BIO: Born in Williamstown (SA), Madgen played basketball at Faith Lutheran College in Tanunda and was a member of the 2002 state championship winning team. Ben He also played as a junior with the Eastern basketball program.

FAMILY: Ben’s brother, Jack Madgen also played 1 games in the NBL. Ben also has a sister Tess who played in both the WNBA, WNBL as well as represented the Australian Opals.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Ben Madgen made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 25 years of age. He scored two points in his first game.

Before moving to the United States to attend college, Madgen spent the 2005/06 NBL season with the Adelaide 36ers as a development player but didn’t play in any NBL games.

After the Sydney Kings licence was revoked in 2008 after club sponsor Firepower collapsed and the Kings were unable to pay player salaries, new ownership relaunched the Sydney Kings for the 2010/11 NBL season, returning to the league after a two-year absence.

The ‘Resurrection Squad’, the name given to the Sydney Kings roster which had returned to the league for the first time in two years with the team’s first moves being the hiring former Kings player Ian Robilliard as head coach and convincing a number of European based aussies to return to play for the team’s latest reincarnation.

Julian Khazzouh (Israel), Luke Cooper (Latvia) and Damien Ryan (Italy) all signed deals for the 2010/11 season, as was college graduate Ben Madgen (Augusta State University). The Kings then filled the remaining roster with offcast NBL talent, Graeme Dann (via State League), Luke Martin (via Wollongong) and Ben Knight (via Melbourne), who had played for the previous iteration of the Kings, was added and named co-captain along with Khazzouh. Robilliard added imports Taj McCullough and Rod Grizzard for excitement and scoring punch to the roster and the team was ready to return to the NBL.

Grizzard, who had previously put up 19 points per game with Singapore and 13 points per game with Melbourne struggled to produce as a King. He produced a megre 8 points per game on a 36% field goal percentage, resulting in the import axe swinging quickly, as he was released five games into the season.

The axe then fell for fellow import McCullough who after being told his contract was on the line prior to a game against New Zealand he managed only ten points on a lowly 5 from 17 from the field in a 80-94 home loss. After eight games Taj McCullough (11.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game) would become the second import to be released by the Sydney Kings during the 2010/11 season.

Former NBA talent Trey Gilder (13.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 steals) replaced Taj McCullough then Patrick Sanders (13.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists) filled the shoes of Rod Grizzard as Robilliard looked to deliver a team capable of entertaining the valuable Sydney market while it was clear they would struggle to compete against other NBL teams. The Kings limped home to a last place finish and a record of 8–20, the poor season likely costing Julian Khazzouh (17.4 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, 1 steal, and 1.8 blocks per game) a MVP trophy as mid-season he was the hot favourite for the award but ended up finishing second in the voting behind Wollongong’s Gary Ervin.

Madgen (10 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) would be named the league’s Rookie of the Year during the Kings comeback season where Sydney finished in last place (8–20).

2011/12
The Kings’ retained their core group of Julian Khazzouh (team captain), Ben Madgen, Luke Martin, Luke Cooper and Graeme Dann and looked to build on their disappointing return to the NBL. Head coach Ian Robilliard was able to bolster the roster by signing former Australian Boomers guard Aaron Bruce (via Adelaide), college grad Anatoly Bose (via Nicholls State) and, after a import roller-coaster the previous season, signed Jerai Grant (son and nephew of NBA stars Harvey Grant and Horace Grant respectively) and state league talent, Kevin Ratzsch.

Additionally, due to the 2011 NBA Lockout, Australia’s highest profile basketballer, former Milwaukee Bucks centre Andrew Bogut, was looking to play in the NBL during the 2011/12 season. He was linked with the Adelaide 36ers, the Gold Coast Blaze and the Kings, whom Bogut had supported when growing up in Australia. Sydney was favoured to secure his services, and Bogut ultimately chose to make his NBL debut with the Kings. However, the insurance to cover his remaining US$39 million contract with the Bucks couldn’t be resolved, leaving the Kings and the NBL without the services of Australia’s highest profile player. It was expected that Bogut’s signing would see a increase in Kings membership and league attendances. Despite not being able to play, Bogut later expressed interest in joining the Kings’ coaching staff during the lockout to help the club. This ultimately did not happen either.

Khazzouh was unstoppable during the first two months of the season was clearly the best player in the competition. This was no clearer than in the Kings 23 point win over the Adelaide 36ers in October 2011 when he filled the box score with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 36 minutes, a game which gained the attention of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. In December 2011, halfway through the season, Khazzouh would leave the team to participate in the Warriors pre-season camp. Khazzouh was then waived on 18 December 2011 and returned to Sydney to finish out the season.

The Kings fared better in their second year back in the NBL, beginning the season by winning half their games each month for the first three months. This saw the Kings jostling between fifth and sixth position, vying for a playoff spot, and having equalled their win from last season by round 14.

It was around this time Aaron Bruce (13.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists) suffered a vertical fracture to his tibia which ended his season and created a huge void within the team’s backcourt. With Bruce going down, the team managed only three additional wins for the year, resulting in Robilliard being moved into a executive role and replaced by Tim Hudson as interim head coach until the Kings came to term with club legend Shane Heal who agreed to coach the team on a multi-year deal.

Sydney finished in seventh place (11-17).

Julian Khazzouh (16.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.1 blocks) would lead the team in scoring as well as finish the season as the NBL’s leader in rebounds and blocked shots before being named to the All-NBL First team. Jerai Grant (11.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.4 blocks) would have a inconsistent season, winning Player of the Week in some rounds and then disappearing totally in others and Anatoly Bose (15.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists) was impressive in his debut season, earning the Rookie of the Year award. Madgen would appear in 28 games and averaged 13 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.

2012/13
Having taken over the head coaching reigns mid-season the year before, Shane Heal set to work on helping the Kings return to the NBL playoffs for the first time since returning to the league in 2010. Heal began the season with some big roster holes to fill after losing both the league’s leading rebounder, Julian Khazzouh, Rookie of the Year Anatoly Bose and talented import Jerai Grant to European opportunities.

Heal would convince Former King Ian Crosswhite to return (via Cairns) and fill the shoes of Khazzouh, high-scoring shooting guard James Harvey (via Gold Coast) to cover the loss of Bose and recruit diminutive point guard Corin Henry and Darnell Lazare as the team’s import duo. Sydney was also bolstered by the return of Aaron Bruce, who had missed the second half of last season due to a tibia injury.

After losing to Illawarra in the opening game of the season (76–79), the team delivered a strong start to the season, and by the time of the league’s All-Star break, Sydney (9-5) was sitting in third place on the ladder.

The Kings’ second half of the season wasn’t as successful, managing just three wins from their remaining 14 games. Due to the dominance of the New Zealand Breakers (24-4) and Perth Wildcats (22-6), every other team in the NBL finished the season with a losing record. Thus, in unusual fashion, despite having a losing record, the Kings finished in fourth place and returned to the playoffs for the first time since returning to the league in 2010.

Once into the semi finals, the Kings were outclassed by the Breakers, who claimed game one in New Zealand (81-64) before closing out the series with a win on Sydney’s home floor (99-88). New Zealand would then defeat Perth in two games to become NBL Champions.

Sydney owed much of its success to a breakout season from Ben Madgen (18.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) recorded a career best 33-points against the Crocodiles in March 2013 and finished the season as the NBL’s leading scorer. He was then awarded the league’s Most Improved Player award and named in the All-NBL first team. Ian Crosswhite (10.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists) was named in the All-NBL third team and announced his retirement shortly after.

2013/14
During the 2013/14 season Madgen averaged 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists and helped the Kings finish with a record of 12-16 and end the regular season in sixth place.

2014/15
After finishing sixth with a 12-16 record and missing the playoffs in 2013/14, Sydney replaced Shane Heal with former assistant Damian Cotter as head coach and made several changes to its roster. Sam Young, AJ Ogilvy (to Wollongong), Charles Carmouche, Jesse Sanders, Brad Hill (to Wollongong) and James Harvey departed, while Ben Madgen, Tom Garlepp, Cody Ellis and Kevin White returned. The Kings added Kendrick Perry (via Youngstown State), Jason Cadee (via Adelaide), Angus Brandt (via Oregon State), Josh Duinker and Daniel Joyce, before completing their roster with former NBA forward Josh Childress (via New Orleans) on August 12.

Madgen entered the season as one of Sydney’s most experienced players, having re-signed with the Kings on a two-year deal in March 2014. The former NBL scoring champion had averaged 15.2 points the previous season and remained an important part of Cotter’s backcourt alongside the newly signed Perry and Cadee. With Childress joining as the team’s primary offensive option, Madgen was expected to provide perimeter scoring and leadership as the Kings attempted to return to the playoffs.

Sydney opened the season against Wollongong at Qantas Credit Union Arena on October 11, where Madgen (12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block) helped the Kings defeat the Hawks 86-83. Childress (26 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks) made an immediate impact in his NBL debut, while Garlepp (20 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals) provided support. Jahii Carson (17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals) led Wollongong as Sydney began the season with a narrow victory over its NSW rivals.

Madgen (15.6 points and 3.6 rebounds across 26 games) remained Sydney’s second-leading scorer behind Childress, combining his outside shooting with an experienced presence in a backcourt that included two new guards. The Kings struggled to build momentum early, losing three consecutive games after their opening victory, while Childress’s one-game suspension following an incident with Perth’s Jesse Wagstaff temporarily left Sydney without its leading scorer.

Madgen’s best game of the season came against Adelaide on November 9, when he made five of seven three-pointers and finished with a season-high 26 points, 5 assists and 4 steals as Sydney defeated the 36ers 107-100 at Qantas Credit Union Arena. Childress (36 points, 19 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 blocks) produced his best performance of the season, while Garlepp (15 points, 2 rebounds and 3 blocks) also contributed. Adam Gibson (30 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists) led Adelaide, with the Kings improving to 3-3 after consecutive wins over Wollongong and the 36ers. Childress was named NBL Player of the Week after combining for 54 points and 32 rebounds across the two games, and later earned the league’s Player of the Month award for November.

Sydney remained inconsistent despite strong individual performances from its leading players, but recorded one of its most important victories against defending champion Perth on December 18. Madgen (13 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists), Childress (17 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and 4 blocks) and Garlepp (15 points) led the Kings to a 78-74 victory at Qantas Credit Union Arena, while Jermaine Beal (16 points) was Perth’s leading scorer. Childress blocked a late attempt from Wagstaff before scoring at the other end to help secure the victory, ending Sydney’s 16-game losing streak against the Wildcats since returning to the NBL in 2010. The win improved the Kings to 7-6 and placed them back in the playoff race, but Childress suffered a hamstring injury which ruled him out of the next three games, all losses.

Sydney’s injury problems extended to rookie centre Angus Brandt, who suffered a knee injury during the Kings’ New Year’s Eve loss to Townsville and missed the next seven games. The Kings signed veteran Nick Horvath (via New Zealand) on January 14 as a short-term injury replacement, while Cotter continued to rely on Madgen, Garlepp and the team’s younger guards to maintain their playoff hopes.

One of Sydney’s most impressive performances came against league-leading New Zealand on January 23, when Madgen (9 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists) helped the Kings defeat the Breakers 101-81 at Vector Arena in Auckland. Childress (28 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists) and Garlepp (16 points and 6 rebounds) led the scoring, while Cedric Jackson (21 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists) was New Zealand’s best. Horvath (4 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist) also made his Kings debut after joining as Brandt’s injury replacement. The victory improved Sydney to 9-12 and kept the team’s fading playoff hopes alive.

Two days later, Madgen (24 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals) led Sydney against Adelaide, but the Kings fell 105-86 at Qantas Credit Union Arena. Childress (16 points, 1 assist, 1 steal and 4 blocks) and Kevin White (14 points) provided support, while Brock Motum (18 points and 6 rebounds) led the 36ers. The defeat became a major turning point in Sydney’s season when Childress suffered a torn right pectoral muscle during the third quarter, requiring surgery and ending his season after just 18 games. On January 28, the Kings announced he would miss the remainder of the campaign, leaving Madgen as the team’s leading available scorer during the final weeks.

Without Childress, Sydney struggled to remain competitive against the league’s leading teams. Madgen (22 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists and 1 steal) made three three-pointers and seven of eight free throws against Cairns on February 8, but the Kings lost 92-78 at Qantas Credit Union Arena. Garlepp (19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals) and Perry (17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block) provided support, while Cameron Tragardh (23 points, 5 rebounds and 1 block) led Cairns. The loss was Sydney’s fourth consecutive defeat since its victory over New Zealand and left the Kings with a 9-16 record.

Madgen’s season came to a premature end against Wollongong on February 15, when he suffered a dislocated shoulder during the second quarter of Sydney’s 75-73 home loss. Madgen (6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block) had played just 13 minutes before leaving the game, with Perry (20 points and 6 rebounds) and Garlepp (15 points) taking on a greater share of the scoring. Oscar Forman (17 points) led Wollongong and made two crucial three-pointers during the final minute, including the go-ahead basket as the Hawks snatched a late victory. The injury ruled Madgen out of Sydney’s remaining two games, leaving the Kings without their two leading scorers for the final round.

Childress (21.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.1 blocks across 18 games) had been the team’s most productive player before his season-ending injury, finishing as the NBL’s leading scorer and rebounder while also ranking among the top five in assists and blocked shots. He became the first player in league history to lead both scoring and rebounding while finishing in the top five for assists and blocks, earning All-NBL First Team honours. Garlepp (13.6 points and 4.1 rebounds across 28 games) produced the highest-scoring season of his career, improving from 8.8 points the previous year, while Perry (10.4 points and 3.6 rebounds across 28 games), Cadee (8.1 points across 28 games), Ellis (6.9 points and 3.4 rebounds across 28 games) and Duinker (5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds across 28 games) provided the other major contributions. Brandt (7.4 points and 4 rebounds across 21 games) was recognised for his performances with the NBL Rookie of the Year award.

Madgen remained sidelined for Sydney’s final game against Melbourne United at Hisense Arena on February 22. Cadee (23 points) and Garlepp (23 points) led the Kings, but Mark Worthington (26 points and 6 rebounds) helped Melbourne hold on for a 95-92 victory. The defeat completed a seven-game losing streak and left Sydney seventh with a 9-19 record, missing the playoffs for a second consecutive season.

On May 15, 2015, Madgen exercised an option in his contract to pursue playing opportunities overseas, ending his five-season stint with the Kings. He subsequently signed with Royal Basketball Club Pepinster in Belgium for the 2015/16 season.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX
2019/20
After almost four years playing in Europe, Ben Madgen (via Germany) returned to the NBL in February 2019, becoming South East Melbourne’s second signing after marquee player Mitch Creek. He signed a one-year deal with a mutual option for a second season as inaugural coach Simon Mitchell built the Phoenix roster around experienced NBL players Adam Gibson (via Brisbane), Kyle Adnam (via Sydney) and imports Tai Wesley (via New Zealand), John Roberson (via Russia) and Keith Benson (via Germany). Chima Moneke (via France) was initially signed but was unable to secure Australian citizenship in time to be registered as a local player and his deal fell through before the season. “I’m really excited to be joining the Phoenix. It’s a real honour to be a part of the inaugural season of the club,” he said.

South East Melbourne’s first-ever game came against cross-town rivals Melbourne United on October 3 in the first ‘Throwdown’. Madgen (9 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) started and made two free throws with 14 seconds remaining to give the Phoenix a three-point lead as South East Melbourne won 91-88. Creek (28 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Roberson (20 points) led the Phoenix, while Shawn Long (26 points, 13 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) was Melbourne’s best. South East Melbourne made 12 of 23 three-pointers in front of a sold-out crowd of 10,300, but the win came at a cost when Wesley (8 points) suffered a hamstring injury after playing just five minutes, sidelining him for the next ten weeks. Jaye Crockett (8.9 points and 4.3 rebounds across 9 games) was brought in as an injury replacement.

Madgen (12.1 points and 4.8 rebounds across 28 games) started every game during what became the final NBL season of his career, making 46 three-pointers and shooting 88 percent from the free throw line. He did not miss a game through injury or illness.

Madgen (13 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists) helped the Phoenix win their first home game 113-93 against Brisbane, with Roberson (30 points and 6 assists) and Creek (25 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals) leading South East Melbourne, while Lamar Patterson (30 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) was Brisbane’s best.

Madgen (14 points and 4 rebounds) then helped South East Melbourne defeat Illawarra 106-102 and improve to 3-0, with Roberson (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 10 assists) and Creek (23 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) leading the Phoenix, while Aaron Brooks (23 points and 5 assists) led the Hawks. South East Melbourne’s unbeaten start ended in Perth the following week, where Madgen (8 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) was held quiet as Crockett (12 points) and Adnam (11 points and 4 assists) led the Phoenix in a 110-79 loss, while Bryce Cotton (16 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals) controlled the game for Perth.

Madgen’s best scoring game came in his 150th NBL appearance against Brisbane on November 30. He made four three-pointers and finished with 23 points and 6 assists as South East Melbourne recovered from a 16-point third-quarter deficit to win 110-95, completing the biggest comeback of the NBL season and recording the franchise’s first victory outside Melbourne. Creek (19 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Roberson (17 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals) provided support, while Patterson (14 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, and 4 steals) was Brisbane’s best as the Phoenix ended a three-game losing streak.

Madgen’s best all-round game of the season came against Perth on December 8, where he made three three-pointers and finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Creek (31 points and 3 assists) and Roberson (19 points and 4 assists) were the other leading Phoenix scorers, while Cotton (26 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Perth to a 108-98 victory. The game also marked Wesley’s return from his hamstring injury, with South East Melbourne falling to 6-6 and sitting just outside the top four.

Benson (5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds across 16 games) had been part of the Phoenix’s opening roster before Devondrick Walker (via the state league) joined South East Melbourne midway through the season. Walker (7.4 points across 8 games) made his NBL debut against Perth on January 17 after a foot injury had prevented him from playing a game for the Wildcats two seasons earlier.

South East Melbourne relied heavily on Creek (20.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals across 26 games) and Roberson (20.2 points and 5.6 assists across 28 games), while Wesley (10.7 points and 4.3 rebounds across 18 games), Adnam (9.1 points across 28 games), Dane Pineau (8.1 points and 8.7 rebounds across 28 games) and Gibson (6.7 points across 22 games) provided the other major contributions. The Phoenix’s high-tempo offence led the NBL in scoring at 95.4 points per game, but after reaching the midpoint of the season at 6-6, they managed only three wins from their final 16 games.

Madgen’s final NBL appearance came against Melbourne United on February 16, where he equalled his season-high with 23 points and added 4 rebounds as Wesley (20 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) and Roberson (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) provided support. Chris Goulding (28 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) led Melbourne to a 109-90 victory, extending South East Melbourne’s losing streak to eight games and leaving the Phoenix second-last with a 9-19 record.

Ben Madgen played six seasons in the NBL, playing for both the South East Melbourne Phoenix and the Sydney Kings. He averaged 14.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 167 NBL games.

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