Brian Wethers on the Hunter Pirates’ best season, his 2005 MVP run and the dark times of the 2000s NBL

  • August 18, 2025
  • Dan Boyce
  • Podcasts
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  • 2146 Views

Wethers shares his journey from a standout NCAA career at Cal and NBA aspirations, to becoming one of the most explosive imports in Australian basketball during the mid-2000s. He breaks down the Pirates’ underdog rise in 2004 under Adrian Hurley, his dynamic partnership with Kavossy Franklin, and the unforgettable playoff push that followed.

 

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We also revisit his return to the league with New Zealand, a blistering run of form that included multiple 30-point nights before injury struck. Wethers opens up about how the game has evolved since then, what came next after his playing days, and the legacy he hopes to leave in Australian basketball circles.

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Podcast Topics include…
🏀 Life after the NBL and what he’s doing now (2:00)
🏀 NCAA career at Cal and chasing the NBA dream (6:00)
🏀 Signing with the Hunter Pirates in 2003–04 (10:00)
🏀 How coaching styles have evolved since his playing days (19:00)
🏀 His MVP season and the Pirates’ playoff run (25:00)
🏀 Signing with the NZ Breakers and battling back from injury (38:00)
🏀 Wrapping up his pro career (42:00)
🏀 Career highlights, hurdles, and moments that still stick with him (45:00)
All of this and a whole lot more…
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