BIO: Ian Davies was born in Longford (TAS) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Launceston basketball program.

FAMILY: Son of Fred Davies, former Carlton and Longford footballer.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Ian Davies made his NBL debut with the Launceston Casino City Tigers at 24 years of age. He scored 14 points in his first game.

The Launceston Casino City entered the NBL competition with a grant from the Tasmanian Government and the support of the developers of the state’s second casino, becoming the state’s first NBL team. Rex Johnstone would be named as the Tigers inaugural coach and the team would be built around 24-year-old Ian Davies, who had played for the Australian team at the 1980 Summer Olympics.

Davies (21.5 points) would lead the team in scoring, alongside a strong starting five that included Cliff Martin (19.6 points), Jim Ericksen (17.5 points) and Curtis Coleman (15.0 points).

The team travelled to Canberra for their first game, where a sell-out crowd filled the Showground Stadium. The Cannons, who were looking to repeat their surprise run to the Grand Final the previous year, proved to be a formiddable first match-up with the lead swapping numerous times during the game, before Cannons star Herb McEachin (26 points) hit two crucial free-throws giving Canberra the momentum they needed for the win (69-77). Jim Ericksen, who had just stepped off the plane the day prior to the game, scored 23 points.

The Tigers finished ninth (9-22) in the then twelve team NBL competition, with Davies named in the All NBL First Team.

1981
In 1981, coach Rex Johnstone would be replaced by Max Pike, who looked to increase the size and strength of the team by replacing import guard Curtis Coleman with 218cm American Richard Smith. The move making Launceston the tallest team in the competition at a time where there was no three-point line.

A starting five that consisted of national team guard Ian Davies (22.8 points), imports Cliff Martin (20.5 points), Jim Ericksen (17.0 points), Richard Smith (13.7 points) and local guard Trevor Mathew (7.9 points)

Launceston had delivered their best result during the regular season, sitting in fifth place with one game to play. Some late heroics from Ian Davies, who finished sixth in the league for points per game, got the team up for a win in the dying seconds of the last game and the team snuck into fourth position (14-8) and secured a place in the semifinals.

In what was an unusual way to start the postseason St Kilda, who finished on top of the regular season ladder (17-5), chose to forgo their chance at a three-peat to compete in the 1981 Club World Cup, elevating fifth placed Brisbane into the playoffs as their replacement. This also saw Launceston became the top seed in finals series which consisted of single-game semi-finals and a single-game Grand Final.

Launceston went on to defeat Brisbane (71-69) in a nail-biter with Tigers captain Jim Ericksen (23 points) and Ian Davies (18 points) and Bullets star import Leroy Loggins (31 points) going bucket for bucket at the offensive end.

On the other side of the semifinal bracket the underdogs came away victorious, with Nunawading Spectres eliminating the West Adelaide Bearcats (74-71). Al Green top scored for Adelaide with 20 points and Rob Mayberry scored 27 for Nunawading.

The Grand Final was played the next day at the Apollo Entertainment Centre in Adelaide with both teams contesting their first ever Grand Final. Launceston went on to thrash Nunawading (75-54) with Cliff Martin (25 points) and Ian Davies (18 points) leading the team in scoring. The win saw the Tigers become the first Tasmanian side to ever win a championship in an Australian national sporting league. Mayberry (16 points) finishing as the Spectres top scorer.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS
1982
Newcastle assembled a potent squad in 1982, headlined by the arrival of imports George Morrow and Rodney Wright, alongside Australian Boomers sharpshooter Ian Davies. Fresh off winning a title with Launceston before the club folded due to financial issues, Davies slotted in seamlessly and became a core figure from the outset.

Wright made an early impression, averaging 22.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists across eight games before departing mid-season. He was replaced in the rotation by club scoring leader Dave Ankeney, who chipped in 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per contest.

Morrow delivered a standout campaign, posting 25.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game en route to All-NBL First Team recognition. Davies added 20.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, helping power the Falcons to a strong finish. Newcastle closed the regular season on a five-game winning streak and notched a franchise-best 17 regular season victories, but just missed the playoffs due to league qualification criteria.

Emerging guard Michael Johnson (14.8 points, 5.3 rebounds) impressed in his rookie year, while Dan Riley (7.3 points, 3.5 rebounds) provided consistent bench support throughout the season.

1983
During the 1983 season, Davies averaged 17.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists and helped the Falcons finish the regular season in a seventh place (13-9).

1984
The 1984 NBL season marked a new era for the Newcastle Falcons as club great Dave Ankeney—then the franchise’s all-time leading scorer—stepped into the head coaching role, replacing Denis Kibble. With local guard Michael Johnson emerging as a star in 1983, Ankeney aimed to construct a winning roster around him. That rebuild saw the team part ways with imports George Morrow and Donnie Cruse, bringing in athletic forward Jerry Dennard and versatile big man Jim Bateman to bolster the frontcourt

Newcastle stormed out of the gates, opening the season with five straight victories, including a signature 91–80 win over the unbeaten Brisbane Bullets, who entered the contest with a 6–0 record. From there, the Falcons spent much of the campaign in a tight battle atop the Eastern Division, locked in a three-way race with Coburg and Brisbane

Veteran wing Ian Davies was pivotal throughout the season, averaging 19.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists across 26 games. As Bateman (24.6 points, 9.0 rebounds) dominated inside and Johnson (21.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists) led the backcourt, Davies served as a steady offensive weapon, offering perimeter scoring and veteran leadership on both ends of the floor

Dennard (15.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.7 steals) and Ian Robilliard (12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.7 steals) added defensive grit and transition spark, with both ranking among the league leaders in steals. Newcastle relied heavily on their defensive pressure and balanced scoring to stay in contention

With three rounds left in the regular season, the Falcons were tied with Brisbane and Coburg. But a 129–117 road loss to Adelaide proved costly. Brisbane won their final three games to finish 19–5, while Coburg and Newcastle ended 18–6. With the head-to-head split even, Coburg edged the Falcons for second place based on point differential (+4), relegating Newcastle to third and a single-elimination path through the playoffs

Davies was instrumental in the elimination final win over Illawarra, contributing 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals as Newcastle prevailed 108–101. Johnson added 23 points and 8 rebounds, Bateman posted 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Robilliard delivered 21 points and 10 boards. The Falcons shot 44% from the floor and outrebounded the Hawks 48–42 in a complete team performance

Less than 24 hours later, Newcastle’s postseason run ended in the semi-final with a 132–109 loss to Coburg. Despite another strong night from Davies (24 points, 10 rebounds), Johnson (29 points, 11 rebounds), and Bateman (15 points), the Falcons were unable to contain Wayne Carroll (29 points, 7 assists) and a Coburg side that hit 46% from the field and nailed 25-of-29 free throws

While the semi-final defeat was disappointing, the 1984 season was historic for the Falcons. Their 18–6 regular season record and playoff victory marked the franchise’s most successful campaign to date, with Ian Davies once again proving his value as a high-level scorer and veteran presence on a rising team.

1985
Following their breakthrough 1984 campaign, Newcastle entered 1985 with high expectations. Head coach Dave Ankeney retained the majority of the core group from the previous year’s playoff squad, with the only major change being import forward Scott Horrell replacing Jerry Dennard.

Newcastle came away with a win in their season opener, defeating Sydney 121–102 in a game where Jim Bateman (47 points, 16 rebounds), and Sydney’s Kendal Pinder (37 points, 16 rebounds) went head-to-head in an impressive offensive display. Ian Robilliard (23 points, 5 assists, 5 steals) and Michael Johnson (20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) were the Falcons’ other key contributors.

After a 4–1 start, including their only early loss to Calvin Bruton (30 points) and the eventual champions Brisbane (104–74), Newcastle looked like early contenders. They bounced back from the Brisbane defeat with a string of six consecutive victories, surging to a 10–2 record at the season’s midpoint.

However, the second half of the season saw the wheels fall off, Newcastle dropping nine of their final eleven games. Despite the slump, they managed to hold onto sixth place with a 16–10 record, securing a return to the playoffs.

The Falcons were led offensively by Jim Bateman (22.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists), Ian Davies (21.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists), Scott Horrell (21.8 points, 13.5 rebounds), and Michael Johnson (19.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists).

Once into the playoffs, Newcastle defeated Nunawading (103–97) in the elimination final. Davies (26 points, 5 rebounds), Johnson (23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists), and Bateman (16 points, 12 rebounds) leading the way offensively. Ron Lemons (38 points, 12 rebounds) finishing as top scorer for the Spectres. The win sent the Falcons into the semi-finals for the first time in club history.

Johnson (37 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists) and Bateman (19 points, 13 rebounds) both had big games, but it wasn’t enough as the Falcons were blown out by Adelaide 151–103. Al Green (45 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists) and Darryl Pearce (41 points, 6 assists, 5 steals) both had huge games, delivering Newcastle their biggest loss of the season and ending their playoff campaign one win short of reaching the Grand Final.

This season would be the only time Newcastle ever reached the semifnals.

1986
In 1986, Davies averaged 18.1 points and 4.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists, as the Cats finished in a seventh place with a 14-12 record.

1987
Davies averaged 19.6 points and 5.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists during a lacklustre season where the Cats limped home to a a ninth place finish with a 13-13record.

SYDNEY KINGS
1988
In 1988 Davies again moved to a new franchise, this time the Sydney Kings. Davies averaged 12.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. and was a part of the inaugural Sydney Kings squad. The Kings were formed from the merger of the Sydney Supersonics and the West Sydney Westars, with the team playing their first season in the 4,500 seat State Sports Centre in Homebush.

Under head coach Claude Williams and recently signed import Steve Carfino (21.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.6 steals), brought on board to be both team captain and oncourt leader, the Kings finished in ninth place with a record of 10-14.

1989
In 1989, Davies averaged 7.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.6 assists, playing a key role in the Kings rotation, helping the team finish in a fifth place (15-9).

In game one of the Kings’ 1989 Quarterfinals appearance against the Melbourne Tigers, Davies scored 30 points in 18 minutes of game time.

1990
The 1990 season saw Davies average 2.7 points, 1 rebounds, and 0.7 assists and play a key role in helping the Kings to a sixth place finish in the regular season with a 16-10 record.

Ian Davies played eleven seasons across four NBL teams. This included the Launceston Casino City Tigers, Geelong Cats, Newcastle Falcons and Sydney Kings. He averaged 17.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 252 NBL games.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Dan Boyce (835 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.