BIO: Hunt, the son of two Air Force veterans, was born in Tampa, Florida. Growing up, he lived in Japan and Turkey, as well as in six or seven different states.

He attended four or five different elementary schools and two middle schools. Hunt spent his first three years of secondary school at Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

With the basketball team, he earned second-team all-state honours his junior year after leading the team in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. He averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds per game as a junior. He set school records for career rebounding and blocks, as well as single-season records for scoring, rebounding and blocks.

For his senior year, Hunt moved to North Carolina to attend Charis Prep School. During the 2007/08 season, he averaged 16.1 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game, and helped Charis Prep to a 43–3 record. He was subsequently named team MVP and earned first-team all-league honours.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Dario Hunt made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 30 years of age. He scored four points in his first game.

After defeating Melbourne United 3-1 in the 2019 Grand Final to claim their ninth NBL championship, Perth focused on keeping its championship core together. Four-time championship-winning coach Trevor Gleeson re-signed on a three-year deal, while Damian Martin, Jesse Wagstaff and import Terrico White also returned. Wani Swaka Lo Buluk was elevated from development player to the full roster to replace Greg Hire (retired), while Perth completed its frontcourt by signing an American import centre from Spirou Charleroi and Majok Majok (via New Zealand) to replace Tom Jervis (retired) and Angus Brandt (to Europe).

Perth opened its championship defence at RAC Arena on October 5 with a 94-93 win over Melbourne United, where Hunt (4 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist) started at centre but was limited to 13 minutes by foul trouble. Bryce Cotton (21 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Terrico White (20 points and 2 steals) led Perth, while Melo Trimble (25 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) was Melbourne’s best before White hit the game-winning three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining.

Hunt (8.6 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists across 21 games) had arrived in Perth after playing the previous five seasons in Europe, including time as Cotton’s teammate in Italy, and was brought in to replace Brandt as the Wildcats’ starting centre. “I play with a lot of passion and a lot of heart. I love to compete,” Hunt said after signing with Perth.

The Wildcats began the season 5-1 before Hunt produced his best game of the season in Invercargill on November 3. Hunt (21 points and 11 rebounds) made 10 of his 15 field-goal attempts as Perth defeated New Zealand 84-79, with White (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) hitting another late three-pointer and Kay (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) providing support, while Corey Webster (21 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Breakers.

Hunt delivered another strong performance in Adelaide on November 15, where Hunt (19 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) helped Perth defeat the 36ers 99-95. Kay (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Cotton (18 points and 3 rebounds) provided the Wildcats’ other major contributions, while Daniel Johnson (23 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Adelaide.

Perth’s strong start faded as the season progressed, with the Wildcats falling to 8-5 before recovering with four consecutive wins to close December at 13-6. Martin (3.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals across 26 games) played his 300th game for Perth during December before suffering a left heel injury which sidelined him throughout January.

During December, Hunt’s inconsistent form, foul trouble and fit within Perth’s defence became a talking point among both the media and Wildcats supporters. Questions were raised over whether Perth had the right import at centre and whether he would be replaced before the finals eligibility deadline, while some fans went as far as discussing whether he ranked among the club’s least successful import big men. Other supporters defended his performances, pointing to several strong games and his offensive rebounding, but his minutes had fallen and he had lost his starting position to Majok.

Hunt’s final game for Perth came against Brisbane on January 5, where Hunt (12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) came off the bench as the Wildcats fell 97-85. Cotton (22 points and 6 rebounds) and Kay (20 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) led Perth, while Lamar Patterson (35 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) carried Brisbane. It was Perth’s second consecutive loss to begin 2020 and three days later Hunt (to Mornar Bar) was released, with the Wildcats deciding they needed a bigger and stronger interior presence for their championship run. Hunt had appeared in each of Perth’s first 21 games and did not miss a game through injury, with his remaining seven regular-season absences coming after his release.

Seven-year NBA veteran Miles Plumlee (via China) was signed as Hunt’s replacement and, with only seven regular-season games remaining, was required to appear in all seven to qualify for the postseason. Plumlee (8.6 points and 6.7 rebounds across 12 games) quickly provided the interior presence Perth was looking for, highlighted against New Zealand on January 25 when Plumlee (23 points, 18 rebounds, and 2 blocks) became the first Wildcat since 2007 to record more than 20 points and 15 rebounds in a game. Cotton (23 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals) and Kay (20 points and 11 rebounds) helped Perth defeat the Breakers 80-79, while Brandon Ashley (21 points and 12 rebounds) led New Zealand.

Cotton (22.6 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.6 steals across 32 games) won his second NBL MVP award and became the first import in league history to lead the NBL in scoring in three consecutive seasons. Fresh from representing Australia at the World Cup, Kay (15.9 points, 8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals across 33 games) was named to the All-NBL First Team, while White (15 points and 3.6 rebounds across 30 games), Clint Steindl (9.6 points across 32 games), Mitchell Norton (6.8 points across 33 games) and Wagstaff (5.8 points across 33 games) provided Perth’s other main contributions. The Wildcats won six of their final seven regular-season games following the change at centre to finish second with a 19-9 record and qualify for the finals for a 34th consecutive season.

Hunt was no longer with the Wildcats when Perth opened its semifinal series against Cairns at RAC Arena, where Perth escaped with a 108-107 overtime victory. Cotton (42 points and 6 assists) made 10 three-pointers to tie the NBL finals record, while Kay (23 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) helped the Wildcats survive, with Scott Machado (31 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists) and DJ Newbill (25 points) leading Cairns.

Game two moved to Cairns, where the Taipans defeated Perth 85-74 behind Cameron Oliver (22 points and 19 rebounds) and Newbill (16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals). Steindl (18 points and 3 rebounds), White (13 points and 4 rebounds) and Kay (10 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) led Perth as Cairns tied the series at 1-1.

Back at RAC Arena for game three, Perth defeated Cairns 93-82 behind White (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Kay (24 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals), while Cotton (5 points, 4 rebounds, and 9 assists) impacted the game as a facilitator. Oliver (20 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and Machado (19 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) led Cairns as Perth won the series 2-1 and advanced to its 15th NBL Grand Final.

Game one of the Grand Final moved to Qudos Bank Arena, where Perth defeated Sydney 88-86 in front of 11,647 fans. Cotton (32 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the Wildcats, with Kay (14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) and Plumlee (10 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) providing support, while Andrew Bogut (18 points and 11 rebounds) and Kevin Lisch (17 points) led Sydney.

Ahead of game two, the developing COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the remainder of the series being closed to the public. In an empty RAC Arena, Sydney defeated Perth 97-83 behind Jae’Sean Tate (20 points), Bogut (19 points and 14 rebounds) and Lisch (19 points), while Cotton (27 points and 5 rebounds), Kay (17 points and 7 rebounds) and Steindl (12 points) led Perth as the series was tied at 1-1.

Game three returned to Sydney, where Perth defeated the Kings 111-96 behind Cotton (31 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists) and a career-high scoring performance from Kay (30 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists), who made seven three-pointers. Plumlee (13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) also contributed inside, while Tate (20 points and 6 rebounds) and Brad Newley (19 points and 5 rebounds) led Sydney as Perth took a 2-1 series lead.

Prior to game four, Sydney withdrew from the series due to concerns surrounding COVID-19 and uncertainty around travel restrictions, leading the NBL to cancel the remaining two games. Two days later Perth was officially awarded the championship after holding a 2-1 series lead, securing its tenth NBL title and fourth championship in five seasons. Cotton averaged 30.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists across the three Grand Final games and was named Grand Final MVP for the second time in four years.

Dario Hunt played one season in the NBL. He averaged 8.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 21 NBL games.