BIO: David Bailey was born in Chicago, Illinois (USA) and is most fondly remembered for the time he spent as point guard for the Loyola Ramblers men’s basketball team from 1999 to 2003.

As a 5-foot-4-inch (1.63 m), 135 pounds (61.2 kg) junior point guard, Bailey led Westinghouse to the quarterfinals of the Chicago Public School League championships.

He missed a month of his senior season with a broken wrist, but was back in the lineup by mid January.

As a senior, the team reached the semi finals.

Following the season, David and junior teammate Cedrick Banks were first team All-Chicago Public School League and Martell was second team.

As a 5-foot-8-inch (1.73 m) second team All-state selection, he signed with Loyola.

NBL EXPERIENCE

David Bailey made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 24 years of age. He scored 13 points in his first game.

After Ricky Grace retired in 2005, veteran Tony Ronaldson was elevated to team captain of the Wildcats. While the team looked to build on its disappointing seventh place finish last season, they kept the majority of their local intact, the only major change being the departures of Grace, Adrian Majstrovich (New Zealand), and seldom used Braith Cox (Melbourne), while replacing them with Paul Rogers (via Spain), Dillon Boucher (via New Zealand) and rookie swingman Cameron Tovey.

the Wildcat’s did clean house when it came to imports, however. The departing Rosell Ellis (to South) and Rashad Tucker (to Melbourne) would be replaced by point guard David Bailey and Shawn Redhage, who joined the team after being unceremoniously cut by New Zealand in 2004.

In his first season at Perth, Redhage (20.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists), perhaps motivated by his Breakers’ experience, led the team in scoring alongside Bailey (17.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 2.0 steals), who proved to be a competent replacement for Grace.

With their two imports delivering, Tony Ronaldson (14.9 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists), Peter Crawford (14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals) would add additional scoring with veteran Matthew Shanahan (11.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.4 assists) produced the best season of his career coming off the bench.

Despite the reshuffled roster, Perth would finish seventh for the second season in a row.

Despite not having a winning record (16-16), the team qualified for the playoffs, with the league allowing the top eight team’s to proceed to the postseason.

There, things all began to click for the Wildcats, and after upset victories over both the sixth-ranked Brisbane (96-91) and third-ranked Wollongong (101-121), the team found themselves in a unlikely semi final appearance, facing off against a powerhouse Melbourne squad.

Behind the NBL MVP Chris Anstey and former Wildcat Rashad Tucker, the Tigers would prove too strong. Anstey (28 points and 11 rebounds) and Tucker (10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals) delivered a comfortable 94-78 Melbourne win at home in game one. Then backing it in Perth, winning 106-101, with Anstey (29 points and 6 rebounds) and Tucker (9 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists), ending Perth’s ‘Cinderella’ playoff run and going on to win the NBL championship.

In July 2006, Bailey and former Perth Wildcats star Rashad Tucker were both been fined $5000 and reprimanded after returning cannabis positive tests from in-competition samples as per the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA). The use of cannabis in both cases was determined to be non-performance enhancing. At the time Bailey was out of contract and believed to be seeking a pay increase from the Wildcat’s but all discussions between Bailey and the Wildcat’s ended after they learnt of his positive result.

David Bailey played one season in the NBL. He averaged 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in 36 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 21st in assists per game.
– 42nd in steals per game.

Dan Boyce (832 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.