Everette Stephens on playing for the Newcastle Falcons and Geelong Supercats during the 1990s
June 17, 2023
Adrian Branch
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 17/11/63
- Place of Birth: Washington D.C., Washington (USA)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 203
- Weight (KG): 84
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Maryland (1981–1985)
- NBL DEBUT: 4/04/92
- AGE AT DEBUT: 28
- LAST NBL GAME: 3/06/94
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 30
- NBL History: Brisbane 1992 | Geelong 1993-94
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Adrian Branch was born in Washington D.C., Washington (USA). A 6’7″ small forward out of DeMatha High School, Branch starred at the University of Maryland from 1981 to 1985.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Adrian Branch made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 28 years of age. He scored 21 points in his first game.
After missing the postseason in 1991, Brisbane entered 1992 without leading scorer Derek Rucker, Robert Sibley (to Melbourne), Brendan Joyce (to South East Melbourne) and Cameron Dickinson, while Gordie McLeod moved into an assistant coaching role. Head coach Brian Kerle retained captain Leroy Loggins, Andre Moore, Paul Rees and Greg Fox, with former Los Angeles Lakers forward and 1987 NBA champion Adrian Branch taking over the import scoring role vacated by Rucker. Shane Heal (via Geelong), Simon Kerle, Blair Smith, Luke Gribble and Matthew Moore were also added.
Branch made an immediate impression during the preseason, scoring 49 points in Brisbane’s opening K-Mart Classic loss to South East Melbourne.
Brisbane opened the regular season at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on 4 April with a 138-116 win over Hobart. Branch (21 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) made his NBL debut, while Loggins (33 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 steals) and Simon Kerle (23 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists) led the Bullets and Ken McFadden (37 points) was best for the Devils.
Branch (28.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals across 25 games) immediately became Brisbane’s leading scorer. In just his second NBL game on 10 April, Branch (43 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) combined with Heal (29 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals) and Moore (23 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists) as Brisbane defeated Geelong 135-127, while Bobby Locke (29 points) led the Supercats.
On 25 April, Branch (40 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) delivered another huge performance against Melbourne, with Heal (26 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals) and Moore (22 points and 13 rebounds) providing support. Andrew Gaze (33 points, 9 assists, and 3 steals) led the Tigers to a 125-123 win at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
Branch reached his season-high against Gold Coast on 9 May, finishing with 44 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals while making 17-of-29 shots. It was his third 40-point game in five appearances, while Heal (27 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals) and Moore (13 points and 15 rebounds) supported him. Mike Mitchell (39 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks) led the Rollers to a 111-104 win.
Loggins (23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.9 steals across 23 games) remained one of the league’s premier two-way players, earning All-NBL Second Team honours and Brisbane’s club MVP award while also representing Australia at the Barcelona Olympics. Heal (20.9 points, 7.1 assists, and 1.5 steals across 25 games) directed the offence, while Moore (20.3 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks across 26 games) anchored the frontcourt. Simon Kerle (11.2 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists across 24 games) and Rees (4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds across 26 games) rounded out the main rotation.
Brisbane won its first two games and sat 6-4 through its opening ten before hitting its poorest stretch of the season with three consecutive losses to Hobart, Melbourne and South East Melbourne. The Bullets recovered to finish seventh with a 12-12 record, going 6-6 at home and 6-6 away to secure a quarterfinal matchup with second-placed Sydney.
The quarterfinals opened at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on 28 September, where Branch (20 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks), Loggins (29 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) and Moore (25 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Brisbane, while Dwayne McClain (27 points and 6 rebounds) was Sydney’s leading scorer in a 100-91 Kings win.
Game two moved to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on 3 October, where Branch (36 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal), Simon Kerle (28 points and 5 assists) and Loggins (20 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) led the Bullets. McClain (32 points) and Damian Keogh (29 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 5 steals) carried Sydney to a 130-123 win, completing the 2-0 sweep and ending Brisbane’s season.
GEELONG SUPERCATS
1993
After the team was gutted in 1992, a move which resulted in Geelong finishing with just two wins for the season, the Supercats were able to regroup and add to their wafer-thin roster of last season. Vince Hinchen (via Melbourne) would return after a season playing with the Tigers, and Ray Borner (via North Melbourne) was signed to help fill a gaping hole inside. Imports Bobby Locke and Chris Williams were replaced by Branch and Mike Morrison, who had just finished up a stint with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns.
Six games into the season, the Supercats received a letter from coach Steve Breheny, which outlined he felt he did not have the support of the club. It was reported that he did not want Branch as part of the team, but the club chose to sign him to a two-year deal anyways. After a loss to Melbourne, Breheny brought Branch off the bench in their next game against Adelaide, feeling he cared more about stats than winning (a sentiment echoed by his former Brisbane coach Brian Kerle). Geelong would win this game (113-100), with Branch playing 36 minutes and scoring 30 points. Branch then skipped trainings, prompting Breheny to pen a letter to management asking for their support or agreeing to re-sign. The Supercats (2-4) accepted his resignation and continued the season under interim coach Terry Kealey. Jim Calvin was hired as a permanent solution shortly after.
Branch (26.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.9 steals) would go on to lead the team statistically, with Morrison (22.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.2 steals), Cecil Exum (16.6 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.4 steals), Borner (16.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks) and Vince Hinchen (14.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals) adding support. The team saw very little support from the bench, with its starting five all playing a minimum of 35 minutes a game and only Wayne Larkins (6.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.2 steals) playing meaningful minutes off the bench. The team basically played with six players for the entire season.
With three rounds left, Geelong sat equal last alongside Hobart and Townsville, all three team’s sitting on four wins. Geelong, however, reeled off three wins in a row to end the season, knocking off Sydney (126–115), Gold Coast (113–108) and fourth-placed Brisbane (118–115) to end the season on a high note.
1994
The 1994 season saw Branch average 20.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists and play a key role in helping the Supercats to a first place finish in the regular season with a 7-19 record.
Adrian Branch played three seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Geelong Supercats and the Brisbane Bullets. He averaged 26.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 61 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 23rd in points per game.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 30 | Geelong | 7-19 (12) | 10 | 394 | 209 | 82 | 19 | 27 | 55 | 14 | 6 | 32 | 32 | 85 | 183 | 46% | 9 | 38 | 24% | 30 | 58 | 52% | 50% | 49% | 31 |
| 1993 | 29 | Geelong | 7-19 (12) | 26 | 1,100 | 700 | 218 | 51 | 86 | 132 | 49 | 17 | 111 | 91 | 288 | 558 | 52% | 51 | 131 | 39% | 73 | 110 | 66% | 57% | 56% | 39 |
| 1992 | 28 | Brisbane | 12-12 (7) | 25 | 1,038 | 711 | 271 | 73 | 89 | 182 | 41 | 13 | 110 | 102 | 283 | 564 | 50% | 31 | 90 | 34% | 114 | 181 | 63% | 55% | 53% | 44 | Totals | 61 | 2532 | 1620 | 571 | 143 | 202 | 369 | 104 | 36 | 253 | 225 | 656 | 1305 | 50.3% | 91 | 259 | 35.1% | 217 | 349 | 62.2% | 56% | 54% | 44 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 30 | Geelong | 7-19 (12) | 10 | 39.4 | 20.9 | 8.2 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 5.5 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 8.5 | 18.3 | 46% | 0.9 | 3.8 | 24% | 3.0 | 5.8 | 52% | 50% | 49% | 31 |
| 1993 | 29 | Geelong | 7-19 (12) | 26 | 42.3 | 26.9 | 8.4 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 5.1 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 11.1 | 21.5 | 52% | 2.0 | 5.0 | 39% | 2.8 | 4.2 | 66% | 57% | 56% | 39 |
| 1992 | 28 | Brisbane | 12-12 (7) | 25 | 41.5 | 28.4 | 10.8 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 7.3 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 11.3 | 22.6 | 50% | 1.2 | 3.6 | 34% | 4.6 | 7.2 | 63% | 55% | 53% | 44 | Total | 61 | 41.5 | 26.6 | 9.4 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 6.0 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 10.8 | 21.4 | 50.3% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 35.1% | 1.5 | 4.2 | 62.2% | 56% | 54% | 44 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 44 | 20 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
Adrian Branch was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with pick #46 in the 1985 NBA Draft.
He played a reserve role with the Los Angeles Lakers when they won the NBA Championship in 1987.
In 2004, he became a television color analyst for the NBAs Charlotte Bobcats games.
Adrian Branch joined ESPN in 2007 as a college basketball analyst.
Branch played 32 games in the NBA. He averaged 4.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game over his NBA career.
NBA TRANSACTIONS:
- February 15, 1983: Traded by the Los Angeles Lakers (as a future 1985 2nd round draft pick) to the Chicago Bulls for Dwight Jones.
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June 18, 1985: Drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 2nd round (46th pick) of the 1985 NBA Draft.
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October 7, 1985: Waived by the Chicago Bulls.
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June 16, 1986: Signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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August 22, 1986: Waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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September 18, 1986: Signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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November 5, 1987: Player rights sold by the Los Angeles Lakers to the New Jersey Nets.
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December 22, 1987: Waived by the New Jersey Nets.
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October 6, 1988: Signed as a free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers.
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October 13, 1989: Waived by the Portland Trail Blazers.
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October 20, 1989: Signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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December 26, 1989: Waived by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 99% | 81% | 96% | 85% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 44 | 8 | 5 | 3 | ||||||
| Total | 656 | 1305 | 50.3% | 91 | 259 | 35.1% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986-87 | 23 | LA Lakers | SF | 32 | 0 | 219 | 138 | 53 | 16 | 23 | 30 | 16 | 3 | 24 | 39 | 48 | 96 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 54 | 58% | 50% | Total | 32 | 0 | 219 | 138 | 53 | 16 | 23 | 30 | 16 | 3 | 24 | 39 | 48 | 96 | 50% | 0 | 2 | 0% | 42 | 54 | 78% |
NBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986-87 | 23 | LA Lakers | SF | 32 | 0 | 6.8 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 58% | 50% | Total | 32 | 0 | 6.8 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 50% | 0.1 | 0% | 1.3 | 1.7 | 78% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Spain - Caja Ronda (1987–1988) | France - Mulhouse B.C. (1990–1991) | Israel - Hapoel Givatayim (1994–1995)
Branch played in Spain for Caja Ronda during the 1987–88 Liga Endesa season. He was signed mid-season (January 14, 1988) as a replacement for Phil Zevenbergen, and he went on to play 16 league games while producing 534 points in 560 minutes with shooting totals of 155/293 on two-pointers (53%), 43/124 on three-pointers (35%), and 95/120 at the foul line (79%).
During that Liga Endesa run, his best single-game output listed by Unicaja was 44 points and seven rebounds in 40 minutes against TDK Manresa on April 23, 1988, and his top opponent scoring mark was 42 points against Kosner Baskonia, with other noted single-game highs including six steals versus BFI Granollers and three blocks versus Kosner Baskonia.
In 1990–91, Branch spent a season in France with Mulhouse B.C., which is the only specific French club stop that could be verified from the accessible sources used for this summary.
Branch later played in Israel with Hapoel Givatayim in 1994–95, appearing in 13 games and averaging 19.0 points per game (247 total points) on 93/154 two-point shooting, 8/24 from three, and 37/66 on free throws, while sharing the roster with players including Gary Plummer, Keith Bennett, and Jerome Batiste, before being released on January 31, 1995 as the club battled to avoid relegation.
No additional non-USA and non-Australia team stints for Branch could be verified from the accessible sources used here, so they have been left out rather than guessed.
COLLEGE
Adrian Branch played for Maryland from 1981–1985 and finished his Terrapins career with 2,017 points (16.4 points per game), which at the time left him as the program’s second all-time leading scorer, while also setting a school mark for career minutes per game (34.0).
As a freshman in 1981–82, Branch started all 29 games and averaged 15.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 33.7 minutes per game while shooting 137-for-287 from the field (47.4%) and 114-for-149 on free throws (76.5%).
On February 27, 1982, Branch delivered a signature moment in a 47–46 overtime upset of No. 1 Virginia at Cole Field House, scoring a career-high 29 points on 12-for-17 shooting with 5-for-6 free throws, and hitting the game-winning 15-footer at the horn in overtime; that same day’s performance also broke Maryland’s regular-season freshman scoring record, giving him 391 points in 26 games at that point of the season.
In 1982–83, Branch helped Maryland finish 20–10 (8–6 ACC) and reach the second round of the NCAA tournament, and he earned All-ACC second team recognition for the first time of his career (one of two such selections).
In 1983–84, Branch was part of a Maryland team that went 24–8 (9–5 ACC), won the 1984 ACC Tournament championship, and reached the NCAA tournament Sweet 16, with Branch also being named to the 1984 All-ACC Tournament Team as the Terrapins secured the league title run that your notes credit him with leading.
As a senior in 1984–85, Branch started all 37 games for a 25–12 Maryland team (8–6 ACC) that returned to the Sweet 16, and he averaged 18.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 35.1 minutes per game while shooting 270-for-529 from the field (51.0%) and 131-for-172 at the line (76.2%); his season totals included 671 points, 182 rebounds, 81 assists, 45 steals, and 18 blocks, and his 34 double-figure scoring games rank among the top single-season totals in Maryland history.
Maryland’s 1984–85 NCAA tournament path included a 69–68 win over Miami (OH) in the first round, a 64–59 win over Navy in the second round, and a 46–43 loss to Villanova in the regional semifinal (Sweet 16).
In 2004, Branch was honored at the ACC Tournament as an "ACC Legend," and after completing his Maryland career as a two-time All-ACC second team selection, he was drafted into the NBA in the second round by the Chicago Bulls in 1985.
AWARDS
- McDonald's All-American (1981)
- NBA champion (1987)
Related
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