Daniel Spruce
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth:
- Place of Birth:
- Position: #N/A
- Height (CM): #N/A
- Weight (KG): #N/A
- Junior Assoc: NSW - Newcastle
- College: None
- NBL DEBUT: 24/10/98
- AGE AT DEBUT: 0
- LAST NBL GAME: 9/01/99
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 0
- NBL History: Newcastle 1999
- Championships: 0
- None
NBL EXPERIENCE
Daniel Spruce made his NBL debut with the Newcastle Falcons on 24/10/1998. He scored three points in his first game.
Entering the 1998/99 season, the Falcons were in dire financial trouble, but on the brink of the season starting, they secured funds from a group of investors from Albury. As a result, the Falcons were able to retain local talent Ben Melmeth, Terry Johnson and import Todd Mundt but were forced to build the rest of the team on a shoestring budget. Somewhat luckily, Newcastle benefitted from the merger of South East Melbourne and North Melbourne, which saw Pat Reidy and import Butch Hays both former Giants players, without a team. With few NBL team’s having any space on their rosters at this stage, the Falcons were able to sign both at budget prices. Dean Brogan (via Adelaide), Rod Johnson (via Canberra) and legendary shot blocker Willie Simmons was lured out of retirement to play another season.
While obvious favourites to finish on the bottom of the ladder, the Falcons surprised everyone by winning five of their first six games.
Shortly after, reports of players not being paid their salaries surfaced, and the focus, motivation and production among the players began to wane. Mundt exited the team as a result of not getting paid on time and was replaced with Simmons (14.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 steals) who after a season playing with Sydney was sitting at home after being unable to find another new deal.
The remainder of the season then saw Newcastle record three wins from their next nineteen games before finally beating Perth (113–111) in their final game of the year.
Pat Reidy (17.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals) led the team in scoring, Ben Melmeth (17.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals) led the team in rebounds while Terry Johnson (14.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.1 steals) delivered his best season at the point guard position and his brother Rod Johnson (11.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists) rounded out the team’s leading scorers.
After narrowly surviving the season before, this would prove to be the death knell for Newcastle, with the league stepping in to address their financial situation and its result being the removal of their NBL licence and the Falcons being forced out of the league.
Daniel Spruce played one season in the NBL. He averaged 1.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0 assists in 2 NBL games.
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-99 | 0 | Newcastle | 9-17 (9) | 2 | 7.0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 17% | 1 | 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 25% | 0% | 3 | Totals | 2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 16.7% | 1 | 2 | 50.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0% | 0% | 3 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-99 | 0 | Newcastle | 9-17 (9) | 2 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 17% | 0.5 | 1.0 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 25% | 0% | 3 | Total | 2 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 16.7% | 0.1 | 50.0% | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0% | 0% | 0% | 3 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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