BIO: Darren Perry was born in Melbourne (VIC) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Bulleen basketball program.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Darren Perry made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 18 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

In 1987, Darren Perry played a key role in Brisbane, finishing the regular season in second place, averaging 6.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game in his rookie season. Brisbane received a first-round bye in the 1987 playoffs, where they would face the Illawarra Hawks / North Melbourne Giants elimination finals series winner. The Hawks defeated the Giants 105-97, advancing to a semi-final matchup with the Bullets. Brisbane would win game one comfortably (109-87), lose game two in a nail-biter (77-78) then earn a spot in the 1987 NBL Grand Final after winning game three 100-82. Brisbane made it to the NBL grand final for a league-record fourth consecutive season and would face off against the Perth Wildcats who had just upset the defending champion 36ers on the other side of the semi-final bracket. Perth was led by player/coach and former Bullets’ favourite Cal Bruton. Bruton had left the club at the end of 1986 after a public falling out with coach Brian Kerle and turned the Wildcat’s into a championship contender with the addition of forwards Kendall ‘Tiny’ Pinder and the ‘Alabama Slamma’ James Crawford.

At 19 years of age, Perry assumed the starting point guard role in the playoffs and played 42 minutes In game one, contributing 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals. The Bullets defeated Perth on their home court by a single point, the final score reading 80-79.

Game 2 saw the Bullets win comfortably after a tightly fought first half (47-44). Perry took leadership of the backcourt, playing 41 minutes and finished with 12 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists as Brisbane owned the Wildcat’s in the second half, outscoring them by 16 points.

Leroy Loggins, who had won his third MVP award during the regular season (shared with Adelaide’s 1986 Grand Final MVP Mark Davis), was named Grand Final MVP as well.

1988
The Brisbane Bullets entered the 1988 NBL season aiming to defend their championship and capture a third title in four years. With Brian Kerle continuing as head coach, the club retained the core of its 1987 title-winning roster. The only offseason changes came at the end of the bench, with James Carr and Paul Webb replaced by rookies—17-year-old Shane Heal and Simon Kerle.

Brisbane remained among the league’s top-tier teams throughout the regular season and held second place with two rounds remaining. However, a costly 97–105 home defeat to Canberra resulted in them finishing tied with the North Melbourne Giants at 18–6. With the head-to-head series split 1–1, North Melbourne edged ahead on for-and-against (+9), relegating Brisbane to third on the ladder.

Leroy Loggins (24.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.4 steals) once again led the way, earning his seventh consecutive All-NBL First Team selection and topping the league in free throw shooting at 85.6%. American import Emery Atkinson (16.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks) was a dependable two-way contributor, while veterans Larry Sengstock (11.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists) and Ron Radliff (12.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.2 steals) anchored the team with experience and consistency.

A major highlight for Brisbane was the emergence of rookie guard Shane Heal (15.0 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists), who quickly earned a reputation as one of the NBL’s most exciting young talents. Logging 27 minutes per game behind starting point guard Darren Perry (6.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.2 steals), Heal impressed throughout the season and was named NBL Rookie of the Year.

Finishing third meant Brisbane had to contest a sudden-death quarterfinal against the sixth-seeded Perth Wildcats, hosted at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Leroy Loggins was again dominant, finishing with 31 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 5 steals in 45 minutes, while Larry Sengstock (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Emery Atkinson (12 points, 8 rebounds) also made key contributions.

However, Brisbane’s poor outside shooting—just 2-of-16 from beyond the arc—proved costly. Perth, by contrast, were clinical, shooting 52% from the field. Former Bullets champion Calvin Bruton returned to haunt his old team, posting 31 points, 4 assists, and a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line. James Crawford (26 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 blocks) was dominant in the paint, shutting down Brisbane’s interior offense.

The 98–113 defeat ended Brisbane’s campaign in the quarterfinals and halted their run of four straight Grand Final appearances.

1989
Brisbane entered the 1989 NBL season in transition, having lost two of their top three scorers from the previous year—emerging star Shane Heal (to Geelong) and import Emery Atkinson (to Canberra). To help fill the void, the Bullets recruited American forward Winston Crite and Greg Giddings to boost their offensive output and strengthen their interior presence.

Darren Perry (10.3 points, 1.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 steals) was a key part of the backcourt rotation but was limited to just 18 games due to injury, missing a third of the season. His absence disrupted continuity in the guard rotation and impacted Brisbane’s ability to generate consistent perimeter production.

Leroy Loggins (22.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.8 steals, and 1.1 blocks) continued to lead by example on both ends of the floor, finishing as the team’s leading scorer and defensive anchor. Despite his efforts, Loggins was left off the All-NBL First Team for the first time since 1981—likely influenced by the team’s disappointing win-loss record. New import Winston Crite (20.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks) posted strong numbers but struggled to develop the same chemistry with Loggins that previous imports had.

Veterans Larry Sengstock (12.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists) and Ron Radliff (12.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.4 steals) remained central to Brisbane’s structure, but both were entering the later stages of their careers and showed signs of decline as their production dipped.

Robert Sibley (15.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists) emerged as one of the few bright spots, nearly doubling his scoring output from the previous season and establishing himself as a key frontcourt contributor. His growth provided the team with much-needed interior support.

Despite solid individual efforts, Brisbane struggled to find the rhythm and cohesion that had defined their success in previous years. The Bullets closed the regular season in eighth place with an 11–13 record, missing the postseason for the first time since 1983 and signaling a shift in the franchise’s dominance during the 1980s.

EASTSIDE MELBOURNE SPECTRES
1990
Perry moved to Melbourne in 1990 and played with the Eastside Melbourne Spectres, where he averaged 10.7 points and 2.4 rebounds, and helped guide the team to a second-place finish in the regular season behind a 18-8 record. The Spectres reached the semi finals for the first time under coach Brian Goorjian but were eliminated by Brisbane amidst little fanfare in two straight games.

1991
After making the playoffs for the first time in three years, coach Brian Goorjian was able to bring back almost the entire squad for another shot at the championship, the team’s only key loss being bruising forward Shane Froling, who was replaced with Scott Ninnis.

Behind Eastside’s formidable frontcourt, led by Bruce Bolden (27.2 points and 10.4 rebounds), Kent Lockhart (18.6 points and 5.7 rebounds) and Dean Uthoff (16.8 points and 13.6 rebounds) the Spectres finished the season with a 17-9 record. Perry contributed 12.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists as Eastside finished in second place, earning them a first-round bye in the playoffs. Eastside would then eliminate North Melbourne, 2–0 in the semifinals before facing off against the Perth Wildcats, who had finished the season in first place (22-4) and eliminated the Adelaide 36ers in their semi-final matchup. The Grand Final series would see Perth come away victorious with a 109-83 win in game one before the Spectres evened things up with a 86-81 win in game two. Behind the stellar play from Perth imports Ricky Grace and Pete Hanson, who would be awarded the Grand Final MVP, Perth defeated Eastside in the deciding game, 90-80.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE MAGIC
1992
At the end of 1991, the South Melbourne Saints were in financial crisis and unable to continue operations. In a landmark move, they merged with cross-town rivals the Eastside Melbourne Spectres to form a new NBL franchise: the South East Melbourne Magic. With the Spectres having come within one game of a championship the previous season, head coach Brian Goorjian was retained to lead the newly formed club. Only two Saints players were carried over—Andrew Parkinson and Andrej Lemanis—joining a proven Spectres core that included Bruce Bolden, Tony Ronaldson, Darren Lucas, Scott Ninnis, and Darren Perry.

A reliable and disciplined floor general, Perry was locked in as the starting point guard for the Magic in their debut season. Known for his unselfishness, defensive commitment, and poise under pressure, he became a key piece of Goorjian’s high-intensity system. Over 29 games, Perry averaged 8.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.9 steals per game—ranking among the league leaders in assists and helping orchestrate an offence that complemented South East Melbourne’s rugged defence.

The Magic opened the 1992 campaign in strong form, winning six of their first seven games. While import Milt Newton produced solid numbers, the team opted for a change mid-season, bringing in former LA Clippers guard Rob Rose. The adjustment elevated the team’s offensive firepower, and with Perry continuing to steer the offence and pressure opposing ballhandlers, the Magic surged toward a 20–4 regular season record, finishing undefeated at home (12–0). Perry’s calm leadership and ball control were vital to the Magic securing the No.1 seed, with head coach Brian Goorjian earning NBL Coach of the Year honours.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Did you believe in Magic? How could you not with this old tune! Before the days of @SEMelbPhoenix we had the South East Melbourne Magic. Do you remember how many NBL Championships Magic had to their name? Read more – https://t.co/OezFZFpFDS #HoopsAtHome pic.twitter.com/mQfmy7kiG4

— Basketball Victoria (@Basketball_Vic) April 16, 2020

In the playoffs, Darren Perry continued to steer the South East Melbourne offence with poise, helping the Magic sweep the Canberra Cannons in the quarterfinals before they dispatched the North Melbourne Giants in straight sets. His steady presence as the starting point guard allowed the team to maintain its high-tempo, high-pressure system, with his unselfish playmaking and full-court defensive energy laying the groundwork for their Grand Final berth against the third-seeded Melbourne Tigers, led by Andrew Gaze and Lanard Copeland.

Game one of the Grand Final marked a devastating moment for both Perry and the Magic. Just 11 minutes into the contest, Perry suffered a torn ACL—an injury that would rule him out for the remainder of the series and sideline him for the next nine months. The Magic never fully recovered from the blow, as Melbourne took advantage of the disruption. Copeland poured in 34 points, while Gaze added 26, leading the Tigers to a commanding 116–98 win. Perry’s absence left a gaping hole in South East Melbourne’s rotation, with the team losing its defensive organiser and primary floor general at the most critical time of the season.

With Perry sidelined, the Magic showed resilience in Game two. Darren Lucas stepped into the starting role and delivered a season-high 19 points, while Scott Ninnis suffocated Copeland defensively. Although the backcourt rotation had shifted, it was Perry’s fingerprints that remained on the team’s identity—grit, discipline, and ball control. His influence on the group’s structure allowed Rob Rose to seamlessly slide into an expanded playmaking role, finishing with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. Bruce Bolden anchored the paint with 22 points and 12 rebounds, as the Magic responded with a dominant 115–93 win to level the series.

Game three was a test of mental toughness, with the Magic’s backcourt once again rallying in Perry’s absence. South East Melbourne’s defence shut down Melbourne’s stars, holding Gaze to 18 points on 5-of-19 shooting and limiting Copeland’s impact despite his 24-point output. With Bolden (21 points, 10 rebounds) and Rose (26 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists) leading the way, the Magic claimed a 95–88 win and their first NBL championship.

At the conclusion of the series, Bruce Bolden was awarded the NBL Finals MVP by visiting NBA Commissioner David Stern. While Perry watched from the sidelines, his role in shaping the identity and tempo of the Magic’s remarkable debut season was undeniable. Averaging 8.6 points, 5.9 assists, and 1.9 steals across the campaign, Darren Perry’s leadership, playmaking, and defensive energy were instrumental in building the foundation of a championship team during “One Magic Year.”

HOBART DEVILS
1994

In 1994, was not re-signed by the Magic and he headed to Tasmania where he would return to form as the starting point guard for the Hobart Devils. Perry averaged 9.4 points and 3.7 rebounds but the Devils struggled throughout the year, finishing with only two wins for the year.

1995
By 1995 Hobart was struggling financially, and coach Bill Tomlinson would struggle to keep maintain a roster with his younger talent being snapped up by richer team’s while his veteran players were retiring. Anthony Stewart (Perth) and imports Lamont Middleton and Calvin Talford (both Europe) were not retained from the previous season as all three received more lucrative offers elsewhere. Wayne McDaniel retired, as did Keith Nelson, after a severe knee injury. Perry, who himself was still recovering from his ACL injury, was the only player from the team’s fully contracted roster to return in 1995. Tomlinson would add Jerome Scott and veteran big man Andre Moore from Brisbane as the team’s import players.

The team would be led by Scott (23.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists) and Moore (17.8 points and 10.6 rebounds) while Perry added 6.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists over the course of a difficult season where the team managed only four wins for the entire year. The only bright spots that season was the emergence of rookies Darren Smith (12.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.3 steals), and David Stiff (15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocks), who would win the league’s Rookie of the Year award at season’s end.

ILLAWARRA HAWKS
1999/00
After a playoff campaign where the Hawks lost four playoff games in a row, Wollongong came into the season with a point to prove. Although promising big man David Andersen was lost to a deal in Europe, Wollongong was able to veteran players to the team in Mike McKay (via Canberra) and Darren Perry. Perry had spent the last five years playing in the state league, before being offered a lifeline by coach Brendan Joyce who encouraged Perry to return to the NBL and provide some leadership to his young, up and coming squad. The team chose not to re-sign imports Theron Wilson (to Europe) and Clayton Ritter (to Canberra) and instead looked for new imports to better complement the style of Bruton and signed former NBA lottery pick Todd Mundt (via Newcastle) as well as former Hawks MVP, Melvin Thomas, who had spent the past four seasons playing with Sydney and Canberra. Another change saw Mat Campbell (14.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists) take on the role of team captain, a role he maintained for more than a decade.

With high-scoring guard CJ Bruton (22.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists) settling into his second season with the team, many felt the Hawks would have one of the stronger rosters clubs, but the Hawks just couldn’t seem to get victories over any of the league’s top team’s. A key factor was the lack of production the team were able to get from Mundt (8.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists), who struggled to play big minutes and with nine games left in the season, he was released. Matt Garrison (17.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.7 steals) entered the team as his replacement, and although his presence delivered a immediate improvement, the move was too little too late. Wollongong limped home to a eighth-place finish (11-17) with the Hawk’s dismal season viewed to be a result of Bruton being tasked with too much.

In his last year in the NBL, Perry averaged 1.9 points and 0.8 rebounds alongside Melvin Thomas (19.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 steals) and Glen Saville (14.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.9 steals) who both delivered great seasons and were voted as the Hawks co-MVP’s as a result.

Darren Perry played ten seasons across five NBL teams. This included the Brisbane Bullets, Eastside Melbourne Spectres, Hobart Devils, South East Melbourne Magic and Wollongong Hawks. He averaged 8.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 252 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (833 Posts)

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.