David Blades
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 28/05/66
- Place of Birth: Toowoomba (QLD)
- Position: PG
- Height (CM): 183
- Weight (KG): 80
- Junior Assoc: QLD - Toowoomba
- College: None
- NBL DEBUT: 17/04/93
- AGE AT DEBUT: 26
- LAST NBL GAME: 28/09/96
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 30
- NBL History: Townsville 1993-96
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: David Blades was born in Toowoomba (QLD) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Toowoomba basketball program.
NBL EXPERIENCE
David Blades made his NBL debut with the Townsville Suns at 26 years of age. He scored three points in his first game.
In 1993, the Townsville Suns entered the NBL and recruited blades to be a part of the team’s inaugural season. Under head coach Mark Bragg Townsville went winless during their first month of NBL competition. It wasn’t until their fifth game before they recorded their first-ever NBL win, a victory over the Newcastle Falcons. Over the course of the season, Blades transitioned from backup guard to starting point guard and averaged 11.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assist per game finished as runner-up in the Rookie of the Year award. The Suns would claim the league’s wooden spoon in their first year, finishing with a record of 4–22.
After struggling through their debut season the Townsville Suns improved from four wins to six in 1994 and were able to avoid finishing last (that honour went to Hobart). Blades would average 6.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.
1995 saw Blades average 3.7 points and 1.5 rebounds and play a key role in helping the Suns to a tenth place finish in the regular season with a 9-17 record.
In Blades last NBL season he averaged 4.8 points and 1.8 rebounds, and helped guide the Suns to a regular season record of 9-17 record in 1996.
David Blades played four seasons the Townsville Suns. He averaged 6.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 91 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 30 | Townsville | 9-17 (11) | 20 | 417.0 | 96 | 35 | 55 | 9 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 28 | 29 | 36 | 94 | 38% | 8 | 24 | 33% | 16 | 21 | 76% | 46% | 43% | 17 |
| 1995 | 29 | Townsville | 9-17 (10) | 22 | 367.0 | 82 | 34 | 55 | 15 | 19 | 16 | 1 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 66 | 44% | 7 | 22 | 32% | 17 | 26 | 65% | 52% | 49% | 15 |
| 1994 | 28 | Townsville | 6-20 (14) | 25 | 474.0 | 157 | 82 | 64 | 31 | 51 | 29 | 1 | 53 | 42 | 55 | 139 | 40% | 13 | 44 | 30% | 34 | 46 | 74% | 49% | 44% | 20 |
| 1993 | 27 | Townsville | 4-22 (14) | 24 | 663.0 | 276 | 103 | 123 | 21 | 82 | 34 | 2 | 75 | 60 | 102 | 200 | 51% | 26 | 64 | 41% | 46 | 66 | 70% | 60% | 58% | 32 | Totals | 91 | 1921 | 611 | 254 | 297 | 76 | 178 | 86 | 7 | 183 | 160 | 222 | 499 | 44.5% | 54 | 154 | 35.1% | 113 | 159 | 71.1% | 54% | 50% | 32 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 30 | Townsville | 9-17 (11) | 20 | 20.9 | 4.8 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 4.7 | 38% | 0.4 | 1.2 | 33% | 0.8 | 1.1 | 76% | 46% | 43% | 17 |
| 1995 | 29 | Townsville | 9-17 (10) | 22 | 16.7 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 44% | 0.3 | 1.0 | 32% | 0.8 | 1.2 | 65% | 52% | 49% | 15 |
| 1994 | 28 | Townsville | 6-20 (14) | 25 | 19.0 | 6.3 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 5.6 | 40% | 0.5 | 1.8 | 30% | 1.4 | 1.8 | 74% | 49% | 44% | 20 |
| 1993 | 27 | Townsville | 4-22 (14) | 24 | 27.6 | 11.5 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 4.3 | 8.3 | 51% | 1.1 | 2.7 | 41% | 1.9 | 2.8 | 70% | 60% | 58% | 32 | Total | 91 | 21.1 | 6.7 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 5.5 | 44.5% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 35.1% | 0.6 | 1.7 | 71.1% | 54% | 50% | 32 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 32 | 13 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Toowoomba 1990-91 | Townsville 1998
Blades was the joint MVP, with Glenn Stump, in 1990 while playing for Toowoomba where he also helped lead the mountain men to back-to-back titles in 1990 and 1991. He won the Queensland state league MVP award in 1992.
He is widely regarded as one of the best Australians to have played in the state league He would then go on to play several seasons with the Townsville Heat to end his career.
LIFE AFTER BASKETBALL
Blades worked as a Sales Manager at Oakdale Heights after his NBL career.
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