Aussies Abroad
The National Basketball League (NBL) may not be well-known to the masses just yet. However, as far as Australian basketball is concerned, this quest for expanded exposure and popularity isn’t all that far away. Or has it just begun? With the most Australians ever playing in the NBA right now, plus many more being invited to summer tryouts, the NBL and Australian basketball can hold their heads high in accomplishment. But…
Read MoreJoe Ingles transition from the final guy cut from the LA Clippers roster in 2014 to one of the league’s deadliest perimeter scorers in 2017-18 has been nothing short of extraordinary. When Utah lost it’s franchise player Gordon Hayward last season, many pencilled in a rebuilding phase for the Jazz. The emergence of “Jingling”…
Read MoreEntering his fifth season, Melbourne’s Dante Exum faces a critical juncture within his NBA career. Originally drafted fifth by the Utah Jazz in 2014, Exum’s NBA journey so far has been heavily interrupted to say the least. Now a year removed from overcoming multiple knee and shoulder injuries, 2018 provided us a glimpse of…
Read MoreI recently sat down with Steve Hoare, NBL Champion, sixth man of the year winner, and all around good guy. A veteran of 465 NBL games over 17 seasons. I asked “the Aura” about life after basketball, road trips, 90’s jams, the NBL today, the 2020 Boomers, tuxedo wearing penguins, Spice girls, and what…
Read MoreAfter a season which would likely be his worst at NBA level, the pressure is on Matthew Dellavedova to return to the form that first resulted in signing a $38 million, four-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. Having seemed bulletproof previously, ‘Delly’ was hampered by troublesome injuries with both knee and ankles issues limiting…
Read MoreJosh Green, the latest exciting Australian basketball talent has committed to play with the University of Arizona. He will become a Wildcat next year and move to Tucson, about a two hour drive south of Phoenix where he lived with his family and attended high school at the IMG Academy in Florida. THE…
Read MoreHaving been a mainstay in the Boomers squad for a number of years, 28 year-old Ryan Broekhoff finally gets his first opportunity at NBA level. The six foot seven swing-man signed a two-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks back in August having spent his entire professional career plying his trade in Europe. Although going…
Read MoreEntering his first season in the NBA, many Australians will be keeping a keen focus on 22 year-old Jonah Bolden. Having been drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 36th pick in the 2017 draft, Bolden spent the entirety of last season playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv. Helping his team to a title in the…
Read MoreEighty-eight contracted players will suit up for NBL teams in the opening round of the 2017/18 season, but there is one player who stands out above the rest to be the most average guy in the league. Going by the numbers he is not taller, shorter, lighter, heavier, younger or older than the average…
Read MoreThe 6 foot 10 big man enjoyed a breakout campaign in the NBA last season, starting in 67 regular season games for coach Brad Stevens at the Boston Celtics. Baynes proved even more valuable during the playoffs as his minutes further improved from the regular season, starting 12 of a possible 19 games as the…
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Darnell Mee on Adelaide’s 2001 Heartbreak, Defending NBL legends and more
Two-time NBL champion and five-time NBL Best Defensive Player Darnell Mee returns to the podcast to revisit the unfinished stories from one of the greatest careers in Australian basketball, including Adelaide’s heartbreaking 2001 playoff exit, his decision to leave the 36ers and the fight to keep the Cairns Taipans alive. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Mee about watching his son Micale build his own basketball career in Australia, the chemistry behind Adelaide’s back-to-back championships, becoming teammates…
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Australia’s Greatest Basketball Associations
Junior basketball development is where the Australian basketball journey begins. Before players represent Australia or reach the NBL, most first learn the game through their local basketball association. While hundreds of rookies have entered the NBL over the years, the same junior basketball programs regularly appear in their backgrounds. Some associations have developed significantly more NBL talent than others, establishing themselves as important pathways into professional basketball. Until now, a complete record of the junior association responsible for developing every player to have competed in…
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Matt Garrison on Winning Back-to-Back Titles with Multiple NBL Teams, NBA Opportunities and Aussie Hoops Impact Overseas
Two-time NBL champion Matt Garrison joins the podcast to reflect on winning back-to-back championships with two different teams, helping the Wollongong Hawks claim their first NBL title in 2001 before joining the Adelaide 36ers and winning it all again in 2002. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Garrison about arriving in Wollongong as a mid-season import, adjusting from being a high-scoring starter to an important role off the bench, and being part of the Hawks team that…
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Beyond the Arc: The Greatest Shooters in NBL History
In 1984, the NBL introduced the three-point line, forever altering the geometry of Australian basketball. Since then, the league has seen traditional snipers, stretch bigs and volume scorers completely revolutionise how offenses operate and defenses scramble. But as the modern game places a premium on spacing and perimeter shooting, a critical question arises: Who are the most efficient and devastating shooters in the 40-year history of the NBL? To cut through the noise, we have to look beyond raw percentages. By combining historical spreadsheet data…
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John Rillie on roster changes for NBL27, pressures from fans and media and Bryce Cotton/Trevor Gleeson narratives
Perth Wildcats head coach John Rillie joins the podcast to discuss the pressure that comes with coaching one of the NBL’s most successful clubs, the challenge of moving forward after Bryce Cotton’s departure, and what Perth needs to build its next championship contender. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Rillie about taking over the Wildcats after the club missed the finals for the first time since 1986, the expectations of the Red Army, and how Perth’s three…
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Rolan Roberts on Kings Titles, Dunk Contest Injury and Playing for Brian Goorjian and Trevor Gleeson
Former Sydney Kings and Townsville Crocodiles big man Rolan Roberts joins the podcast to reflect on his time in Australia, including joining the Kings mid-season and helping them complete their historic 2005 NBL three-peat. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Roberts about playing under Brian Goorjian, becoming a key interior presence for Sydney, and being part of the Kings team that became the first in NBL history to win three straight championships. The episode also dives into…
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Boomers: we’re not taking Patty and Bryce
At some point over the next 12 months, the Boomers are going to have to make a decision that Australian basketball has managed to avoid for almost two decades. Who exactly is this team built around now? Since 2010, that answer was simple. It was Patty Mills’ team. Mills has been the primary scorer for the Boomers for nearly two decades and few Australian victories have been recorded without a major scoring performance from Patty. But as the Boomers move toward the 2027 FIBA World…
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NBL players who have played in the NBA
A player arriving in the NBL with NBA experience always creates interest. Fans get excited when their team signs a former NBA player, commentators mention it during broadcasts, and every article about that player usually links their NBL performance back to their NBA résumé. Sometimes, we see a big-time college prospect use the NBL as a springboard to the NBA and never return. Other times, established NBA veterans come to Australia looking for a fresh opportunity. And in many cases, local talent develops in the…
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