NICKNAME/S: Cool Hand Luke

BIO: Karl Luke was born in Adelaide (SA) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Sturt basketball program. Luke received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 1982. He spent one year there and played for the program’s state league team.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Karl Luke made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 19 years of age. He scored four points in his first game.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
1983
The Adelaide 36ers entered the 1983 NBL season with high expectations, driven by their newly rebranded identity and the solid performances of key players like David Winslow (27.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists) and Wayne McDaniel (26.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists).

The team, formerly known as the Adelaide City Eagles, changed its name to the Adelaide 36ers to reflect South Australia’s founding in 1836.

Mike Osborne continued as head coach, while David Winslow was named team captain.

Winslow, praised as possibly the best American in the NBL, demonstrated his versatility as a dominant inside presence and skilled playmaker.

McDaniel’s ability to dominate the boards and contribute offensively provided the team with a formidable frontcourt duo.

Despite these standout performances, the 36ers faced challenges throughout the season, highlighted by inconsistent performances on the road.

The team managed an 11-11 record, struggling to find cohesion in close games, particularly away from their home court at Apollo Entertainment Centre.

Darryl Pearce (15.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) continued to shine as a dependable scoring threat from the perimeter, earning recognition for his smooth shooting and on-court awareness.

Adelaide’s season was marked by both highs and lows.

They achieved notable victories, including a win over the league champion West Adelaide Bearcats (114-95), showcasing their potential as a competitive force in the league.

However, the 36ers also endured tough losses, such as their defeat to Canberra (86-107) and an away loss to the Geelong Cats (90-106), which ultimately limited their playoff chances.

Their biggest winning streak was three games, achieved from March 12 to March 20, where they recorded victories over the Canberra Cannons (93-92), Westate Wildcats (102-91), and Hobart Devils (103-85).

Conversely, their longest losing streak also spanned three games and occurred multiple times during the season, with one stretch from February 12 to February 26, including losses to Canberra (86-107), Bankstown (81-90), and Coburg (99-103).

Local talents Kym Borrett (9.8 points, 4.8 rebounds) and Dean Kinsman (5.1 points, 2.5 assists) provided crucial depth for the team.

Borrett’s inside presence and Kinsman’s playmaking abilities were instrumental in the team’s rotation, even as they struggled with maintaining consistency over the season.

Additionally, role players like Chris Stirling (3.7 points, 1.5 rebounds) and Malcolm Penno (4.0 points, 1.2 rebounds) offered steady contributions, ensuring the 36ers had options off the bench.

Despite the team’s efforts, they ultimately finished sixth in their division, falling short of a playoff berth.

Karl Luke played four seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Adelaide 36ers and the Hobart Devils. He averaged 5.6 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 50 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (833 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.