NICKNAME/S: Drewey, The Factor

BIO: Andrew Barry Casson was born in Melbourne (VIC) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Melbourne basketball program. Gaze grew up at Albert Park Basketball Stadium where his father, Lindsey operated as the general manager. Growing up Gaze attended Albert Park College and played basketball for the Melbourne Tigers junior and state league (Victorian Basketball Association) team. During this time he also studied at Victoria University in Melbourne.

When the Melbourne Tigers were elevated from the VBA to the NBL in 1984 Andrew and Lindsey, the head coach of the Tigers, began their NBL careers.

FAMILY: He has an older sister, Janet. Gaze is also the nephew of former Australian Opals coach Tony Gaze and the cousin of Mark Gaze, who played 182 games in the NBL (1983–1991) and represented Australia at the 1982 FIBA World Championships. Additionally he is the second cousin of Canberra Capitals guard Kate Gaze, the daughter of Mark Gaze and former WNBL player Michelle O’Connor.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Andrew Gaze made his NBL debut with the Melbourne Tigers at 18 years of age. He scored 16 points in his first game.

The Melbourne Tigers joined the National Basketball League in 1984, with the league expanding to 17 teams and splitting into Eastern and Western divisions.

Melbourne entered its first NBL season after being elevated from the Victorian Basketball Association, with the club built around the Melbourne basketball pathway at Albert Park Basketball Stadium and coached by Lindsay.

The inaugural Tigers roster included Al Westover, Brian Goorjian, Philip Szanyiel, David Colbert, Mark Alston and 18-year-old Andrew Gaze, who moved straight into a major role during the club’s first year in the national competition.

Melbourne opened its NBL campaign on 4 February against Brisbane, falling 70-94 as Gaze (16 points) scored in his first NBL game.

Gaze (29.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.6 steals across 24 games) immediately became Melbourne’s leading offensive player, carrying a large scoring load during the Tigers’ foundation season and winning the NBL Rookie of the Year award.

The Tigers started slowly, opening 1-5 and sitting 3-10 through their first 13 games, before improving late in the season and finishing with an 8-3 run from 1 April onward.

Melbourne’s first NBL win came against Frankston, while late-season results included wins over Sydney, Adelaide City, St Kilda, Coburg, West Adelaide and Perth as the Tigers showed the scoring power that would later become central to the club’s identity.

Gaze’s debut season also came in the same year he represented Australia at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, beginning a run that would later make him a five-time Olympian.

Melbourne finished its first NBL season fifth in the Eastern Division with an 11-13 record, two wins outside the playoffs, while finishing with a positive points differential after scoring 2,669 points and allowing 2,584.

Gaze’s scoring accounted for more than a quarter of Melbourne’s offence, with his 29.1 points per game coming in a team that averaged 111.2 points per game across the regular season.

The Tigers missed the postseason, but their first NBL season launched both the club’s national era and Gaze’s NBL career, ending with Melbourne outside the playoffs at 11-13.

1985
After finishing just outside the playoffs in their inaugural NBL season, Melbourne returned for its second year under head coach Lindsay Gaze, with Andrew Gaze, Nigel Purchase, Mark Gaze, Ray Gordon, Peter Walsh, Peter Morse and Ian Rouse back from the club’s foundation group.

Lindsay Gaze added Eric Bailey, Dave Clement, Graham Jane, Mike Dimattina and Mark Oliver as the Tigers looked to build around the scoring of Gaze and improve on their 11-13 debut season.

Melbourne opened the season with a 91-128 road loss to Geelong, before returning home the next day and narrowly falling to Brisbane 87-89 at Albert Park Basketball Stadium.

Gaze (30.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.1 steals across 18 games) increased his scoring in his second NBL season, producing a stat-line unmatched by any player of that age still to this date. His statistical output at just 19 years of age remains unmatched to this day.

Melbourne lost its first seven games before breaking through on 18 May with a 97-88 win over Hobart at Albert Park Basketball Stadium, giving the Tigers their first win of the season.

Gaze delivered one of his best games of the season against Sydney in Round 14, scoring 33 points in a 106-145 road loss to the Supersonics, where Scott Fenton recorded 19 points, 18 assists, 11 steals and 6 rebounds as Sydney controlled the game.

The Tigers also picked up wins over Newcastle (104-97), Bankstown (95-94), Hobart (113-106) and Illawarra (122-107), but never recovered from their poor start and remained near the bottom of the ladder.

Melbourne closed the season with a 111-118 home loss to Geelong and a 101-130 home loss to St Kilda, finishing 13th with a 5-21 record.

Gaze and Eric Bailey (19.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 steals across 16 games) were Melbourne’s two leading offensive players, while Dave Clement (15.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.4 steals across 18 games), Nigel Purchase (13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists across 26 games), Mark Gaze (9.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists across 26 games), Ray Gordon (8.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists across 26 games) and Graham Jane (6.8 points and 2.5 rebounds across 26 games) were the main support pieces.

Peter Walsh (3.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 26 games) added size and rim protection, while Peter Morse, Mike Dimattina, Mark Oliver and Ian Rouse filled smaller roles during the Tigers’ second NBL season.

Melbourne missed the postseason, ending the year 13th with a 5-21 record after losing its final game to St Kilda 101-130 at Albert Park Basketball Stadium.

1986
After finishing 13th in 1985, Melbourne returned under head coach Lindsay Gaze with Andrew Gaze, Nigel Purchase, Mark Gaze, Ray Gordon, Dave Clement, Peter Walsh, Peter Morse, Ian Rouse and Mark Oliver back from the previous season’s group.

The Tigers added import Paul Stanley (via Waynesburg) and Malcolm McLean, giving Melbourne another high-volume scorer alongside Gaze as the club entered its third NBL season.

Gaze (36.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.1 steals across 25 games) delivered his strongest season to that point, leading the NBL in scoring for the first time and earning All-NBL First Team honours for the first time in his career.

Stanley (33.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals across 25 games) gave Melbourne a second elite scoring option, combining with Gaze to average more than 70 points per game between them.

Stanley scored 40 points or more five times during the season, including a 50-point game, but Melbourne’s scoring power did not translate into enough wins as the Tigers continued to struggle defensively and on the road.

Purchase (13.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.1 steals across 26 games) remained one of Melbourne’s most important support players, while Mark Gaze (11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals across 26 games) also added perimeter scoring and backcourt depth.

Clement (8.7 points and 7.3 rebounds across 26 games) gave the Tigers rebounding support inside, while Ray Gordon, Peter Walsh, Peter Morse, Ian Rouse, Mark Oliver and McLean filled the rest of Lindsay Gaze’s rotation.

Melbourne finished 13th for the second straight season with a 6-20 record, scoring 2,822 points and allowing 3,089 while missing the playoffs.

Despite the Tigers finishing near the bottom of the ladder, Gaze’s first scoring title and first All-NBL First Team selection marked the next step in his rise as Melbourne ended the season 13th with a 6-20 record.

1987
After finishing 13th in 1986, Melbourne returned under head coach Lindsay Gaze with Andrew Gaze, Nigel Purchase, Ian Rouse, Peter Walsh, Peter Morse and Mark Oliver back from the previous season’s group, while Paul Stanley (to Hobart), Eric Bailey (to Gold Coast), Dave Clement, Mark Gaze, Ray Gordon, Graham Jane and Malcolm McLean exited the team.

Lindsay Gaze added Paul Kapturkiewicz, Matthew Fleming, John Maddock, Greg Bartlett, Andrew Power, Matthew Miller, Hugh Sandie and Andrew Sewell as the Tigers looked to improve after back-to-back seasons near the bottom of the ladder.

Gaze (44.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 2.5 steals across 20 games) produced the highest-scoring season in NBL history, setting a league record that still stands and earning All-NBL First Team honours for the second straight year.

At 21 years of age, Gaze delivered his best statistical season to that point, highlighted by a career-high 60 points against Newcastle and five other 50-point games as Melbourne relied heavily on his scoring every night.

Kapturkiewicz (25.4 points, 10 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 2.1 blocks across 17 games) gave the Tigers another major offensive option inside, while Purchase (16.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.8 steals across 26 games) remained one of Melbourne’s most important all-round contributors.

Fleming (15.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists across 14 games) added scoring support, while Maddock (7.6 points across 5 games), Rouse (6.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.2 steals across 25 games), Bartlett (6.6 points and 2.7 rebounds across 24 games) and Power (6.3 points and 2.9 rebounds across 22 games) were the other main contributors.

Despite Gaze’s record-breaking season, Melbourne continued to struggle defensively and failed to win away from home, finishing last with a 3-23 record.

The Tigers missed the postseason for the fourth straight year, ending the season 14th with a 3-23 record despite Gaze setting the NBL’s single-season scoring average record at 44.1 points per game.

1988
After finishing last in 1987, Melbourne returned under head coach Lindsay Gaze with Andrew Gaze, Nigel Purchase, Ian Rouse, Greg Bartlett, Andrew Power, Peter Walsh and Peter Morse back from the previous season’s group, while Paul Kapturkiewicz, Matthew Fleming, John Maddock, Matthew Miller, Mark Oliver, Hugh Sandie and Andrew Sewell exited the team.

Lindsay Gaze added James Bullock, Alvis Rogers, Michael Champion, Rowan Gomes and Mark Gaze as the Tigers looked to climb the ladder after finishing 3-23 the year prior.

Gaze (36.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.3 steals across 24 games) again led Melbourne’s offence, winning the NBL scoring title for the second time and earning All-NBL First Team honours for the third straight season.

After averaging a league-record 44.1 points the year prior, Gaze remained one of the NBL’s most dominant scorers while Melbourne added more support around him through Bullock and Rogers.

Bullock (27.3 points, 14 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals across 24 games) gave Melbourne a major frontcourt scorer and rebounder, while Rogers (21.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 1.6 steals across 20 games) added another productive import option.

The extra scoring support helped Melbourne improve from three wins to seven wins, but the Tigers still struggled to turn their offensive firepower into a playoff position.

Gaze also represented Melbourne in the 1988 NBL All-Star Game at The Glass House, finishing with 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals as the North defeated the South 127-122.

Melbourne’s main contributors were Gaze, Bullock and Rogers, while Mark Gaze (8.5 points across 24 games), Purchase (7.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.5 steals across 24 games), Rouse, Power, Bartlett, Walsh and Morse filled out Lindsay Gaze’s rotation.

Melbourne finished the regular season with a 7-17 record and missed the playoffs for the fifth straight season, while Gaze ended the year as the league’s leading scorer and an All-NBL First Team selection.

1989
Melbourne moved on from imports James Bullock and Alvis Rogers after the 1988 season, while Andrew Gaze, Nigel Purchase, Mark Gaze and Ian Rouse returned from the previous season’s group.

Lindsay Gaze added Dave Simmons, David Colbert, Ray Gordon (via North Melbourne), Warrick Giddey (via Illawarra), Eric Bailey, Brad Pineau and rookie Stephen Whitehead, giving the Tigers their deepest roster since entering the NBL in 1984.

Gaze (34.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 2.4 steals across 27 games) returned from Seton Hall and immediately pushed Melbourne into its first playoff season, leading the NBL in both scoring and assists while earning All-NBL First Team honours.

Melbourne opened the season with a 115-98 road win over Hobart and backed it up the next night by defeating Eastside 111-109, giving the Tigers a 2-0 start after years spent near the bottom of the ladder.

The Tigers continued to build around their new frontcourt, with Simmons (26.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.4 blocks across 24 games) and Colbert (25.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks across 24 games) giving Gaze the strongest support of his NBL career to that point.

Melbourne’s other key contributors included Gordon (11.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals across 27 games), Purchase (7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists across 27 games), Bailey (6.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists across 27 games) and Giddey (6.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.2 steals across 26 games).

Gaze also starred in the 1989 NBL All-Star Game at The Glass House, winning All-Star Game MVP as the South defeated the North 143-141.

Melbourne finished the regular season fourth with a 16-8 record, improving from 7-17 the previous year and reaching the playoffs for the first time in club history, while Lindsay Gaze was named NBL Coach of the Year.

The elimination finals opened in Sydney, where the Kings defeated Melbourne 117-105 behind a group led by Marc Ridlen, Steve Carfino, Damian Keogh and Tim Morrissey, while Gaze, Simmons and Colbert carried the Tigers’ offence.

Game two moved to The Glass House, where Melbourne responded with a 112-89 win over Sydney to level the series, keeping the Tigers’ first playoff run alive behind Gaze, Simmons and Colbert.

Game three remained in Melbourne, but Sydney edged the Tigers 85-83, with Ridlen, Carfino, Keogh and Morrissey helping the Kings advance while Melbourne’s first postseason appearance ended with a two-point home loss.

1990
Melbourne entered 1990 looking to build on its first playoff appearance, returning Andrew Gaze, David Colbert, Dave Simmons, Nigel Purchase, Warrick Giddey, Ray Gordon, Stephen Whitehead, Mark Gaze and Brad Pineau from the previous season’s group, while Eric Bailey (to Gold Coast) exited the team.

Lindsay Gaze added Cecil Exum (via North Melbourne) after Exum had been part of the Giants’ 1989 championship team, giving the Tigers another proven rotation piece around their high-scoring core.

Gaze (37.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 2.6 steals across 22 games) again carried Melbourne’s offence, earning All-NBL First Team honours and the NBL’s Most Efficient Player award while helping the Tigers remain in the top half of the ladder.

Colbert (31.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.6 blocks across 28 games) and Simmons (27.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks across 28 games) gave Melbourne two elite frontcourt scorers, with the trio combining for more than 96 points per game.

Melbourne’s other key contributors included Purchase (9.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists across 28 games), Giddey (6.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists across 28 games), Gordon (6.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 28 games), Exum (5.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists across 24 games) and Whitehead (4.8 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists across 24 games).

Melbourne hit a major speed bump late in the regular season when Gaze was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right shoulder, an issue that almost ended his playing career and forced him to miss the Tigers’ final two regular-season games and the entire playoff series.

Even without Gaze late in the year, Melbourne finished the regular season in fourth place with a 17-9 record, securing a second straight playoff appearance and setting up an elimination finals series with fifth-seeded Perth.

The elimination finals opened in Perth, where Colbert (52 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 steals) erupted in Gaze’s absence and Simmons (21 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists) added support, while Ricky Grace (30 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists) and David Close (25 points and 6 rebounds) led Perth to a 122-100 win.

Game two moved to Melbourne, where Colbert (42 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks) was unstoppable again and Simmons (29 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists) delivered another big game, but Perth completed the sweep with a 123-113 win.

1991
By 1991, Melbourne had established itself as a formidable force in the NBL. Andrew Gaze returned healthy and delivered another MVP-caliber season, averaging 38.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. Dave Colbert (24.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks) and Dave Simmons (24.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks) continued to shine, while Stephen Whitehead emerged as a key contributor, doubling his production with 9.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game after being moved to the starting lineup.

On July 27, the Tigers made history in a game against Illawarra, recording the highest-scoring match in NBL history with a combined 344 points. Melbourne secured a 186-158 victory, with Gaze (59 points, 11 assists, and 4 steals), Colbert (42 points, 20 rebounds, and 5 assists), and Simmons (36 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) doing most of the scoring. Illawarra’s Patrick Fairs (41 points and 10 rebounds) and Greg Hubbard (36 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) led their team, which shot an astonishing 76% from the field—a record for a losing team.

Melbourne entered the playoffs with high hopes but faced the Adelaide 36ers in the elimination finals. The Tigers lost Game 1 (115-129) despite Gaze’s scoring brilliance. Game 2 ended similarly, with Melbourne falling 96-132, resulting in a first-round exit.

Despite the playoff disappointment, Gaze’s remarkable season earned him the NBL Most Valuable Player award, the first of his career. This accolade marked the beginning of an unprecedented era of dominance, as Gaze went on to claim the MVP award in seven of the next eight seasons.

1992
Melbourne entered the 1992 season with David Colbert exiting the team, while Andrew Gaze, Dave Simmons, Stephen Whitehead, Robert Sibley, Warrick Giddey, Ray Gordon, Nigel Purchase and Steve Lunardon returned from the previous season’s group.

Lindsay Gaze replaced Colbert with former NBA guard Lanard Copeland, giving Melbourne a faster, more explosive lineup and forming one of the league’s most dynamic backcourt combinations with Gaze.

Gaze (33.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 2.2 steals across 32 games) led the league in scoring, shared the NBL Most Valuable Player award with Scott Fisher, earned All-NBL First Team honours and again won the NBL Most Efficient Player award.

Copeland (28.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2.2 steals across 33 games) quickly established himself as one of the NBL’s best imports, giving Melbourne a second elite scorer and changing the tempo of the Tigers’ offence.

Melbourne adopted a faster-paced style of play with its new lineup, finishing third during the regular season with a 15-9 record and returning to the playoffs for the fourth straight year.

The Tigers’ two leading offensive players were Gaze and Copeland, while Simmons (17.2 points, 9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks across 33 games), Whitehead (13.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks across 33 games) and Sibley (11.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks across 33 games) gave Melbourne its strongest support group since entering the NBL.

Giddey (3.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals across 33 games), Gordon, Purchase and Lunardon filled out Lindsay Gaze’s main rotation as Melbourne built toward its first Grand Final appearance.

Melbourne opened the playoffs against Perth in the quarterfinals, defeating the Wildcats in a three-game series to set up a semifinal matchup with Sydney, who had eliminated Brisbane in their own quarterfinal series.

The semifinal series opened in Melbourne, where the Tigers defeated Sydney 122-112 behind Copeland (40 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks) and Gaze (34 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists), while Dwayne McClain (36 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the Kings.

Game two moved to the Sydney Entertainment Centre, where Sydney evened the series with a 124-118 win despite Gaze (37 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals) and Copeland (35 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 steals) leading Melbourne’s late comeback.

McClain (45 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 7 steals) delivered the best game of his NBL career, shooting 15-of-21 from the field and 15-of-18 from the free throw line, while Sydney shot 73.8 percent from the field in a game Gaze later described as the loudest crowd he had ever heard.

Game three returned to Melbourne, where the Tigers defeated Sydney 111-98 behind Gaze (29 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists), Sibley (19 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists), Whitehead (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Simmons (10 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 steals), while McClain (34 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists, and 4 steals) played all 48 minutes for Sydney.

Melbourne advanced to its first NBL Grand Final, facing the newly formed South East Melbourne Magic, who had finished first at 20-4 and swept Canberra and North Melbourne to reach the championship series.

Game one of the Grand Final saw Melbourne defeat South East Melbourne 116-98 behind Copeland (34 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) and Gaze (26 points), while the Magic lost starting point guard Darren Perry to a torn ACL after 11 minutes.

Game two moved to South East Melbourne, where the Magic bounced back with a 115-93 win as Bruce Bolden (22 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 4 blocks) and Rob Rose (20 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) led the Magic, while Darren Lucas (19 points) stepped into Perry’s role and helped limit Copeland to 14 points on 6-of-19 shooting.

The deciding game three saw South East Melbourne defeat Melbourne 95-88, with Rose (26 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks) and Bolden (21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) leading the Magic, while Gaze (18 points) was held to 5-of-19 shooting and Copeland (24 points) finished below his season average.

Bolden received the NBL Finals MVP award from NBA Commissioner David Stern, who was in attendance, as Melbourne’s breakthrough season ended with a 95-88 loss to South East Melbourne in game three of the Grand Final series.

1993 – THE TIGERS FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP
Melbourne entered the 1993 season with high expectations after its Grand Final loss the previous year, returning Andrew Gaze, Lanard Copeland, Dave Simmons, Stephen Whitehead, Robert Sibley, Warrick Giddey, Ray Gordon and Steve Lunardon from the previous season’s group.

Lindsay Gaze added Mark Bradtke after the star centre had spent the off-season playing in Spain and then refused to play out the final year of his contract with Adelaide, amid rumours that Melbourne were actively recruiting him. Bradtke had averaged 20.1 points and 14.8 rebounds in 17 games for Adelaide in 1992, and openly stated he wished to play for “a high profile premiership contender”. After failed negotiations, Adelaide gave permission for a buyout, but the NBL vetoed the move, allowing Bradtke to leave for Melbourne without the 36ers receiving compensation.

It was later revealed that Bradtke had chosen to relocate to Melbourne to be closer to his girlfriend (and future wife), professional tennis player Nicole Provis.

Gaze (32 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 2.7 steals across 33 games) again led the league in scoring, earned All-NBL First Team honours and won the NBL Most Efficient Player award, giving Melbourne its offensive foundation as it chased its first championship.

Copeland (22.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.9 steals across 33 games) gave Melbourne a second elite perimeter scorer, while Bradtke (17 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 blocks across 33 games) provided the interior presence the Tigers had long lacked.

Despite coming off a Grand Final appearance, Melbourne began the season poorly and started 2-7, leaving the Tigers outside the championship conversation by midseason.

The Tigers found their rhythm from there, winning 14 of their final 17 games to finish third with a 16-10 record and return to the playoffs for the fifth straight season.

Melbourne’s two leading offensive players were Gaze and Copeland, while Bradtke gave the Tigers a dominant rebounding and defensive presence in the middle.

Simmons (11.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks across 33 games), Sibley (9.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 blocks across 33 games), Whitehead (8.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists across 33 games) and Giddey (3.2 points, 3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.2 steals across 33 games) filled out Lindsay Gaze’s main rotation.

Adding to the intrigue, this was the only season between 1991 and 1998 where Gaze did not win the NBL Most Valuable Player award, with voters instead awarding the honour to South East Melbourne’s Robert Rose.

Melbourne opened the playoffs by sweeping Illawarra 2-0 in the quarterfinals, setting up a highly anticipated rematch of the previous season’s Grand Final against South East Melbourne in the semifinals.

The semifinal series was defined by Bradtke’s outstanding performances against Melbourne’s crosstown rival, beginning with game one where the Tigers edged South East Melbourne 108-106 behind Bradtke (21 points and 9 rebounds).

Game two saw Melbourne eliminate the defending champion Magic 89-72, with Bradtke (28 points and 15 rebounds) dominating inside to secure the Tigers’ place in a second straight Grand Final series.

On the other side of the bracket, top-seeded Perth had powered through the playoffs after finishing 21-5 and awaited Melbourne in the championship series.

Game one of the Grand Final was held in Melbourne, where the Tigers built a 19-point lead by the second quarter before foul trouble became a major issue, with Sibley (13 points and 4 rebounds) and Bradtke (4 points and 11 rebounds) both fouling out.

Perth closed the gap behind Ricky Grace (23 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals), but Gaze (41 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists) went 10-of-10 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to secure a 117-113 Melbourne win.

Game two moved to Perth, where Melbourne jumped out to an early 32-22 lead behind Bradtke (24 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists), before Perth’s frontline of James Crawford (32 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks), Andrew Vlahov (23 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Scott Fisher (16 points and 6 rebounds) brought the Wildcats back.

Melbourne’s foul issues resurfaced in the second half, with Gaze (22 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Simmons (12 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists) both fouling out, while Grace (23 points, 8 rebounds, and 13 assists) controlled Perth’s offence as the Wildcats won 112-105 in front of a sellout crowd of 8,000 at the Perth Entertainment Centre.

The victory extended Perth’s home-winning streak to 17 games and set up a deciding Game 3 in Perth, where Melbourne had never won.

Game three saw Melbourne come out fearless, building a 15-point lead before Perth mounted a furious comeback and closed within two points at 104-102 after Gaze hit a crucial free throw in the final seconds.

On the final possession, Vlahov (31 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) attempted a game-tying shot, but the ball rattled in and out, sealing Melbourne’s first NBL championship with a 104-102 win.

For Melbourne, the 1993 championship was historic. It was the Tigers’ first NBL title, capping a decade-long pursuit. The series opened in Melbourne before 15,028 fans at Melbourne Park, where Gaze’s clutch free throws sealed the 117-113 Game 1 victory. The series then shifted to Perth for Games 2 and 3, where Perth’s Ricky Grace was named Grand Final MVP despite the Wildcats’ loss.

In the deciding Game 3, Lanard Copeland erupted for a game-high 35 points to lead Melbourne to the 104-102 win. Copeland later reflected that the team had “not won [in Perth] in 10 years”, and said seeing the Wildcats’ premature championship decorations at shootaround “turned something on” for the Tigers. After the final buzzer, Andrew Gaze embraced his father Lindsay in jubilation – a fitting end to their decade-long journey and Melbourne’s inaugural championship.

1994
Coming off their first NBL championship, the Melbourne Tigers returned in 1994 with nearly the entire roster intact, with Robert Sibley (to Brisbane) the only major player to exit the roster.

Lindsay Gaze returned with Andrew Gaze, Lanard Copeland, Mark Bradtke, Dave Simmons, Stephen Whitehead, Warrick Giddey, Ray Gordon and Steve Lunardon, while adding Tigers junior Chris Anstey as Melbourne looked to defend their first NBL title.

Gaze had also returned from a short NBA stint with the Washington Bullets, where he appeared in seven games during the 1993/94 NBA season before rejoining Melbourne for the NBL season.

Gaze (33.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 2.4 steals across 30 games) was again the centre of Melbourne’s offence, leading the NBL in scoring, winning the NBL Most Valuable Player award and continuing his run as the league’s Most Efficient Player.

Bradtke (20.2 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks across 30 games) gave Melbourne a dominant interior presence, leading the league in rebounding and joining Gaze on the All-NBL First Team.

Copeland (22.2 points, 4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.1 steals across 30 games) remained Melbourne’s second perimeter scorer, while Simmons (15.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1 block across 30 games) gave the Tigers another reliable frontcourt option.

Melbourne built on its championship momentum by recording the best regular season in club history to that point, finishing first with a 19-7 record after winning the head-to-head tiebreaker over North Melbourne.

The Tigers were dominant at home, finishing 12-1 in Melbourne, while their 7-6 road record helped them stay level with North Melbourne at the top of the ladder.

Melbourne’s two leading offensive players were Gaze and Copeland, while Bradtke’s rebounding and interior scoring gave the Tigers one of the league’s strongest inside-out combinations.

Whitehead (11.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists across 30 games) remained a key wing contributor, while Giddey (2.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3 assists across 30 games), Gordon, Anstey, Nick Tenner and Andrew Walter filled out Lindsay Gaze’s rotation.

Anstey (3.1 points and 2.6 rebounds across 20 games) appeared in a limited role as a rookie behind Bradtke and Simmons, gaining his first NBL experience with the defending champions.

Melbourne opened the playoffs against Illawarra in the quarterfinals, taking game one 107-85 as the Tigers controlled the series from the start.

Game two saw Melbourne complete the sweep with a 119-83 win over Illawarra, advancing to the semifinals with two comfortable victories.

The semifinals matched Melbourne with a deep Adelaide team featuring Robert Rose, Mark Davis, Willie Simmons, Phil Smyth, Brett Maher and Chris Blakemore.

Game one was played in Adelaide, where the 36ers defeated Melbourne 101-88 and took control of the series, with Davis suffering a dislocated shoulder after Simmons attempted to swat the ball away as Davis prepared a long outlet pass.

Game two moved to Melbourne, where Gaze (29 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the Tigers, but Adelaide won 110-101 on Melbourne’s home floor to complete the sweep and end the Tigers’ title defence.

For Gaze, 1994 was another individual triumph as he led the league in scoring, led the league in free-throw percentage at 90.5 percent, won the NBL Most Valuable Player award and earned All-NBL First Team honours, but Melbourne’s season ended with a 110-101 semifinal loss to Adelaide.

1995
Melbourne entered 1995 with Chris Anstey (to South East Melbourne) exiting the team after a contract battle with the Magic, while Andrew Gaze, Lanard Copeland, Mark Bradtke, Dave Simmons, Stephen Whitehead, Warrick Giddey, Ray Gordon and Andrew Walter returned from the previous season’s group.

Mark Bradtke also requested time away from the team to support his wife Nicole’s tennis career as she travelled abroad, causing him to miss the first two-thirds of the season.

Lindsay Gaze added Matt Reece (via Gold Coast) and Blair Smith (via Brisbane) to cover the loss of Bradtke and Anstey, giving the Tigers extra frontcourt depth while they tried to stay in the playoff race without their starting centre.

Around that same time, Anstey, who had come through the Tigers junior program, informed the club he would not return after signing a deal with rival club South East Melbourne.

Melbourne appealed the signing through the NBL tribunal, which ruled Anstey could not leave the Tigers as long as Melbourne could match the Magic’s contract, which the Tigers did.

After some creative salary tweaking, South East Melbourne then signed Anstey to a one-year deal worth $180,000, which Melbourne had no interest in matching, allowing Anstey to move to the Magic before he later renegotiated the deal to a three-year, $181,000 contract.

Melbourne opened the season with a 93-94 home loss to Illawarra at Melbourne Park, beginning an uneven title defence that never fully settled after the roster disruption around Bradtke and Anstey.

Gaze (33.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2.3 steals across 29 games) again carried Melbourne’s offence, leading the NBL in scoring, leading the league in free-throw percentage at 89.8 percent, winning the NBL Most Valuable Player award and earning All-NBL First Team honours.

Gaze also won the NBL Most Efficient Player award again, continuing a run where he won the award every year from 1990 to 1997.

Copeland (25.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.7 steals across 29 games) remained Melbourne’s second major scorer, while Simmons (14.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 29 games) gave the Tigers stability inside during Bradtke’s absence.

Melbourne’s other key contributors included Whitehead (12.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists across 29 games), Smith (9.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks across 28 games), Bradtke (11.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks across 9 games), Reece, Walter, Gordon and Giddey.

The regular season saw a merry-go-round of league leaders, with Brisbane, Sydney, North Melbourne, South East Melbourne and Melbourne all sitting in the number one spot on the ladder at different points.

Melbourne stayed narrowly inside the top eight at 10-7 before Bradtke returned to play the Tigers’ final nine games, but the team never fully regained the rhythm that had carried it to the 1993 championship and 1994 minor premiership.

The Tigers closed the regular season with a 87-97 home loss to Perth before defeating Gold Coast 132-111 in their final game, finishing eighth with a 14-12 record and securing the final playoff spot.

Melbourne opened the quarterfinals in Perth and stunned the top-seeded Wildcats 103-91 behind Copeland (29 points) and Gaze (28 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists), giving the eighth-seeded Tigers a surprise 1-0 series lead.

Game two moved to Melbourne, where Perth kept the series alive with a 108-99 win behind Andrew Vlahov (30 points and 11 rebounds), as the Wildcats took advantage of a Tigers team still adjusting to Bradtke’s late-season return.

Game three returned to Perth, where the Wildcats eliminated Melbourne with a 96-92 win as James Crawford (20 points), Vlahov (18 points), Ricky Grace (18 points), Scott Fisher (17 points) and Martin Cattalini (11 points) all scored in double figures.

Perth carried its form through the rest of the playoffs and went on to win the 1995 NBL championship, while Melbourne’s title defence ended in Perth with a 96-92 game three quarterfinal loss to the Wildcats.

1996
The Tigers entered the 1996 season with high expectations, bringing back a full-strength Mark Bradtke and retaining their core group, with the only departure being Stephen Whitehead (to Sydney). After a disappointing 1995 campaign, Melbourne quickly reestablished themselves as a title contender, finishing with the best regular-season record in franchise history (21-5). Andrew Gaze (31.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 1.7 steals) earned his sixth MVP award while leading the league in scoring, with strong support from Lanard Copeland (21.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.4 steals) and a rejuvenated Bradtke (22.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.6 blocks).

Melbourne’s playoff run began against eighth-seeded Brisbane (14-12), but the Tigers were caught off guard in Game 1, suffering a 118-97 loss. They bounced back in Game 2, winning 96-87 behind strong performances from Gaze (30 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Bradtke (24 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists). In the decisive Game 3, the duo again led the way, with Gaze (29 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Bradtke (29 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks) dominating in a 111-93 victory to advance to the semifinals.

Facing the Canberra Cannons, Melbourne once again dropped the opening game (98-87), with Robert Rose (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists), Darnell Mee (21 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks), and Simon Dwight (20 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 blocks) proving too much to handle. However, the Tigers responded in Game 2 with Gaze (30 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, and 4 steals) narrowly missing a triple-double in a 100-82 win. In the decisive Game 3, Gaze (29 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks) and Bradtke (26 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks) combined to score half of Melbourne’s points, securing a hard-fought 91-87 win and a place in the Grand Final.

In a rematch of their 1992 Grand Final, the Tigers faced the South East Melbourne Magic (19-7), who finished second in the regular season. Melbourne took control in Game 1 with a 100-89 win, as Gaze (35 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists) delivered his best game of the series, while Bradtke (24 points and 15 rebounds) and Copeland (23 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) combined with him for 82 points.

Game 2 saw the Magic bounce back with an 88-84 win in front of a Grand Final record crowd of 15,064 at the National Tennis Centre at Flinders Park, still the highest-attended NBL game in Melbourne history. Gaze (21 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists) led the Tigers in scoring, but the Magic countered with Tony Ronaldson (28 points) and Mike Kelly (19 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals), who played a crucial role in evening the series.

Less than 48 hours later, the deciding Game 3 proved to be a nightmare for Melbourne. The Magic’s younger, fitter squad took full advantage of the short turnaround, demolishing the Tigers 107-70. Billy McCaffrey (24 points and 5 assists) led the way, while Sam MacKinnon (18 points and 9 rebounds) shot an incredible 9/10 from the field, and John Dorge (16 points and 8 rebounds) was equally efficient, making 8 of his 11 shots. South East Melbourne’s superior shooting—54% (46/85) compared to Melbourne’s 38% (23/60)—was the deciding factor in the 30-point blowout.

The 1996 NBL Grand Final series set a new aggregate attendance record of 43,605 (average 14,535), the highest ever for a three-game series. Magic guard Mike Kelly was named Finals MVP after averaging 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2.3 steals across the series.