NICKNAME/S: Mean Machine, Mean Al Green, Dr Dunkenstein

BIO: A quick, high-jumping, left hander who made it difficult for opposition team’s, who often embarrassed them with spectacular dunks despite being only 188cm, Al Green was born and raised in the South Bronx in the Claremont Projects (New York, USA). There, he attended a prep school, Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, Maine, where he was a third-team Parade All-American selection in 1974.

Despite never having played organised american football, Green was selected in the 1979 NFL Draft as a defensive back by the San Diego Chargers. The choice was made primarily on Green’s size, speed and agility. Green and his agent spoke to the Chargers but despite the money he was being offered to change sports, he decided that he wanted to continue playing basketball and felt that there had to be somewhere in the world he could play. He would also be drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the NBA draft that same year.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Al Green made his NBL debut with the West Adelaide Bearcats at 27 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

After losing to St Kilda and the team’s superstar import Rocky Smith in Grand Final by a significant margin, Richardson noted he needed to find a player to counter him. This resulted in New York guard Al Green making his way to Australia to play for the Bearcats.

West Adelaide started the season with a surprise loss to Forestville Eagles (74-94), which would be the only loss the Bearcats suffered at home this season.

Green (26.0 points per game) was forced to quickly become the primary focus of West Adelaide’s offence when player/coach Richardson (14.8 points per game) suffered a season-ending injury after just four games. Rick Hodges (13.4 ppg) and Peter Ali (13.1 ppg) were relied upon to fill the gap left by Richardson, who remained with the team in the role of head coach.

Although nearly unbeatable at home, West Adelaide struggled to win on the road (3-8) and finished the year in third place with 13 wins and 9 losses.

Ray Wood (13.2 points) went on to win this season’s Best Defensive Player award, while Green earned a spot on the All-NBL First team.

In 1981, the playoff format saw a single elimination semi-final propel the winners into a one game decider for the championship. Despite the tournament being held in Adelaide’s Apollo Stadium, the Bearcats’ season would end with a loss to the Nunawading Spectres in the semi-final (71-74).

1982
Bolstering the squad prior to the 1982 NBL season, player-coach Ken Richardson recruited Leroy Loggins from the Brisbane Bullets and added him to the team’s already impressive roster. This season the Bearcats would start Loggins (25 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists), fellow import Al Green (26.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists), Australian Boomers veterans Peter Ali (8.1 points and 3.5 rebounds) and Ray Wood (8.2 points and 2.1 assists) and young centre Brad Dalton (8.5 points and 6.8 rebounds) with Richardson (14.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 58.8% from the field) coming off the bench.

Behind a MVP season from Green, the Bearcats finished the season with a 21-5 record, blitzing the competition, averaging 97.1 ppg as a squad and allowing opponents only 83.7 ppg (a winning differential of 13.4 ppg).

Behind stars Ken Richardson and Leroy Loggins, West Adelaide would dispose of Coburg (94-74) in the semi-final, setting up a NBL NBL Grand Final against the Geelong Supercats, led by player-coach Cal Bruton.

The grand final would be played at the neutral venue of Broadmeadow Basketball Stadium (Newcastle), which West Adelaide entered as the clear favourites. Of the Bearcats’ fives losses that year, two had been by one point and another by two points, and in addition to this, West Adelaide had thrashed Geelong by 29 points at Apollo Stadium during the last round of the season.

West Adelaide would resist a courageous second-half challenge by Geelong to win the Grand Final 80-74. Although no NBL Grand Final MVP was named in 1982, Loggins was named player of the match, being the game’s top scorer with 32 points.

West’s 1982 NBL title is the only one to include three league MVPs, Richardson the inaugural winner of the outstanding individual player award in 1979, Green (1982) and Loggins (1984 and 1986-87).

1983
In 1983, player-coach Ken Richardson retired and the Bearcats lost Brad Dalton (to Sydney). They would add Mike Parsons (via Launceston) and national team player Andy Campbell. ‘King’ Ken Cole would take up the head coaching role but struggled to generate the results of previous years, finishing the regular season in third place (17-5).

Al Green (29.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.0 steals) would lead the team in scoring once again, while ‘do-it-all’ import Leroy Loggins (24.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steals) backed him up offensively and was tasked with defending the opposing team’s best player each night. Loggins efforts would also see him named in the All-NBL first team at season’s end. Green contributed 29.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists Over the course of the season, as well.

In what was deemed a cost-cutting measure, the NBL chose to play two divisional finals, a three-game round-robin tournament for the top eight team’s, which strangely saw the league’s two best team’s excluded from the playoffs.

The three-game round-robin tournament resulted in the first-placed team in the Western Divison (Sydney) and the first place team in the Eastern Division (Geelong) being eliminated from a playoff spot due to finishing the three game round robin tournament with 2 wins and 1 loss, a equal record to two other team’s who progressed through based on points percentage.

While they made it through to the playoffs, few expected them to survive the rigours of the first round. Cole, widely regarded as the league’s premier motivator, came through on his pre-season prediction that West contend for the championship despite the loss of Richardson and Dalton as Green, Loggins and company led the Bearcats to a victory over Nunawading (84-77). Canberra would eliminate Coburg (80-75) on the other side of the bracket, pitting the two team’s against each other to decide the championship.

In a final which proved a seesaw ride for spectators, Canberra would be crowned champions after defeating West Adelaide by two points (75-73).

1984
At 30 years of age, Green (40 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals) led West Adelaide Bearcats in scoring yet again. This included him setting the record for most points in a single game when he notched up 71 points against the Frankston Bears (May 25). On a cold night in Frankston, Green hit 25 of his 41 shots, which included four three-pointers, while also going 17/22 from the free throw stripe. Despite Green scoring 46 points on his own in the second half, the Bearcats were able to come away with a win, losing by 28 points (125-153). What makes Green’s record even more remarkable is that games in 1984 were played in 40 minutes, not 48 minutes, as most of the other scoring records are. Green’s 71-point effort remains the most points ever scored by one player in a NBL game.

While this season saw a number of high scoring performances from Green, the Bearcats struggled to find wins and failed to qualify for the playoffs (11-13).

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ADELAIDE 36ERS
1985
In 1985, West Adelaide and Adelaide joined to form one NBL club for the South Australian fans to get behind. The team was built from a combination of both rosters, with the Bearcats head coach Ken Cole being selected over 36ers Mike Osborne to run the merged club. Darryl ‘Ice Man’ Pearce and ‘Mean’ Al Green, who had just gained Australian citizenship and qualified as a local player, would become the team’s starting guards, Moscow Olympian Peter Ali started as small forward and American centre Bill Jones was recruited to anchor the middle.

The season began with the backcourt duo of Green (31.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.3 steals) and Pearce (22.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals) leading the way in scoring but it wasn’t until the mid-season addition of import Mark Davis that the team started to look unbeatable. After Davis (27.9 points, 17.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.3 steals) was added to a side already bursting with depth after the sixth round, the 36ers stormed into the Grand Final. There, Adelaide fell short to Leroy Loggins and the Brisbane Bullets, with the championship being decided in a single game (121-95).

Green was selected to the All-NBL First Team while first-year guard Mike Mckay (12.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) was named Rookie Of The Year.

1986
After suffering a Grand Final loss to Brisbane the previous year, Adelaide came back in 1986 with what is widely regarded as the greatest season in NBL history. The team made just one significant change, bringing in naturalised import Dwayne Nelson to replace outgoing Karl Luke. The 36ers went on to dominate the season, finishing first with an outstanding (24-2) record. Mark Davis (25.3 points, 16.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) led the league in rebounding and earned a spot on the All-NBL First Team. Davis was joined by key players Al Green (19.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.1 steals), Darryl Pearce (19.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.0 steals), captain Bill Jones (19.1 points, 13.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 2.2 blocks), and Mike McKay (13.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists), forming one of the most formidable lineups ever. Nicknamed ‘The Invincibles’ by the South Australian media, this team set a regular season record of (24-2), a 92.3 percent win rate that remains unmatched. Both of Adelaide’s losses came on buzzer-beaters—one to West Sydney (87-89) and another to Coburg (114-116)—leaving them mere seconds away from a perfect (26-0) season. The team averaged (117.3 points) per game while allowing (96.0), for a staggering (21.3)-point winning margin. Adelaide claimed the regular-season championship by finishing five wins ahead of second-placed Canberra Cannons (19-7).

On top of this, Adelaide was invincible at home, winning all (13) regular season games at the sold-out Apollo Stadium. This streak was extended to (14) straight home victories when Darryl Pearce (28 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Al Green (27 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists) led the 36ers over Illawarra (116-92) in the semi-final. Including games from 1985, Adelaide’s home winning streak reached (20-0). This set up a Grand Final rematch against Brisbane, with the NBL expanding the championship series to a three-game format for the first time.

Adelaide took Game 1 of the series (122-119), with Mark Davis (38 points, 23 rebounds, and 5 assists) leading the charge. Bill Jones (30 points, 17 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks) and Darryl Pearce (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) were also key factors in the win, while Al Green (10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) filled almost every column on the stats sheet.

The series shifted to Brisbane for Game 2, where Adelaide suffered a heavy (84-104) defeat. Cal Bruton (38 points on 15-of-24 shooting) and Larry Sengstock (19 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists) led Brisbane, while Al Green was held to just (2 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist)—his lowest output of the season.

Back at Apollo Stadium for the decisive Game 3, the 36ers corrected their mistakes from Game 2 and defeated Brisbane (113-91), securing South Australia’s second NBL Championship in five years. Cal Bruton (31 points and 4 rebounds) was the game’s high scorer, but Darryl Pearce (27 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) led the way for Adelaide. Al Green (22 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) also had a strong game, and Peter Ali (11 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) contributed to seal the championship.

1987
The Adelaide 36ers entered the 1987 season with minimal changes to their core roster. Al Green (23.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists), Mark Davis (26.1 points, 17.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals), Darryl Pearce (20.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists), Bill Jones (14.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks), and Mike McKay (14.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) all returned, maintaining the team’s key contributors. The 36ers were eager to defend their title under the new leadership of coach Gary Fox, who replaced Ken Cole after the controversial offseason.

Adelaide started the season strong with a win over Westside Melbourne (131-105). However, the team faced some early challenges, enduring a three-game losing streak which started after losing to North Melbourne (103-106) and finished with a loss to Perth (104-106). Despite this, the 36ers quickly turned things around and embarked on a five-game winning streak, starting with a victory over Brisbane (127-111) and concluding with a win against Eastside (98-87).

Green was a key contributor throughout these streaks, utilizing his speed and offensive skills to help lead the team. The 36ers later went on an eight-game winning streak, starting with a hard-fought victory over Canberra (118-115) and ending with a win against Sydney (108-103), before finally being defeated by Hobart (108-112).

During the regular season, Adelaide showcased their dominance, securing their biggest win against West Sydney (147-99) on July 17, but also suffering a tough loss to Illawarra (108-90) on June 25. Green’s performances were vital in maintaining the team’s top position. The 36ers concluded their regular season with a comfortable win over Geelong (128-97), finishing with a league-best 21-5 record.

Green formed an integral part of Adelaide’s success, playing alongside Mark Davis, Darryl Pearce, and Bill Jones. His all-around contributions helped make Adelaide one of the most formidable teams in the league.

In the playoffs, the 36ers earned a first-round bye and met the Perth Wildcats in the semi-finals. Green provided steady leadership, contributing (4 assists) in Game 1 as Adelaide edged Perth in a thrilling win (99-98). In Game 2, despite Green’s (17 points), the 36ers were defeated (99-101), forcing a decisive Game 3. Unfortunately, despite Green’s efforts, Adelaide lost (103-93) and was eliminated from the playoffs in a 2-1 series defeat.

1988
Darryl Pearce and Peter Ali would be named co-captains of the squad in 1988, the same year Adelaide born centre and Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) attendee Mark Bradtke would make his NBL debut. Bradtke was signed by Ken Cole in 1986 when he was 16 years old and 203 cm tall but due to living in Brisbane at the time, he committed to the AIS for two years before joining Adelaide.

The Sixers had a great start to the season, kicking it off with a 4-1 start that included a 31-point win over Illawarra and had them picked as favourites to win the title in the early stages of the year. During the first month of the season, the 36ers were led by Darryl Peace, who exploded for 48 points, including 11 of 14 three-point attempts, against the Ken Cole coached Falcons in Newcastle in round two, a stat line that remains the highest scoring game in 36ers history.

Bradtke (7.4 points and 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks) came off the bench as a backup to Bill Jones (15.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.6 blocks) and Mark Davis (25.3 points, 13.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.4 steals). Darryl Pearce (20.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.1 steals) and Al Green (20 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.4 steals) would provide the offence from the perimeter, and Adelaide (19-5) finished the regular season in first place during for the third year in a row (second under coach Gary Fox). Adelaide would then lose to Canberra (0-2), falling short in the semifinals for the second year in a row.

1989
1989 would be the last year with Gary Fox as coach after the team dropped to sixth on the regular season ladder with a 15–9 record. Due to the emergence of Mark Bradtke, import centre Bill Jones left the team to join former coach Ken Cole in Newcastle. Adelaide replaced him with import forward Orlando Phillips, the 1983 NCAA West Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and a former Los Angeles Lakers draft pick.

Also, the team captaincy would be handed over fully to Darryl Pearce as co-captain Peter Ali chose to step down from the role. As the season began, Mark Davis (25.6 points, 14.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks) would lead the team in scoring and rebounding while also being selected in the All-NBL First Team for a fourth time. Phillips (20.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals) came as advertised, providing the additional scoring needed, and Bradtke (15.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks) made the most of his new role as starting center, winning the league’s Most Improved Player award.

Mckay would contribute 13.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists as the 36ers snuck into the playoffs as the sixth seed. Adelaide (15-9) would face Perth (16-8) in the Elimination Finals, where Cal Bruton (35 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists) finished as the game’s high scorer, but it wouldn’t be enough to get past the 36ers who had five players score over 18 points or more. Mark Davis (25 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 steals), Darryl Pearce (25 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists), Orlando Phillips (23 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals), Mike McKay (20 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists) and second year big man Mark Bradtke (18 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks) combining for 91 points in the game one win (122-124).

With the series returning to Perth for game two, Perth returned to its regular season form, shooting 51% from the field (42/82), and defeating Adelaide by 20 points (114-94). Pinder (25 points and 14 rebounds) and Bruton (22 points and 5 assists) top scoring for the Wildcats, while Mark Davis (22 points and 20 rebounds) racked up a 20/20 game in the 36ers losing effort.

With Bruton (29 points and 7 rebounds) again leading the team in scoring, Perth came away with the win in game three (112-108) and ended 36ers playoff hopes.

Green would see a major reduction in his minutes and production, averaging 14.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists across 25 games.

1990
36ers long time assistant coach Don Shipway was appointed coach of the team after three-year boss Gary Fox paid the price for the 36ers’ third consecutive playoff failure. In his first season at the helm, Shipway wasn’t able to do much better, with Adelaide missing the playoffs for the first time since 1983, the club’s first ever losing season.

1990 was also the year Mark Davis replaced Darryl Pearce as team captain, a role he would hold until the end of 1996, and it was the last season for local favourite Peter Ali who retired after 279 NBL games (141 of them with the 36ers). Green (9.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists) would continue to see his role and production with Adelaide would continue to decline, this season, recording season lows in points rebounds and assists.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS
– 1991
In 1991, Green was playing in Newcastle, averaging 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists on a 53% clip from the field.

1992
After taking over from coach Ken Cole mid-season in 1991, head coach Tom Wiseman was able to redesign the Falcons lineup. Newcastle utilised three imports the season prior (Jerry Everett, Troy Truvillion, James Bullock) but having won only five games, Wiseman chose to go in a different direction, adding former NBA players Terry Dozier (via Geelong) and Everette Stephens.

The only major change to the roster saw the Falcons swap Peter Harvey (to Gold Coast) for Paul Kuiper (via Gold Coast) and a young local Shawn Dennis join the squad as a rookie.

Everette Stephens (23.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.3 blocks) and Terry Dozier (22.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists 1.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks) delivered a amazing season statistically, filling the stats sheet in all categories. Michael Johnson (20.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists) and 39 year old Al Green (18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.1 steals) put up big numbers as well but once it got to the remaining roster there was little left in the tank. Injuries saw Kuiper (7 games) and Jason Joynes (10 games) play less than half the season and the remainder of the Newcastle bench just simply wasn’t up to NBL standards.

In his first full season as coach, Wiseman was able to improve the team result from 5 wins to 9 wins, but this saw minimal improvement in the standings with Newcastle improving from bottom of the ladder to second from the bottom as a result.

1993
After struggling to compete in the NBL for four straight seasons, Wiseman was able to retain the majority of his core roster for his second full season as head coach, which delivered the Falcons most successful season since 1985.

The key to the Falcon’s success was being able to retain Terry Dozier (21.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1 steals, 1.2 blocks) and Everette Stephens (21.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists 1.5 steals), who had developed into one of the league’s most potent import duos. A healthy Paul Kuiper (11.2 points, 7 rebounds, and 0.2 assists) who had managed to play in only a third of the prior season made a big difference and ever reliable Michael Johnson (20.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1 steals) firing away saw Newcastle win four of their first five games.

They would finish the season with a record of 15-11 which was equal with Illawarra Hawks but thanks to a +9 points percentage in their head to head with the Hawks, they would finish in fifth place on the ladder.

Newcastle faced Brisbane in the Quarter-finals but the strength of their stars Leroy Loggins, Dave Colbert, Andre Moore and Shane Heal proved too difficult in the postseason. Brisbane would win games one (125-99) and two (122-118) ending the Falcons season. Green would appear in 28 games this season, averaging 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 steals before retiring from basketball at 39 years of age..

Al Green played thirteen seasons across three NBL teams. This included the West Adelaide Bearcats, Adelaide 36ers and Newcastle Falcons. He averaged 22.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3 assists in 340 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 21st in total points
– 49th in total assists

HIGHLIGHTS:

Dan Boyce (817 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.