BIO: Gary Browne Ramírez was born in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico before being raised in San Juan. He started playing basketball as a child and at age 14, he moved to the United States to attend Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville, Florida. He would then come back to Puerto Rico and attend Saint Francis School in Carolina, where he also played for the basketball team.

FAMILY: Browne is the son of Gary Browne, Sr. and Anamaris Rodríguez.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Gary Browne made his NBL debut with the South East Melbourne Phoenix at 29 years of age. He scored 10 points in his first game.

The South East Melbourne Phoenix entered NBL23 determined to move past the challenges of an injury-plagued previous season. Retaining a strong core group of players, including Ryan Broekhoff, Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa, Cameron Gliddon, Reuben Te Rangi, and co-Captains Mitch Creek and Kyle Adnam, the team sought to build on continuity. Key additions to the roster included imports Trey Kell III (via Italy) and Gary Browne (via Puerto Rico) to bolster the backcourt, while Alan Williams (via Russia) was signed to replace Zhou Qi.

Initially, Qi was expected to return to China, but a late decision saw him re-sign with the team, forming a ‘twin towers’ pairing with Williams that generated significant pre-season intrigue. However, Qi’s contribution was limited to just nine games (6.2 points, 4.4 rebounds) before he returned to China for family reasons.

The Phoenix began their season shorthanded, with Broekhoff, Kell, and Browne all unavailable due to pre-season injuries. Qi’s arrival was also delayed, forcing Kyle Adnam into the starting lineup. Despite the challenges, the Phoenix opened the season with an 84-79 win over Tasmania, buoyed by Adnam’s career-high 30 points, along with contributions from Mitch Creek (23 points, 6 rebounds) and Alan Williams (12 points, 7 rebounds). This victory provided an early glimpse of the team’s potential.

When at full strength, South East Melbourne was among the most balanced and competitive teams in the league. However, injuries continually disrupted their lineup. Kell (12.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists) missed five games due to broken ribs, while Broekhoff (10.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists) sat out a third of the season with a hamstring injury. Browne (12.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.5 steals) also battled a knee injury early in the season and later missed additional games with a calf complaint. The team’s struggles during Browne’s absences were evident, as they lost seven of the nine games he missed.

Mitch Creek (23.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists) was the team’s standout performer and the only starter to play in all 29 games. Creek elevated his game to cover for the gaps left by injured teammates, becoming an MVP candidate in the process. His leadership and scoring were critical to keeping the Phoenix competitive.

The absence of key players opened opportunities for younger talent. First-year players Grant Anticevich (2.1 points, 1.6 rebounds) and Anzac Rissetto (1.2 points, 0.4 rebounds) gained valuable experience, while role players like Kyle Adnam (8.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists) and Reuben Te Rangi (5.1 points, 3.0 rebounds) stepped into starting roles. Junior Madut (4.0 points, 2.3 rebounds) and Owen Foxwell (3.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals) also impressed in limited minutes, with Foxwell emerging as a defensive asset.

The Phoenix climbed as high as second on the ladder early in the season, buoyed by a 12-8 record by January. However, a 3-5 finish in the closing months of the campaign, coupled with a dismal 4–10 road record, saw them drop to fifth place with a 15-13 record. Their inconsistency on the road proved to be a significant hindrance.

South East Melbourne entered the Play-In Qualifier against Perth as favourites, even without sharpshooter Ryan Broekhoff. Despite their optimism, the Phoenix were undone by explosive performances from Perth’s Bryce Cotton (26 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals) and Brady Manek (24 points), falling 106-99 and ending their season. The loss highlighted the team’s inability to overcome adversity and deliver in high-pressure moments.

Gary Browne’s inaugural NBL season showcased his value as one of the league’s premier playmakers when healthy, orchestrating key victories and delivering standout performances like his 16-point, 11-assist game in Throwdown XVIII against Melbourne United. Meanwhile, Alan Williams (16.6 points, 9.9 rebounds) led the league in rebounds, further solidifying his reputation as one of the competition’s most dominant big men. Mitch Creek’s consistent brilliance earned him the Club MVP award.

2023/24
After a challenging NBL23 campaign, the South East Melbourne Phoenix re-built their squad around Mitch Creek and re-signed import Alan Williams to a two-year deal, entering NBL24 with high hopes but ultimately facing another turbulent season.

The Phoenix saw significant roster changes, with key departures including Kyle Adnam, Trey Kell III, Ryan Broekhoff, and Dane Pineau. To replenish their lineup, they added Gorjok Gak (via Brisbane), Matt Kenyon (via Tasmania), and new import Will Cummings (via China). Early in the preseason, the Phoenix faced their first major setback when Alan Williams suffered a knee injury, prompting the team to sign Tyler Cook as an injury replacement. Cook made an immediate impact, averaging 13.3 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 assist, and earning the Ray Borner Trophy for MVP of the NBL Blitz before departing in October upon Williams’ return.

The season began with a disappointing 82–67 loss to Melbourne United in Round 1, where Ben Ayre led the team with 17 points. Despite the slow start, the Phoenix went on a promising 5-2 run, briefly climbing to second on the ladder after a narrow victory over New Zealand in Round 5 (103–100). However, their momentum was short-lived as injuries and roster instability derailed their season.

Craig Moller (6.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 0.8 steals) suffered a season-ending patellar tendon rupture after just 12 games, while Gorjok Gak missed several games due to a calf strain, leading to the temporary addition of replacement player Daniel Johnson. Mid-season, disciplinary issues led to the release of Will Cummings (14.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists), forcing the Phoenix to bring in Abdel Nader (14.4 points and 3.9 rebounds). While Nader showed promise, his impact was limited by injuries and the team’s broader struggles.

Mitch Creek (20.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) delivered a stellar season, earning the Club MVP award and remaining the team’s most consistent contributor despite battling his own injuries. Gary Browne (13.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.2 steals) and Alan Williams (16.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists), who led the league in rebounding despite missing 13 games were the team’s other standouts. Addiitonally, after his high scoring efforts in game one, Ben Ayre (10.7 points, 2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists) delivered had a breakout season, becoming perhaps the only positive of the Phoenix’s season.

After their strong start, the Phoenix managed only five wins in their remaining 20 games, finishing with a 10-18 record and landing at the bottom of the ladder. The season ended on a sour note with a historic 122–67 defeat to the Sydney Kings, marking the largest margin of defeat in the club’s history and underscoring their struggles.

Gary Browne played two seasons the South East Melbourne Phoenix. He averaged 12.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in 40 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 44th in assists 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.