EJ Rowland
February 2, 2021
Casey Calvary
- Nationality: GER/USA
- Date of Birth: 27/04/79
- Place of Birth: Wurzburg (Germany)
- Position: F/C
- Height (CM): 203
- Weight (KG): 104
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Gonzaga (1997–2001)
- NBL DEBUT: 2/10/04
- AGE AT DEBUT: 25
- LAST NBL GAME: 29/01/06
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 26
- NBL History: Townsville 2005-06
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Casey Calvary was born in Wurzburg, Germany but raised in the Washington, USA. There, he attended Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma, Washington, before going on to play collegiate basketball at Gonzaga University.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Casey Calvary made his NBL debut with the Townsville Crocodiles at 25 years of age. He scored 22 points in his first game.
After a difficult 2003/04 campaign, Townsville rebuilt its roster under head coach Ian Stacker. The Crocodiles farewelled Andrew Goodwin (retired), Peter Crawford (to Perth) and Mike Kelly (to Wollongong), while retaining Robert Rose, Kelvin Robertson, Adam Quick, Pat Reidy and Greg Vanderjagt. Stacker added imports Robert Brown and Casey Calvary, while also recruiting John Rillie (via West Sydney), Derek Moore (via Adelaide) and Brad Newley (via AIS).
Newley (16.0 points and 3.3 rebounds across 35 games) arrived in Townsville after graduating from the AIS and quickly became one of the league’s most explosive young players. Used as a bench weapon for much of the season, he gave the Crocodiles scoring punch, athleticism and pace around the veteran core of Rillie, Rose, Brown and Calvary.
Townsville opened the season with a 114-111 win over Adelaide before struggling through the first month, dropping games to Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Wollongong. The Crocodiles began to turn their season around with wins over Brisbane (129-108), Melbourne (125-102) and Hunter (125-104), with Newley’s energy off the bench becoming an important part of the team’s climb up the ladder.
One of Newley’s best regular-season games came in a 117-108 road loss to New Zealand on 28 November, where he scored 25 points and added 3 rebounds while shooting 9-of-15 from the field and 5-of-9 from three-point range. He then delivered 26 points and 7 rebounds in a 134-128 road loss to Brisbane on 22 December, matching his early-season scoring high while showing the offensive upside that made him the league’s top rookie.
Newley later added another 26-point game in Townsville’s 109-101 win over Melbourne on 16 January, helping the Crocodiles extend their mid-season surge. He also produced 24 points and 6 rebounds in a 119-96 win over Sydney Spirit on 21 January as Townsville continued its charge toward the postseason.
Rillie (18.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists) led Townsville in scoring, rebounding and assists, while Calvary (17.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.8 blocks) and Brown (16.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists) gave the Crocodiles a powerful import pairing. Newley, Rose (12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists), Robertson (10.9 points and 3.1 assists), Moore (8.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks) and Reidy (8.6 points and 4.2 rebounds) rounded out a balanced rotation as Townsville finished third with a 19-13 record.
Newley became the first player in NBL history to win Rookie of the Year and Best Sixth Man in the same season, receiving the maximum 90 votes in Rookie of the Year voting and 64 votes in Best Sixth Man voting. After the awards, he said, “It just goes to show I made the right decision in coming up here… the coaching staff and the management up here stayed by their word and said I’d play and I’ve done that and had a pretty good year I think.”
Townsville also hosted the 2004/05 NBL All-Star Game at the Townsville Entertainment Centre, where Newley delivered the biggest showcase of his rookie season. He scored 35 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and handed out 7 assists in 29 minutes to win All-Star Game MVP as the Aussie All-Stars defeated the World All-Stars 156-140. Rillie (23 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists) also starred for the Aussies, while Brown (31 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the World All-Stars and won the Dunk Competition.
Calvary earned All-NBL First Team honours and Rillie was named to the All-NBL Second Team, while Newley’s Rookie of the Year, Best Sixth Man and All-Star Game MVP sweep made his first NBL season one of the most decorated rookie campaigns in league history.
Townsville opened the playoffs with a 112-100 elimination final victory over Melbourne in front of 5,257 fans. Brown (22 points and 6 rebounds), Calvary (17 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks), Rillie (17 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals) and Robertson (17 points) led the Crocodiles, while Newley added 12 points and 4 rebounds. Mark Bradtke (19 points and 12 rebounds), Dave Thomas (15 points and 11 rebounds), Andrew Gaze (13 points) and Lanard Copeland (13 points) led Melbourne.
Game one of the semifinals saw Illawarra defeat Townsville 100-84 at WIN Entertainment Centre. Newley (17 points and 4 rebounds), Rillie (15 points and 6 rebounds), Brown (14 points and 8 rebounds) and Calvary (7 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 blocks) led the Crocodiles, while Mat Campbell (21 points), Glen Saville (19 points and 10 rebounds) and Darnell Mee (17 points, 7 rebounds, and 12 assists) led the Hawks.
The series shifted back to Townsville for game two, where the Crocodiles fell 109-105 to end their season. Newley (22 points and 6 rebounds), Calvary (20 points and 12 rebounds), Brown (16 points and 7 rebounds), Robertson (16 points) and Rillie (11 points and 9 rebounds) led Townsville, while Saville (24 points), Mike Kelly (20 points), Troy Pilon (19 points and 12 rebounds) and Adam Ballinger (13 points) led Illawarra.
2005/06
The Crocodiles entered the season with significant roster changes. Pat Reidy retired, while Derek Moore and import Robert Brown exited the team. Larry Abney was signed to replace Brown, bringing athleticism and rebounding, while veteran guard Damon Lowery (via Wollongong) was added for experience. Development player Michael Cedar was elevated to the main roster to inject youthful energy.
Townsville launched their campaign with a dominant 111–97 victory over West Sydney, showcasing a powerful frontcourt performance led by Casey Calvary. The athletic big man scored 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting, added 9 rebounds, and blocked 2 shots, setting the tone for what would be another strong season statistically. Brad Newley and Larry Abney each added 24 points, but it was Calvary’s efficiency and two-way presence that underpinned the Crocs’ dominance inside.
Despite a 4–1 start, with wins over Adelaide (108–100), Perth (124–108), and New Zealand (122–113), the Crocodiles’ early momentum quickly unravelled. A string of losses, including heavy defeats to Sydney (94–128) and Brisbane (107–116), derailed their season. Calvary remained consistent, registering 16 points and 8 rebounds in the Kings loss and continuing to serve as a stabilising force as the team tumbled to 4–4 by Round 5.
As the team’s slide continued, Calvary’s contributions remained one of the few constants. In Round 11, he contributed 20 points in a much-needed 115–99 win over Cairns. The Crocodiles then edged the Brisbane Bullets 119–115 in Round 13, with Calvary continuing to work in tandem with Abney and Newley to keep Townsville competitive.
The season featured several standout efforts from Calvary. Against the Sydney Kings on October 3, he finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds despite the blowout loss. His 5 blocks across the opening rounds helped anchor the interior defence, and he recorded double-figure scoring in all but a handful of games across his 30 appearances.
Statistically, Casey Calvary (17.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.4 blocks) delivered another reliable campaign as the Crocs’ most consistent interior performer. His combination of strength and agility made him a tough matchup, and he was a regular feature in opposing teams’ scouting reports.
Though Townsville managed to briefly snap their losing streak with wins over the Spirit (122–100) and Adelaide (101–93), they failed to string wins together. In the final victory of the season, Calvary was again central, scoring 14 points and pulling down 9 boards as the Crocs held off the 36ers. Losses followed to Perth, Hunter, and Cairns, and the Crocodiles closed the year with a 9–23 record, missing the playoffs.
Veteran John Rillie (15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.3 steals) remained a strong contributor, and Brad Newley (19.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.9 blocks) continued his rise, earning All-NBL Second Team honours and selection to the All-Star Game. Larry Abney (20.1 points, 11.3 rebounds) led the team in scoring and rebounding, forming a potent frontcourt with Calvary.
Robert Rose (8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists) played his final NBL season, while Kelvin Robertson (7.8 points, 2.0 assists), Damon Lowery (5.5 points, 1.9 rebounds), Greg Vanderjagt (6.3 points, 3.4 rebounds), and youngsters Cameron Tragardh and Michael Cedar rounded out the rotation.
Following the team’s failure to reach the postseason, head coach Ian Stacker’s contract was not renewed. The Crocodiles again missed the playoffs, with Calvary’s steady production one of the few highlights in a frustrating campaign.
Casey Calvary played two seasons the Townsville Crocodiles. He averaged 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 63 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 41st in blocks 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-06 | 26 | Townsville | 9-23 (9) | 30 | 983.0 | 519 | 212 | 29 | 80 | 132 | 29 | 43 | 71 | 129 | 198 | 362 | 55% | 7 | 19 | 37% | 116 | 162 | 72% | 59% | 56% | 33 |
| 2004-05 | 25 | Townsville | 19-13 (3) | 33 | 1,101.0 | 589 | 262 | 49 | 71 | 191 | 63 | 61 | 93 | 154 | 229 | 379 | 60% | 10 | 24 | 42% | 121 | 174 | 70% | 64% | 62% | 29 | Totals | 63 | 2084 | 1108 | 474 | 78 | 151 | 323 | 92 | 104 | 164 | 283 | 427 | 741 | 57.6% | 17 | 43 | 39.5% | 237 | 336 | 70.5% | 62% | 59% | 33 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-06 | 26 | Townsville | 9-23 (9) | 30 | 32.8 | 17.3 | 7.1 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 4.4 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 4.3 | 6.6 | 12.1 | 55% | 0.2 | 0.6 | 37% | 3.9 | 5.4 | 72% | 59% | 56% | 33 |
| 2004-05 | 25 | Townsville | 19-13 (3) | 33 | 33.4 | 17.8 | 7.9 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 5.8 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 4.7 | 6.9 | 11.5 | 60% | 0.3 | 0.7 | 42% | 3.7 | 5.3 | 70% | 64% | 62% | 29 | Total | 63 | 33.1 | 17.6 | 7.5 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 5.1 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 4.5 | 6.8 | 11.8 | 57.6% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 39.5% | 0.3 | 0.7 | 70.5% | 62% | 59% | 33 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 33 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
|---|
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Japan - Isuzu Giga Cats (2001–2002) | Puerto Rico - Toritos de Cayey (2002) | France - Chalon-sur-Saône (2002–2003) | Spain - Fuenlabrada (2006), Villa de Los Barrios (2006–2007)
Casey Calvary spent the 2001–2002 season in Japan with the Isuzu Giga Cats in the JBL Super League after going undrafted and travelling to Japan to begin his professional career, and during that 2001–2002 JBL Super League campaign he led the league in blocked shots at 2.5 per game while playing for Isuzu Motors Giga Cats.
Casey Calvary spent part of 2002 in Puerto Rico with Toritos de Cayey, a club that was founded in 2002 and competed in the Puerto Rican league before folding in 2004, with Calvary’s stint falling in the team’s inaugural year of operation.
Casey Calvary spent the 2002–2003 season in France with ÉS Chalon-sur-Saône, where he also appeared in EuroCup competition and averaged 13.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game across nine EuroCup games, sharing the roster with teammates including Corey Crowder during that European campaign.
Casey Calvary spent part of 2006 in Spain with Baloncesto Fuenlabrada in the ACB, playing nine games and averaging 8.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game, and he later spent the 2006–2007 season in Spain with CB Villa de Los Barrios in the LEB, where the team’s roster included teammates such as Manu Gomez, Julio Alberto Gonzalez and Juan Manuel Ruiz alongside Calvary in the frontcourt rotation.
COLLEGE
Casey Calvary played college basketball at Gonzaga University from 1997 through 2001, finishing his career with 134 games played while averaging 11.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and compiling 207 career blocked shots that remain the most in program history.
Calvary helped lead the Zags to three straight Sweet Sixteen appearances in 1999, 2000 and 2001, and he was a starter on all three teams while earning first team All-West Coast Conference honours as a junior and senior and being named the WCC player of the year in 2001.
During Gonzaga’s breakthrough 1998/99 season, the Bulldogs went 28–7 and reached the Elite Eight, and Calvary produced a defining NCAA tournament moment on March 19, 1999 when he tipped in a last-second basket to beat Florida 73–72 in the West Regional semifinal and push Gonzaga into the regional final against eventual national champion Connecticut.
In 1999/00, Gonzaga finished 26–9 and Calvary started 33 of 34 games while logging 896 minutes (26.4 per game) and averaging 13.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, shooting 167-for-285 from the field (58.6%), hitting 22-of-52 from three (42.3%), and going 100-of-162 at the line (61.7%) while adding 35 assists, 30 steals, and 57 blocks; in WCC play he appeared in 14 games (13 starts) and averaged 13.0 points with 81 rebounds (5.8 per game) and 27 blocks, and on March 6, 2000 he scored a game-high 28 points in Gonzaga’s 69–65 overtime win over Pepperdine in the WCC championship game to secure the league’s automatic NCAA bid, earning WCC tournament MVP honours in the process.
As a senior in 2000/01, Calvary averaged 19.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game and added WCC player of the year recognition to his résumé while also receiving Associated Press honorable mention All-America status, and he helped extend Gonzaga’s run of deep March finishes by reaching the NCAA Sweet Sixteen again with tournament wins over Virginia and Indiana State before falling to Michigan State in the South Regional semifinal.
Calvary’s senior-year tournament run included another signature tip-in, as he scored the winning basket with 9.2 seconds left to lift 12th-seeded Gonzaga to an 86–85 win over fifth-seeded Virginia on March 16, 2001, and in that game he posted the 11th double-double of his career while also setting a career-high with 15 rebounds.
In his Gonzaga career, Calvary scored 1,509 points and grabbed 757 rebounds, placing him in the Zags' all-time top ten in both categories at the time of his graduation, and his NCAA tournament record across his career was 7–3 as Gonzaga’s frontcourt anchor during the program’s rise into a national fixture.
AWARDS
- 1x All-NBL Third Team
Related
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