Giants in game two with a 112-105 win at home.

On the other side of the semi-final bracket, the reigning champions South East Melbourne defeated Perth to set up a grand final rematch.

Behind big games from Lanard Copeland (29 points and 4 rebounds), Marcus Timmons (24 points and 9 rebounds), and Andrew Gaze (23 points, 9 assists), the Tigers blasted the Magic off the court to the tune of 37 points in game one.

Goorjian knew the game plan had to change and in game two, the Magic defeated the Tigers (84-78) behind a much more physical game. Chris Anstey led the way for the Magic with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks, setting up a game three to decide this year’s NBL champion.

The sides were evenly matched through the opening term of game three but thanks to the Tigers frontcourt, which limited Magic star Chris Anstey to only 8 points and a excellent run from the Tigers in the second quarter the game was all but decided. The Tigers never looked back from there, going on to win 93-83 and the team’s second NBL championship.

Tony Ronaldson led the runners-up in scoring with 26 points, as did Lanard Copeland who again top scored for the Tigers with 26 points and was awarded the Grand Final MVP. Copeland had averaged 28 points on 56% shooting over the three-game series, yet it was blue-collar Tigers forward Warrick Giddey who the Melbourne Tigers deemed the deciding factor in the game three victory. Giddey recorded zero points, four rebounds, three assists and one block, and if you hadn’t seen the game, you’d probably question why he even bothered showing up. But Giddey delivered three crucial plays in the series’ closing moments that turned the tide. Firstly a hard foul on Sam McKinnon, which broke the Magic star’s nose. The second was a huge block on Frank Drmic and finally a mid-court screen on Defensive Player of the Year Mike Kelly, that nearly knocked him out of his shoes.

A great Australian sporting rivalry!! pic.twitter.com/qVrlKwROkN— RANDOM HOOPS (@HoopsRandom) March 21, 2023

1998
Although Melbourne had shocked the league in 1997 by winning the championship despite their 3-9 start but in 1998, the team fell far short of expectations. In hindsight, the Tigers’ core group had started to age considerably. Gaze and Copeland were 33 years old this season, and veterans Ray Gordon and Warrick Giddey had their 32nd and 30th birthdays, respectively, leaving Mark Bradtke as the only aussie on the roster who was scoring over six points per game and under 30 years of age. The Tigers would finish the year with a 16-14 record (fifth place) before being swiftly eliminated in the first round of the postseason by Steve Woodberry, Leroy Loggins and the Brisbane Bullets. Timmons would finish with averages of 19.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists as the Tigers slowly faded from championship contention from this season onwards.

1998/99
With the NBL changing its schedule to become a summer sport in 1998, the Tigers found a renewed vigour that resulted in them finishing the 1998/99 season in second place during the regular season. Gaze (33.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists), Lanard Copeland (25.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists), Marcus Timmons (20.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.3 blocks) and Bradtke (17.1 points, 13.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.9 blocks) combined to average a ridiculous 97 points per game.

Melbourne won 17 games and earned a playoff rematch with Brisbane, who had eliminated Melbourne from the playoffs the season prior. The Tigers would get their revenge this time around and defeat the Bullets in two straight games. in the semifinals, the Tigers would then face long-time rivals Brian Goorjian and the Victoria Titans, and even with star import Marcus Timmnons (31 points and 9 rebounds) delivering a unstoppable performance, the Titans held on to win (80-77) with Tony Ronaldson (17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists) top scoring for the victors and Paul Maley (16 points) having a efficient game off the bench, making seven of his nine shots in 22 minutes of court time.

In game two, the Titans led the Tigers in all four quarters and again came away victorious (94-87). Mike Kelly (19 points and 7 rebounds) would step up, making 7 of his 12 shots, and Ben Pepper (15 points, 13 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks) had his best game of the series, shooting a efficient 7 of 12 from the field.

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1998
Melbourne was able to return with its entire Grand Final roster intact. While the Tigers had surprised the league in 1997, both with their 17-game consecutive win streak and their championship win, in 1998, the team fell far short of expectations. In hindsight, the Tigers’ core group had reached the downside of their careers with Gaze and Copeland (both 33 y/o), veterans Ray Gordon (32 y/o), and Warrick Giddey (30 y/o) all over thirty, while the average of a NBL player in 1998 being 26 years of age. This left Mark Bradtke (28 y/o) and Timmons (26 y/o) as the players on the team scoring over six points per game and under 30 years of age. Melbourne would start the season slowly, winning four of their first ten games, but head into the playoffs on a four-game winning streak, finishing in fifth place (16-14). Once into the finals, Melbourne was swiftly eliminated in the first round in two straight games by Brisbane, who featured a versatile four-person rotation just as potent as the Tigers. The four-man combo of Steve Woodberry (26.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.4 steals), Leroy Loggins (17.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals), Chuck Kornegay (16.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks) and CJ Bruton (15.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.8 steals) proving too strong in their game one win at home (93-80) and their 33 point demolition of the Tigers in game two (114-81).

Gaze (31.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.4 steals) would lead the league in scoring, be included in the All-NBL first team and earn his eighth and final league MVP in a year where the Tigers slowly began to fade away from championship contenders from this season onwards.

The core group of Lanard Copeland (22.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 steals), Mark Bradtke (15.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.5 blocks), Ray Gordon (4.1 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists) and Warrick Giddey (3.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists) all saw their numbers decline from the previous season with Timmons (19.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, and 1.4 steals) the only player on the roster to have a better season than the one prior.

1998/99
With the NBL changing its schedule to become a summer sport in 1998, the Tigers were able to pull together one last run from its aging roster. Gaze (33.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists), Lanard Copeland (25.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists), Marcus Timmons (20.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.3 blocks) and Bradtke (17.1 points, 13.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.9 blocks) combined to average a ridiculous 97 points per game.

Melbourne won 17 games for the season and earned a playoff rematch with Brisbane, who had eliminated Melbourne during last year’s playoffs. The Tigers would avenge that result and defeat the Bullets in two straight games. in the semifinals, the Tigers would then face long-time rivals Brian Goorjian and the Victoria Titans, and even with star import Marcus Timmnons (31 points and 9 rebounds) delivering a unstoppable performance, the Titans held on to win (80-77) with Tony Ronaldson (17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists) top scoring for the victors and Paul Maley (16 points) having a efficient game off the bench, making seven of his nine shots in 22 minutes of court time.

In game two, the Titans led the Tigers in all four quarters and again came away victorious (94-87). Mike Kelly (19 points and 7 rebounds) would step up, making 7 of his 12 shots, and Ben Pepper (15 points, 13 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks) delivered his best game of the series, shooting a efficient 7 of 12 from the field.

PERTH WILDCATS
1999/00
During the 1999/00 season, Timmons averaged 12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists and was a part of the Wildcat’s squad which finished in third place with a record of 22-6.

2000/01
In 2000/01, Timmons averaged 12.2 points and 6.8 rebounds, and helped guide the Wildcat’s to a third place finish in the regular season with a 21-7 record.

MELBOURNE TIGERS
2001/02
This season, Marcus Timmons would return to play for the Tigers, replacing the outgoing Phil Handy (to West Sydney). Timmons (16.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.0 blocks) would slot right back into the team, his presence catapulting the Tigers back to the top of the ladder. Lanard Copeland (25.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals) was also in amazing form this season, hoping to earn selection to the Boomers squad after being recently naturalised.

With Melburne sitting on 9 wins and 5 losses, they would lose Gaze after he succumbed to a ankle injury three minutes into a game against Townsville. The Tigers would then lose this game by two points (98-100) and Gaze (19.1 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) would miss twelve games with an ankle injury. This saw Melbourne drop from top of the ladder to fifth spot, recording 7 wins and 9 losses in Gaze’s absence. Mark Bradtke (22.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 blocks) would step up during this time, leading the league in rebounding for a sixth time and being selected as the NBL MVP at the end of the season.

Although not fully healed, Gaze would return to the court to help the Tigers (16-14) in their Qualifying Final matchup against crosstown rivals, the Victoria Titans (21-9).

Victoria had finished the season in first place and entered the series as clear favourites. However, after the Titans secured game one (107-113), the Tigers would bounce back with Copeland (41 points, 5 assists and 2 steals), who shot a impressive 14 from 27 shots (52%), and Timmons (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) having big games to deliver a Tigers win in game two (107-105). Copeland (37 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Timmons (21 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks) backed that performance in game three (103-97) to move onto the semi finals and face West Sydney. Gaze struggled through the series, playing in all three games but scoring total of 11 points.

Melbourne would face the fifth placed West Sydney Razorbacks (16-14) at home and behind Timmons (36 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals) and Bradtke (21 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals), come away victorious (114-93). Once the series moved to Sydney the Tigers lost games two (109-125) and three (103-115) with Gaze still not back to full health.

This season marked the first time Gaze failed to lead the Tigers in scoring since they entered the league in 1984, yet he still managed to lead the league in free throw shooting (88.4%).

2002/03
After coming close to a NBL Grand Final berth the prior season, which many feel they would have if not for a ankle injury that derailed Andrew Gaze for the playoffs, the Tigers underwent some small roster changes in 2002. Moving on were Daniel Egan (to Brisbane) and Warrick Giddey (retired), while Neil Mottram (via Perth), Blake and import Matt Rueter, who had both been playing in the state league, were also added to the roster.

Tigers started off slowly (2-4) before findng their groove and recording a four winning streak to improve to return to the top six by round 10 (6-4). Melbourne would lose Gaze (22.1 points, 4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.1 steals) to a knee infection that saw him miss four games (one win, three losses) with David Smith (5.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) inserted into the starting lineup. When Gaze returned to the lineup he was visibly unfit and several kilograms lighter. The Tigers had also dropped out of the playoffs picture again (9-11) after losing the NBL’s leading rebounder, Mark Bradtke (17.4 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks) for six games with back and hamstring issues.

In addition to Gaze and Bradtke, the Tigers would rely on Lanard Copeland (18.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.4 steals) and Marcus Timmons (13.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3 assists 1.4 steals) to provide the offensive punch, with Neil Mottram (10.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists) and Stephen Hoare (9.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) also stepping up in Bradtke’s absence.

Heading into the last round, the Tigers (14-14) needed to a extra win to avoid losing the sixth spot on the ladder to West Sydney (12-16), who had the head to head advantage against Melbourne. They would defeat Illawarra (108-99) locking in a playoff spot, but then lose to Townsville (104-106) to end the regular season (15-15).

Melbourne faced the first seed Sydney (22-8) in the Qualifying Finals and lost the opening game (89-101) thanks to big games from Kings stars Shane Heal (25 points), Kavossy Franklin (19 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists) and David Stiff (18 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks).

In game two, Bradtke (21 points, 20 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals) and Kings star import Chris Williams (32 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and 4 blocks) would battle inside in one of the greatest head to head battles of all-time. Although Williams would do it all that night, the Tigers locked down the Kings backcourt of Heal (14 points) and Franklin (16 points) and thanks to big games from Gaze (25 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists) and Copeland (22 points and 5 assists), came away victors in game two (108-104).

With the series returning to Sydney, the Kings simply outclassed the Tigers in game three (114-89), with Williams (25 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks) continuing his unstoppable form and the Kings winning by 25 points. The Kings locked down Melbourne’s ‘Big Three’ of Gaze, Copeland and Bradtke who in rare fashion were limited to only 34 points combined. Stephen Hoare (15 points and 12 rebounds) top scoring for the Tigers.

CAIRNS TAIPANS
2003/04
In 2003/04, Timmons averaged 19.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists as the Taipans finished in sixth place (16-17).

2004/05
In 2004/05, Timmons averaged 14.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, playing a key role in the Taipans rotation, helping the team finish in tenth place (11-21).

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
2005/06
Timmons signed a deal to play with the Breakers in 2005 but was released during the pre-season as a result of injuries limiting his production.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2006/07
During the 2006/07 season Timmons averaged 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists and helped the 36ers finish the regular season in a first place (11-22).

Marcus Timmons played twelve seasons across six NBL teams. This included the Illawarra Hawks, Melbourne Tigers, Cairns Taipans, Perth Wildcats, New Zealand Breakers and Adelaide 36ers. He averaged 16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 308 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 41st in total rebounds
– 32nd in total steals
– 29th in total blocks

HIGHLIGHTS: