BIO: David Barlow was born and raised in Melbourne (VIC) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Sandringham basketball program.

FAMILY: Barlow and his wife Tiwi have one child. His wife is a native of Bali

NBL EXPERIENCE

David Barlow made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 19 years of age. He scored one point in his first NBL game.

After graduating from Metro State University in 2003, Barlow returned to Australia and signed with the Sydney Kings. As a rookie, Barlow averaged 1.5 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.2 assists, while the Kings finished in first place with a record of 26-7.

2004/05
In the 2004/05 season, Barlow averaged 2.7 points and 1.5 rebounds, contributing to the Kings’ first-place finish in the regular season with a 21-11 record.

2005/06
During the 2005/06 season, Barlow averaged 10.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. He played a key role in helping the Kings achieve a first-place finish in the regular season with a 26-6 record.

2006/07
On 28 November 2006, Barlow was ruled out for the remainder of the 2006/07 season after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during training the day before. This injury sidelined him for most of the season, but he made a return before the end of the regular season as the Kings prepared for the NBL playoffs. He finished the season averaging 15.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists, helping the Kings secure a fourth-place finish with a 20-13 record. In April 2007, Barlow signed with the Melbourne Tigers, marking a new chapter in his career.

MELBOURNE TIGERS
2007/08
In the 2007/08 season, Barlow joined the Melbourne Tigers and averaged 16.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, leading the Tigers to a second-place finish in the regular season with a 22-8 record. During this season, Barlow delivered one of the most remarkable performances in NBL history. In a game against the New Zealand Breakers, he scored 37 points on perfect shooting—14/14 from the field (including 8/8 from three-point range) and 1/1 from the free-throw line. This extraordinary display of shooting accuracy is widely regarded as one of the greatest in league history. In the same game, teammate Stephen Hoare also delivered a perfect shooting performance, scoring 17 points on 7/7 from the field, 1/1 from three-point range, and 2/2 from the free-throw line. Together, their performances set a standard for shooting excellence rarely seen in professional basketball.

2008/09
During the 2008/09 season, Barlow averaged 14.9 points and 5.6 rebounds, helping guide the Tigers to a second-place finish in the regular season with a 20-10 record.

After the 2008/09 season, Barlow spent the next five years playing in Europe.

2014/15 – TIGERS BECOME UNITED
On 20 May 2014, the franchise was re-branded as Melbourne United in an effort to distance the team from its association with the Melbourne Tigers junior program, which had garnered a reputation for poaching young talent from other programs. This rebranding aimed to unite all of Victoria’s basketball community and was spearheaded by owner Larry Kestelman.

The team retained head coach Chris Anstey and brought in Tigers legend Daryl Corletto, who had spent three years with the New Zealand Breakers. Australian Boomers players David Barlow, who had spent the previous five years playing in Europe, and Daniel Kickert joined the club, while long-time captain Tommy Greer announced his retirement.

Melbourne United retained the core of their Tigers roster, including Mark Worthington, Lucas Walker, and Nate Tomlinson, who were all appointed to share captaincy duties. The team completed their roster by signing imports Jordan McRae and Stephen Dennis. However, in a controversial decision, United released veteran Adam Ballinger just a week before the season began, leaving him unable to secure a contract with another NBL team. He eventually joined the Illawarra Hawks for the remainder of the season.

United’s inaugural season began with a disappointing 89–61 loss to Cairns, which led to head coach Chris Anstey resigning. He was replaced by assistant coach Darryl McDonald. Barlow averaged 9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists during the season, helping Melbourne achieve a fifth-place finish with a 13–15 record. However, the team narrowly missed the playoffs in their first year as Melbourne United.

2015/16
Barlow was sidelined for the entire 2015/16 season due to an Achilles injury.

2016/17
With the league allowing three import players per team, Melbourne United overhauled their roster by replacing imports Stephen Holt and Hakim Warrick with Cedric Jackson, Ramone Moore, and Devin Williams. The team also signed Tai Wesley (via New Zealand), who was eligible as a local under the NBL’s Asian player rule, and replaced Daniel Kickert with fellow Boomer David Andersen, who returned from Europe.

Under head coach Dean Demopoulos, United started poorly with a 3-7 record. Jackson, despite averaging 10.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.4 steals, was released due to poor attitude and failure to adhere to the team’s defensive principles. Casper Ware was signed as his replacement, immediately transforming the team’s fortunes.

Chris Goulding, who had missed six games early in the season with ankle issues, began to find his rhythm, averaging 17.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 steals. Dave Barlow returned from a two-year absence due to a calf injury, contributing 5.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. With Ware leading the way, averaging 22.1 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals, and a healthier roster, Melbourne won 10 of their final 18 games.

Devin Williams, averaging 3.2 points and 4.0 rebounds, was released after 16 games due to underperformance. Josh Boone was signed as his replacement and became a key player, finishing with averages of 10.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks. Boone also led the league in rebounding and was among United’s best players across advanced metrics.

Despite these improvements, injuries plagued the team, with Tai Wesley and Majok Majok being the only players to appear in all 28 games. Melbourne finished the season in sixth place with a 13-15 record. Casper Ware was named to the All-NBL First Team despite playing only 18 games. Head coach Dean Demopoulos’s inability to manage relationships with players led to his departure at the end of the season.

2017/18
The 2017/18 season marked the start of the Dean Vickerman era, with the former Sydney Kings assistant taking over as head coach. Vickerman re-signed key players Dave Barlow, Casper Ware, and Josh Boone and brought in Craig Moller (via Sydney) to replace Todd Blanchfield (to Illawarra). Casey Prather, a two-time champion with Perth, was added as the third import.

Melbourne opened the season with a thrilling 99–97 win over Adelaide, led by Prather’s 20 points. However, inconsistent play saw the team win just five of their first ten games. Prather suffered a dislocated elbow in December, sidelining him for eight weeks. Former NBA player Carrick Felix was signed as his injury replacement, and his arrival coincided with Melbourne’s surge, winning 15 of their last 18 games to finish the regular season in first place.

Barlow averaged 3.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game, contributing in a limited role. Melbourne faced the New Zealand Breakers in the semifinals, winning game one 88–77, led by Prather’s 15 points off the bench. In game two, Melbourne secured a hard-fought overtime victory (88–86) to sweep the series and advance to the Grand Final against Adelaide.

In game one of the Grand Final series, Casper Ware scored 20 points before leaving with a hip injury. Chris Goulding stepped up with 26 points to lead Melbourne to a 107-96 victory. Adelaide tied the series in game two with a 110–95 win, led by Majok Deng (18 points) and Mitch Creek (17 points). Melbourne’s Casey Prather and Goulding scored 20 and 19 points, respectively.

Game three saw a heated contest as Nathan Sobey was ejected for a clash with Prather. Melbourne narrowly won 101-98, with Goulding hitting crucial three-pointers and Ware and Prather scoring 25 and 23 points, respectively. Adelaide responded in game four with a dominant first-half performance, leading 55–31 at halftime and ultimately winning 90–81. Daniel Johnson scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Adelaide, while Prather led Melbourne with 23 points.

In the deciding game five, Goulding, Ware, and Prather delivered outstanding performances, scoring 23, 23, and 19 points, respectively. Melbourne defeated Adelaide 100–82 in front of a sold-out crowd at Hisense Arena to claim their first championship since rebranding as Melbourne United. Chris Goulding was named Finals MVP after averaging 16.6 points and 3.6 rebounds across the series. Casey Prather made history by becoming the first player to win three consecutive NBL championships in his first three seasons.

2018/19
Melbourne United entered the 2018/19 season aiming to defend their championship. They retained their core group by re-signing captain Chris Goulding to a two-year deal and David Barlow to a one-year deal. They also secured Casper Ware and Josh Boone on one-year contracts, which proved challenging due to strong interest in both players from overseas. To further strengthen their lineup, the team added DJ Kennedy (via Turkey), Mitch McCarron (via Cairns), and Alex Pledger (via New Zealand). Melbourne’s strategy focused on continuity, keeping the championship-winning core intact while adding depth and versatility to the roster.

David Barlow averaged 11.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game during the regular season. His ability to stretch the floor with his shooting and his defensive versatility made him a critical piece of Melbourne’s success. Highlights of Barlow’s season included a 24-point, 5-rebound, 1-block performance in a win against Cairns, a 23-point, 5-rebound, 2-assist, 2-steal, and 2-block effort in a victory over New Zealand, and a 20-point, 4-rebound, and 4-assist game in a win against Brisbane.

Mid-season, Melbourne added Venky Jois, who had been playing in Japan, to provide additional cover for injuries and bolster the roster for the playoffs. Dean Vickerman’s leadership earned him the NBL Coach of the Year award as Melbourne finished second in the regular season with an 18-10 record, setting up a semifinal clash against the Sydney Kings.

In Game 1 of the semifinals, Melbourne dominated Sydney with a 95-73 win. David Barlow contributed 10 points and 4 rebounds, while Casper Ware (22 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists), Chris Goulding (17 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists), and DJ Kennedy (20 points and 7 rebounds) led United offensively. Sydney’s Andrew Bogut, who struggled offensively with just 7 points, added 7 rebounds and 3 blocks, while Kevin Lisch and Jerome Randle each scored 13 points but couldn’t overcome Melbourne’s defensive intensity.

Game 2 saw Melbourne clinch the series with a 90-76 victory. Barlow added 8 points and 5 rebounds, while Casper Ware exploded for 30 points and 5 rebounds, and Chris Goulding added 23 points and 3 assists. Andrew Bogut had a stronger performance with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Melbourne from advancing to face the Perth Wildcats in the Grand Final.

In Game 1 of the Grand Final series, Perth secured an 81-71 victory. Barlow contributed 9 points and 3 rebounds, while Casper Ware (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Chris Goulding (15 points and 2 assists) led Melbourne offensively. Perth’s Terrico White (19 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Angus Brandt (14 points and 7 rebounds) were key for the Wildcats, while Bryce Cotton struggled with just 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists.

Game 2 saw Melbourne bounce back with a 92-74 win. Barlow contributed 11 points and 4 rebounds, and DJ Kennedy recorded a double-double with 12 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists. Casper Ware and Chris Goulding added 14 points each. For Perth, Bryce Cotton (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Terrico White (17 points and 4 rebounds) led the way, but they couldn’t stop Melbourne from evening the series.

In Game 3, Perth dominated Melbourne with a 95-67 win. Barlow scored 13 points and grabbed 5 rebounds, while DJ Kennedy added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Bryce Cotton (27 points, 4 rebounds, and 10 assists) and Terrico White (31 points and 7 rebounds) combined for 58 points, nearly outscoring Melbourne on their own.

In the deciding Game 4, Perth clinched the championship with a 97-84 victory. Barlow contributed 9 points and 4 rebounds, but Bryce Cotton (28 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals) and Terrico White (20 points and 8 rebounds) led the Wildcats to the title. Nick Kay added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Casper Ware (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Chris Goulding (15 points and 4 assists) were Melbourne’s top scorers. Terrico White, who had faced criticism earlier in the season, was named Grand Final MVP after averaging 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists across the series.

Barlow’s contributions during the season earned him Melbourne United’s Best Defensive Player award. In March 2019, he set a new NBL record for the most Grand Final appearances, making his 26th appearance during the championship series.

2019/20
On 20 August 2019, Melbourne United began a major rehaul of its roster, signing Jo Lual-Acuil while parting ways with key players Casper Ware and Josh Boone. They also released Daniel Trist and lost forward Craig Moller to the Sydney Kings via free agency. The team’s overhaul aimed to revitalize its performance after a disappointing finish the previous season.

David Barlow re-signed with Melbourne on 29 April 2019, committing to another season with the team. However, his pre-season was marred by a thumb injury sustained in a pre-season game, forcing him to miss both of United’s NBLxNBA pre-season games as well as the first two rounds of the season.

To reinforce the roster, Melbourne brought in Shea Ili, who had previously played under coach Dean Vickerman at the New Zealand Breakers, and Jack Purchase as a development player. The import duo of Melo Trimble (via Cairns) and Shawn Long (via New Zealand) was also signed, capitalizing on their chemistry from playing together for the USA National Team. The squad was further rounded out by the return of Alex Pledger, Tohi Smith-Milner, and Casey Prather, who agreed to a two-year deal to return for a second stint with the team.

Prather’s return was initially met with excitement, but injuries plagued his season. He missed the first seven games due to injury and, when he finally returned, could only produce averages of 9.3 points and 3.3 rebounds, well below his career norms. After undergoing another knee clean-out, he played six of the next eight games before suffering a season-ending hamstring tear. United signed former NBA player Stanton Kidd as his injury replacement, but the disruption contributed to a rocky start to the season.

United lost four of their first five games, and rumors of internal rifts, a coach under pressure, and frustrated supporters painted a troubling picture. However, the team rallied by late November, climbing to third on the ladder (7-4) with six consecutive wins. During this run, Melbourne became the highest-scoring team in the league, averaging 99.7 points per game. Melo Trimble led the way offensively, averaging 19.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals. Shawn Long dominated inside, contributing 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks, while Captain Chris Goulding added 17.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.

David Barlow finished the regular season with averages of 7.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.9 assists, providing veteran leadership and key contributions as Melbourne overcame its poor start to secure a fourth-place finish with a 15-13 record.

In the semifinals, Melbourne faced the top-seeded Sydney Kings. Game one saw United fall short in Sydney, losing 80-86 despite a dominant performance from Shawn Long, who recorded 23 points, 10 rebounds, and a block, and a stellar effort from Trimble, who scored 34 points off the bench along with 5 assists and 3 steals. Sydney’s Xavier Cooks (21 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Jae’Sean Tate (19 points and 5 rebounds) led the Kings to victory.

Game two, played in Melbourne, saw United deliver a commanding performance, leveling the series with a stunning 125-80 win. The import trio of Long (26 points and 11 rebounds), Trimble (21 points and 2 steals), and Kidd (18 points and 4 rebounds) powered Melbourne’s offense. The team’s decisive second quarter, where they outscored Sydney 32-7, proved insurmountable. Jae’Sean Tate led the Kings with 18 points and 6 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to counter United’s firepower.

The series decider was held at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, and the game came down to the final seconds. Chris Goulding led Melbourne with 19 points and 3 assists, but Tate (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) and the Kings secured a narrow two-point victory to eliminate Melbourne and advance to the Grand Final, ending United’s season.

2020/21
After several attempts to get import Casey Prather back onto the court, Melbourne United and Prather mutually agreed to terminate the second year of his contract. United restructured their roster by adding rookie Jack White (via Duke University) and Japanese star Yudai Baba, who signed a one-year deal under an NBL Special Restricted Player contract. Melbourne also retained team captain Chris Goulding (three-year deal), David Barlow (one-year deal), Mason Peatling (three-year deal), and Sam McDaniel (one-year deal). They relied heavily on their local talent, signing Scotty Hopson (via Europe) as their lone import and adding Australian Boomers forward Jock Landale on a one-year deal just weeks before the season began, after his Lithuanian contract was voided due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Melbourne faced a significant setback early in the season when rookie Jack White, who had been averaging 10 points and 6 rebounds as a starter and was a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, suffered a season-ending Achilles injury against the Cairns Taipans in April. White required 12 months of rehabilitation, and United signed former team member David Andersen as an injury replacement.

David Barlow played a crucial role off the bench during the 2020/21 season, averaging 5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while shooting a career-high 48.4% from three-point range. He also finished as the most efficient offensive player in the league, averaging 1.17 points per possession. Despite a challenging season that saw Melbourne playing much of their schedule on the road, United finished atop the ladder with a 28-8 record.

In the semifinals, Melbourne faced their Victorian rivals, the South East Melbourne Phoenix, with all games played in empty arenas due to lockdown restrictions. The teams split the first two games at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, setting up a deciding Game 3 in Melbourne. United trailed 32-15 early in the second quarter but locked in defensively, holding the Phoenix to just 42 points for the remainder of the game while scoring 69 themselves. Jock Landale (27 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) equaled his season-high for points, shooting 11-13 from the field and 3-3 from beyond the arc, leading United to an 84-74 victory. Chris Goulding (14 points) notched his 350th game, while Mitch McCarron (11 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists), Scotty Hopson (9 points and 6 rebounds), and Jo Lual-Acuil (8 points and 3 rebounds) all contributed significantly. Reuben Te Rangi (22 points) and Mitch Creek (19 points) were standout performers for the Phoenix.

In the Grand Final series, Melbourne faced the Perth Wildcats. Due to border restrictions in Western Australia, Perth hosted the first two games despite being the lower seed. United capitalized on the absence of Perth’s injured superstar Bryce Cotton, winning both games in Perth before returning to Melbourne for Game 3. In front of a sold-out crowd of 5,000 at John Cain Arena, United secured an 81-76 victory to claim their sixth championship and their second under the United branding. Landale (15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) was instrumental throughout the series and was named Finals MVP.

2021/22
Following their championship success, Melbourne United lost leading scorer Jock Landale to the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs and starting point guard Mitch McCarron, who signed a lucrative three-year deal with Adelaide. To rebuild their roster, United re-signed Jo Lual-Acuil, David Barlow, and Shea Ili. They also welcomed the return of Jack White, who had missed the latter half of the previous season due to injury. Free agents Brad Newley (via Sydney) and Dion Prewster, fresh off an NZNBL MVP campaign, were added to the squad. Melbourne also secured NBA champion Matthew Dellavedova on a three-year deal and replaced Scotty Hopson with Caleb Agada, who had represented Nigeria at the Olympics. Additionally, young German prospect Ariel Hukporti joined the team under the Next Stars program.

After a 0-2 start, United quickly found their stride, winning three straight games to close December and losing just one game in January while playing exclusively on the road. Chris Goulding reached the 5,000-point milestone in January 2022, becoming only the second active player to do so behind Adelaide’s Daniel Johnson.

United dominated February, winning four of their five games to secure the top spot on the ladder with a 12-4 record. They remained there for the rest of the season, finishing first with a 20-8 record. Jo Lual-Acuil led the team in scoring, averaging 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks, earning All-NBL First Team honors. Chris Goulding contributed 15.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, earning All-NBL Second Team recognition, while Shea Ili (8.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 steals) won the Sixth Man of the Year award. David Barlow appeared in 24 games, averaging 1.6 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.5 assists, continuing to provide veteran leadership.

In the semifinals, United faced the fourth-seeded Tasmania JackJumpers. United took Game 1 (74-63) as expected, but Tasmania leveled the series with a home win in Game 2. Heading into Game 3, United suffered a major blow when captain Chris Goulding was ruled unfit to play. Tasmania capitalized on United’s poor three-point shooting, as Dellavedova (1-7), Agada (0-7), White (0-5), and Baba (0-2) combined to go 1-21 from beyond the arc. United shot just 20% from three compared to Tasmania’s 31%, ultimately losing the series decider 76-73. The JackJumpers made history by reaching the Grand Final in their inaugural season, ending Melbourne’s playoff run.

2022/23
Melbourne United entered the 2022/23 season as championship favorites after finishing the previous year on top of the ladder. However, the team faced unexpected challenges before the season even began, losing key players to injuries and overseas opportunities. Leading scorer Jo Lual Acuil accepted a lucrative deal in China, while Jack White and Matthew Dellavedova both secured NBA contracts with the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings, respectively. These departures occurred mere weeks before the season tipped off, leaving Melbourne scrambling to fill critical roster spots.

To address these gaps, United signed Isaac Humphries (via Adelaide), Xavier Rathan-Mayes (via Illawarra), Rayjon Tucker, and Jordan Caroline. Additionally, David Barlow, who had announced his retirement and was set to join the coaching staff as an assistant, made a surprise return as a player after discussions with head coach Dean Vickerman and the coaching staff.

“We wanted someone to help solidify our interior presence, and the more we looked at it, the more we came back to Barlow. He’s one of the strongest, smartest players in our league, while being able to stretch the floor at an elite level.” Vickerman noted with Barlow returning to the roster.

Barlow, expressing his gratitude for the opportunity, reflected on his unexpected return.

“Situations change, and it just so happens there was a hole I could fill as a player rather than a coach. Like I had always said, I was always going to do whatever I could to help the club compete for a championship. I’m thankful for the opportunity to get to do that as a player for another season with United.” said Barlow.

In the preseason, Melbourne suffered another blow when Next Star Ariel Hukporti sustained a season-ending Achilles injury during the NBL Blitz in Darwin. Hukporti’s absence thrust Humphries, who was recovering from knee issues, into a starting role, while Barlow, Brad Newley, and Caroline were forced to log significant minutes as makeshift centers. Despite these setbacks, United opened their season with an overtime victory over New Zealand (101–97), thanks to a massive performance from Rathan-Mayes (33 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists).

Rathan-Mayes (14.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists) was initially recruited to lead United’s second unit but was quickly moved into the starting lineup after Shea Ili (8.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists) suffered a concussion while playing for New Zealand in FIBA qualifying games. Ili’s repeated absences—appearing in just 13 games across three stints—forced Tucker to run the offense out of position, further straining the team’s cohesion.

United struggled to find form early in the season, starting 5-6, with media outlets calling for an import change. Tucker (17.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) was far from delivering on his bold preseason proclamation of being “the best first-year import in the league.” Meanwhile, Caroline (5.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 0.7 assists), initially brought in as a high-energy forward, failed to transition effectively to an undersized center role and was released. Marcus Lee (9.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks) was signed in November to address the team’s lack of size and immediately boosted their interior defense and rebounding.

Melbourne’s turnaround began with a galvanizing loss to Illawarra (93–79), a team that had only one win at the time. This defeat appeared to light a fire under United, as they bounced back with a 104-88 victory over Brisbane. For the first time, their intended starting lineup clicked, with Goulding (20 points), Tucker (20 points), Lee (18 points), Ili (15 points), and Rathan-Mayes (8 points, 10 rebounds) all contributing. Following the loss to Illawarra, Melbourne closed the season on an impressive 11-3 run.

On the final day of the regular season, United kept their playoff hopes alive with a thrilling 116–107 victory over Adelaide, led by Tucker’s 31 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Despite their strong finish, a win by Perth over Sydney on the same day eliminated Melbourne from playoff contention due to points percentage. This marked the first time a Dean Vickerman-coached Melbourne team finished outside the top five in defensive rating, highlighting the challenges United faced all season.

United participated in several historic moments during the season. Their Christmas Day matchup against Sydney drew over 300,000 viewers, establishing a new holiday tradition in Australian basketball. Tucker led all scorers in that game with 31 points and 5 rebounds, but United fell to the Kings (101-80). The team also spearheaded the NBL’s first-ever Pride Round, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, with Humphries (9.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks) publicly coming out as gay, inspiring widespread support.

Barlow concluded his illustrious career in 2022/23, appearing in 21 games and averaging 3.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. At the end of the season, he officially retired and transitioned into an assistant coaching role, marking the definitive end to his time as a player.

Throughout his storied career, Barlow achieved numerous accolades and milestones. He was a five-time NBL Champion, winning titles in 2004 and 2005 with Sydney, and in 2008, 2018, and 2021 with Melbourne United. His individual achievements included selection to the All-NBL Third Team in 2009, representing Australia as a two-time Olympian (2008, 2012), and competing in three FIBA World Cups (2006, 2010, 2019).

Barlow’s statistical legacy is equally impressive. Over 366 NBL games, he amassed 3,126 points, 1,297 rebounds, and 539 three-pointers made, placing him 36th all-time in three-pointers. For Melbourne United, he ranks second in games played (206), third in points scored (1,272), second in rebounds (636), and second in three-pointers made (290). Additionally, he holds the league record for the most Grand Final games played (29), solidifying his place as one of the most accomplished and celebrated players in NBL history.

David Barlow played fourteen seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Sydney Kings and the Melbourne United. He averaged 8.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 388 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (816 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.