Dave Thomas
July 23, 2020
Greg Blake
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 31/10/70
- Place of Birth: Sydney (NSW)
- Position: G/F
- Height (CM): 196
- Weight (KG): 95
- Junior Assoc: NSW - Bankstown
- College: Salt Lake Community College (NJCAA) (1994–1996)
- NBL DEBUT: 12/04/97
- AGE AT DEBUT: 26
- LAST NBL GAME: 12/11/04
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 34
- NBL History: Newcastle 1997-98 | West Sydney 1999-00 | Melbourne 2003, 2005 | Victoria 2004
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Greg Blake was born in Sydney (NSW) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Bankstown basketball program.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Greg Blake made his NBL debut with the Newcastle Falcons at 26 years of age. He scored six points in his first game.
After finishing ninth with an 11-15 record and missing the playoffs in 1996, Newcastle entered the season without David Van Dyke (to Perth), Scott Ninnis (to Adelaide), Matthew Reece (to North Melbourne), Lachlan Armfield (to Illawarra) and Matthew Moore (to South East Melbourne), while Butch Hays, Scott McGregor, Ben Melmeth, Ben Pepper, Martin McLean and Mathew Low returned.
Tom Wisman left Newcastle for a coaching position in Japan and former Falcons player and assistant Shawn Dennis was promoted to head coach, adding Tonny Jensen (via North Melbourne), Dave Simmons (via Melbourne), Greg Blake (via Salt Lake Community College) and rookie Damien Robertson to the roster. Dennis had first worked as Wisman’s video coordinator while still playing before becoming a full-time assistant in 1996. “Like most young coaches you think you are ready until you get into that hot seat and you go, ‘oh my gosh, this is crazy’,” Dennis later said.
Newcastle opened the season at Beaton Park on April 12, where Blake (6 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist) scored six points in his NBL debut as the Falcons defeated Wollongong 112-96, with Simmons (22 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Jensen (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) leading Newcastle, while Clayton Ritter (25 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) was Wollongong’s best.
Blake (4.4 points across 27 games) played 12 minutes per game in a reserve role during his rookie season, making 26 three-pointers at 35 per cent. He appeared in 27 of Newcastle’s 30 games, with no injury listed during the season and no reported injury or illness found to explain his three non-appearances.
Blake’s season-high was 11 points. One of his strongest games came against North Melbourne at the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre on May 17, where Blake (10 points) scored all 10 during a third-quarter burst as Newcastle cut into a 20-point deficit before falling 111-98, with Simmons (24 points) and Pepper (13 points) leading the Falcons while Pat Reidy (36 points) was North Melbourne’s best.
Jensen (22.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals) led Newcastle in scoring, while Hays (17.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.4 steals) remained the Falcons’ leading playmaker. McGregor (15.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists), Melmeth (12.3 points and 8 rebounds), Simmons (12.2 points and 7.4 rebounds) and Pepper (10 points and 5.9 rebounds) formed the other main contributors, with Pepper winning both the NBL Most Improved Player and Best Sixth Man awards.
Newcastle closed the season at Dandenong Basketball Stadium on September 28, where Blake (5 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists) contributed in nine minutes as Melmeth (16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) and Jensen (16 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal) led the Falcons, while Sam Mackinnon (25 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) led South East Melbourne to a 108-99 win, leaving Newcastle ninth with a 12-18 record and outside the playoffs after winning the head-to-head tiebreaker over Sydney.
1998
Newcastle reshaped the roster after a 12-18 campaign had left the club outside the playoffs in 1997. Shawn Dennis remained as head coach, with Scott McGregor (to Sydney), Ben Pepper (to North Melbourne), Dave Simmons, Butch Hays and Martin McLean departing. Greg Blake returned for his second NBL season alongside Tonny Jensen, Ben Melmeth, Damien Robertson and Mathew Low, while Isaac Burton (via Sydney), Terry Johnson (via Illawarra), Marc Brandon (via Illawarra), Todd Mundt and Nathan Hawkes joined the Falcons. Johnson was given the opportunity to move from shooting guard to point guard after Illawarra had told him he was not a “point guard’s bootlace”, with Dennis prepared to let him run Newcastle’s offence.
Blake (2.7 points across 25 games) remained in Newcastle’s second unit, averaging 11.8 minutes per game. His scoring fell from 4.4 points as a rookie, while his three-point shooting dropped from 35 percent to 28 percent, making 13-of-46 attempts. He appeared in 25 of Newcastle’s 30 games, with no injury or illness reported to explain his five non-appearances.
Blake’s best and highest-scoring game came in Brisbane on February 20, when he made 5-of-7 shots, including 3-of-5 three-pointers, for a season-high 13 points with 1 rebound and 1 steal in only 17 minutes. Melmeth (26 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) and Burton (13 points, 6 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block) also contributed, but Leroy Loggins (22 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block) helped Brisbane escape with a 92-90 victory. The loss left Newcastle winless through its opening four games.
Newcastle later produced a dominant result against NSW rival Sydney on March 3, with Blake going scoreless but adding 1 assist in 6 minutes as the Falcons won 112-85 at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre. Jensen erupted for 32 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals and Burton added 27 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block, while Shane Heal (21 points) led the Kings.
Blake recorded 3 rebounds in nine scoreless minutes on April 9 as Newcastle stunned eventual champion Adelaide 111-85 at Adelaide Arena. Jensen (27 points, 3 rebounds, and 11 assists) directed an offence which shot 59 percent from the field, while Melmeth added 24 points and 14 rebounds. Darnell Mee (21 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) was Adelaide’s best as the Falcons recorded a 26-point road victory.
Against Perth on May 9, Blake played seven minutes without scoring as Newcastle fell 97-90 at home. Jensen produced a season-high 29 points with 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals and Melmeth collected 16 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, while Ricky Grace (29 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) led the Wildcats.
Melmeth (21.6 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists across 30 games) developed into Newcastle’s leading scorer and rebounder, improving dramatically from the previous season and earning both the NBL Most Improved Player award and All-NBL First Team honours. Burton (19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.2 steals across 29 games) became another major offensive option, while Jensen (18.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.3 steals across 30 games), Mundt (13.6 points and 6 rebounds across 28 games) and Johnson (10.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.8 steals across 29 games) completed the main group. Johnson’s transition to point guard also earned him an invitation to a Boomers selection camp. Newcastle received little scoring beyond its starters, with the bench combining for around 12 points per game and Brandon (3.1 points across 28 games) its highest-scoring reserve, leaving Blake as part of a second unit that struggled to provide consistent offence.
Newcastle closed the winter season at Melbourne Park on June 7, where Blake went scoreless but handed out 2 assists in 15 minutes. Melmeth produced a season-high 36 points with 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks and Jensen added 23 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal, while Andrew Gaze (28 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) led Melbourne to a 102-100 victory. The Falcons finished 11th at 9-21 after North Melbourne claimed the head-to-head tiebreaker, leaving Newcastle outside the playoffs. With the NBL switching to a summer schedule, Blake then joined the new West Sydney Razorbacks for their inaugural 1998/99 season.
WEST SYDNEY RAZORBACKS
1998/99
The 1999 season saw Blake average 6.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists and become a regular part of the team’s rotation. West Sydney would finish in eight place (12-14) during the regular season.
1999/00
Blake averaged 3.3 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1 assists and helped the Razorbacks finish the regular season in sixth place (12-16).
MELBOURNE TIGERS
2002/03
After coming close to a NBL Grand Final berth the prior season, which many feel they would have if not for a ankle injury that derailed Andrew Gaze for the playoffs, the Tigers underwent some small roster changes in 2002. Moving on were Daniel Egan (to Brisbane) and Warrick Giddey (retired), while Neil Mottram (via Perth), Blake and import Matt Rueter, who had both been playing in the state league, were also added to the roster.
Tigers started off slowly (2-4) before findng their groove and recording a four winning streak to improve to return to the top six by round 10 (6-4). Melbourne would lose Gaze (22.1 points, 4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.1 steals) to a knee infection that saw him miss four games (one win, three losses) with David Smith (5.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) inserted into the starting lineup. When Gaze returned to the lineup he was visibly unfit and several kilograms lighter. The Tigers had also dropped out of the playoffs picture again (9-11) after losing the NBL’s leading rebounder, Mark Bradtke (17.4 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks) for six games with back and hamstring issues.
In addition to Gaze and Bradtke, the Tigers would rely on Lanard Copeland (18.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.4 steals) and Marcus Timmons (13.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3 assists 1.4 steals) to provide the offensive punch, with Neil Mottram (10.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists) and Stephen Hoare (9.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) also stepping up in Bradtke’s absence.
Heading into the last round, the Tigers (14-14) needed to a extra win to avoid losing the sixth spot on the ladder to West Sydney (12-16), who had the head to head advantage against Melbourne. They would defeat Illawarra (108-99) locking in a playoff spot, but then lose to Townsville (104-106) to end the regular season (15-15).
Melbourne faced the first seed Sydney (22-8) in the Qualifying Finals and lost the opening game (89-101) thanks to big games from Kings stars Shane Heal (25 points), Kavossy Franklin (19 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists) and David Stiff (18 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks).
In game two, Bradtke (21 points, 20 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals) and Kings star import Chris Williams (32 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and 4 blocks) would battle inside in one of the greatest head to head battles of all-time. Although Williams would do it all that night, the Tigers locked down the Kings backcourt of Heal (14 points) and Franklin (16 points) and thanks to big games from Gaze (25 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists) and Copeland (22 points and 5 assists), came away victors in game two (108-104).
With the series returning to Sydney, the Kings simply outclassed the Tigers in game three (114-89), with Williams (25 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks) continuing his unstoppable form and the Kings winning by 25 points. The Kings locked down Melbourne’s ‘Big Three’ of Gaze, Copeland and Bradtke who in rare fashion were limited to only 34 points combined. Stephen Hoare (15 points and 12 rebounds) top scoring for the Tigers.
Blake would continue to see limited playing opportunities, appearing in 24 games and averaging 3.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists.
VICTORIA GIANTS
2003/04
In 2003/04, Blake averaged 7.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, playing a key role in the Giants rotation as they finished with a 11-22 record.
MELBOURNE TIGERS
2004/05
With Melbourne’s roster aging rapidly, import Rashad Tucker was added mid-season. Tucker, who had begun the season with Perth Wildcats was released due to poor attitude, but upon arriving in Melbourne didn’t show any signs of this.
In a reduced role, Tucker (5.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) would play with the team’s second unit.
Melbourne would finish in sixth place (17-15) and once into the postseason, they would defeat Perth (108-88), but then lose to Townsville in their second playoff elimination game (100-112). This game would be the last for Tigers legends Andrew Gaze and his father, Lindsey, who had decided to retire together at season’s end. Blake appeared in 15 games, averaging 2.1 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.3 assists
Andrew Gaze (20.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists) played his last NBL season at 39 years of age, remaining one of the league’s most potent scorers even in his final season. Bradtke (17.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists) and Lanard Copeland (13.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists) would also move on at the end of the season, both joining the Brisbane Bullets.
Greg Blake played seven seasons across four NBL teams. This included the Newcastle Falcons, Victoria Giants, West Sydney Razorbacks and Melbourne Tigers. He averaged 4.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 165 NBL games.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-05 | 34 | Melbourne | 17-15 (6) | 15 | 132 | 31 | 22 | 4 | 7 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 12 | 43 | 28% | 4 | 21 | 19% | 3 | 3 | 100% | 35% | 33% | 9 |
| 2003-04 | 33 | Victoria | 11-22 (11) | 28 | 663 | 199 | 89 | 32 | 30 | 59 | 12 | 1 | 28 | 75 | 70 | 185 | 38% | 39 | 102 | 38% | 20 | 24 | 83% | 51% | 48% | 22 |
| 2002-03 | 32 | Melbourne | 15-15 (6) | 24 | 209 | 90 | 35 | 12 | 11 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 23 | 31 | 65 | 48% | 16 | 32 | 50% | 12 | 16 | 75% | 62% | 60% | 14 |
| 1999-00 | 29 | West Sydney | 12-16 (6) | 20 | 274 | 66 | 24 | 19 | 11 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 43 | 24 | 62 | 39% | 11 | 36 | 31% | 7 | 8 | 88% | 50% | 48% | 9 |
| 1998-99 | 28 | West Sydney | 12-14 (8) | 26 | 665 | 174 | 73 | 45 | 29 | 44 | 9 | 2 | 31 | 89 | 65 | 161 | 40% | 36 | 95 | 38% | 8 | 11 | 73% | 52% | 52% | 16 |
| 1998 | 27 | Newcastle | 9-21 (11) | 25 | 295 | 67 | 30 | 7 | 10 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 27 | 23 | 71 | 32% | 13 | 46 | 28% | 8 | 8 | 100% | 45% | 42% | 13 |
| 1997 | 26 | Newcastle | 12-18 (9) | 27 | 324 | 119 | 45 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 52 | 44 | 123 | 36% | 26 | 75 | 35% | 5 | 8 | 63% | 47% | 46% | 11 | Totals | 165 | 2562 | 746 | 318 | 144 | 119 | 199 | 40 | 9 | 114 | 323 | 269 | 710 | 37.9% | 145 | 407 | 35.6% | 63 | 78 | 80.8% | 50% | 48% | 22 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-05 | 34 | Melbourne | 17-15 (6) | 15 | 8.8 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 28% | 0.3 | 1.4 | 19% | 0.2 | 0.2 | 100% | 35% | 33% | 9 |
| 2003-04 | 33 | Victoria | 11-22 (11) | 28 | 23.7 | 7.1 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 6.6 | 38% | 1.4 | 3.6 | 38% | 0.7 | 0.9 | 83% | 51% | 48% | 22 |
| 2002-03 | 32 | Melbourne | 15-15 (6) | 24 | 8.7 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 48% | 0.7 | 1.3 | 50% | 0.5 | 0.7 | 75% | 62% | 60% | 14 |
| 1999-00 | 29 | West Sydney | 12-16 (6) | 20 | 13.7 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 39% | 0.6 | 1.8 | 31% | 0.4 | 0.4 | 88% | 50% | 48% | 9 |
| 1998-99 | 28 | West Sydney | 12-14 (8) | 26 | 25.6 | 6.7 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 2.5 | 6.2 | 40% | 1.4 | 3.7 | 38% | 0.3 | 0.4 | 73% | 52% | 52% | 16 |
| 1998 | 27 | Newcastle | 9-21 (11) | 25 | 11.8 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 32% | 0.5 | 1.8 | 28% | 0.3 | 0.3 | 100% | 45% | 42% | 13 |
| 1997 | 26 | Newcastle | 12-18 (9) | 27 | 12.0 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 4.6 | 36% | 1.0 | 2.8 | 35% | 0.2 | 0.3 | 63% | 47% | 46% | 11 | Total | 165 | 15.5 | 4.5 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 4.3 | 37.9% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 35.6% | 0.9 | 2.5 | 80.8% | 50% | 48% | 22 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 22 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Penrith (2000) | Frankston (2002) | Suncoast Clippers (2005) | Norths (2008)
Greg Blake’s known state-league stops began with Penrith in 2000 and continued at Frankston in 2002. Clippers historical records add a 2005 season with the Suncoast Clippers, where Blake was assigned cap No. 126 and appeared in 17 games. Blake scored 291 points during the 2005 campaign, averaging 17.1 points per game, while also collecting 139 rebounds, 40 assists, 22 steals, eight blocks and 52 made three-pointers. He later played for Norths in 2008.
COLLEGE
Blake played college basketball at Salt Lake Community College during the 1994–95 season before returning for the 1995–96 season with the Bruins under head coach Norm Parrish.
In 1994–95, Salt Lake Community College finished 22–10 overall and 11–5 in Scenic West Athletic Conference play, then followed that with a 16–15 overall record and a 5–9 SWAC mark in 1995–96.
One documented early-season highlight from the 1995–96 year saw Salt Lake defeat Ricks College 82–77 after trailing by three at halftime, with Matt Pinkney scoring 20 points and Blake adding 19 points in the win.
Blake’s listed pathway out of the program notes him as one of the Bruins “moving on,” with his next step shown as the Australian Pro League (dated 1994 in the school’s list).
Before his junior-college years, Blake played high school basketball in Utah at Taylorsville, where he was referenced as the team’s leading scorer during the 1993–94 season and missed a game with flu on a night Taylorsville played without him.
During the 1994 state tournament, he scored 15 points in Taylorsville’s final game of the season in a 69–62 loss to Orem.
He also scored 15 points in Taylorsville’s 48–45 loss to Bonneville in March 1993, sharing the scoring lead for the Warriors in that game.
At the conclusion of the 1993–94 high school season, he was selected to the Deseret News All-State 5A Second Team.
A separate career note about his U.S. background states he played some high school basketball in Taylorsville before playing college basketball at Salt Lake Community College.
Blake’s later basketball bio material also summarized his U.S. stop by noting he played at Salt Lake Community College in the United States before making his National Basketball League debut in 1997.
Related
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