Lamar Patterson on His NBL Career, Playing in India, and his chances of returning to the NBL

  • May 18, 2025
  • Dan Boyce
  • Podcasts
  • 0
  • 2418 Views

Lamar Patterson joins the podcast to reflect on a global basketball career that’s taken him from Pennsylvania to the NBA, NBL, China, Puerto Rico, and most recently, India.

He opens up about his unique path to the NBL, what went wrong during his stint with the New Zealand Breakers, and the highs and lows of being the focal point in Brisbane’s offense across multiple seasons.

We dig into his recent efforts to return to the league—including near-signings with Adelaide and South East Melbourne—and why he still believes there’s unfinished business in the NBL.

Lamar also reflects on his college days at Pitt, playing alongside Steven Adams, adjusting to life as a pro overseas, and the biggest lessons from a career full of twists and comebacks.

Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms.

From NBA stints to NBL heartbreak, breakout games to brutal setbacks—this episode captures the grit, growth, and grind of Lamar Patterson’s basketball journey.

Listen now:

iTunes – Spotify – Libsyn – TuneIn

Podcast Topics include…

🏀 Growing up in Pennsylvania and why he chose Pitt (13:00)

🏀 Playing alongside Steven Adams—and some hilarious stories (27:00)

🏀 Thoughts on the AAU system in the U.S. (21:00)

🏀 When NBA teams started to take notice (31:00)

🏀 Being drafted and sent to Turkey (34:00)

🏀 Playing for the Atlanta Hawks (43:00)

🏀 How his journey led to the NBL and Brisbane Bullets (102:00)

🏀 Dealing with injuries and carrying the offensive load in Brisbane (110:00)

🏀 Leaving for the Breakers, what went wrong, and returning to Brisbane (118:00)

🏀 Playing in India’s national league (2:00)

🏀 How close he came to signing with Adelaide and SEM (8:00)

🏀 Andrej Lemanis’ departure from Brisbane (125:00)

🏀 How his NBL career wrapped up—and what’s next (133:00)

🏀 The most challenging moments and what he learned from them (138:00)

All of this and a whole lot more…

 

Share:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • If NBL Players Were Slipping at Any Other Workplace, Would We Still Be Waiting for a Solution?

    Imagine working in a warehouse where employees repeatedly slip on the same section of flooring. Management knows about it, workers have complained, and someone has already suffered a serious injury. Under Australian workplace safety laws, employers are expected to investigate and manage foreseeable risks, not simply rely on an industry safety certificate. A business found to be in breach of safety obligations could face a WorkSafe improvement notice requiring the hazard to be fixed. A serious breach could lead to prosecution, with companies in Victoria…

    READ MORE
  • Harry Rouhliadeff on NCAA Money and the Rebuilding of the Brisbane Bullets Program

    Brisbane Bullets forward Harry Rouhliadeff joins the Aussie Hoopla podcast to discuss his journey from growing up a Bullets fan to captaining the University of Hawai‘i at March Madness, before returning home to begin his professional basketball career. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Harry about his first NBL start, the faith new coach Will Weaver has shown in him, and the challenges facing the Brisbane Bullets as they look to turn their fortunes around. Having grown…

    READ MORE
  • Which NBL Teams Spent the Most?

    Over the past three NBL seasons, clubs have spent almost $97 million assembling their rosters, but how much of that money has translated into wins, and which teams have delivered the best value for money? These figures represent cash spend, not salary cap spend. Cash spending includes player salaries and additional costs such as agent fees, bonuses, import related expenses and luxury tax, rather than simply the amounts counted against the league's salary cap. How much have NBL teams spent over the past three seasons?…

    READ MORE
  • ARE THE HAWKS “TIRED” OF TATUM’S VOICE?

    Larry Bird believed players began tuning out coaches after three years. Pat Riley reportedly put the limit at five, while Steve Kerr admitted his Golden State players were tired of hearing him in his fourth season. Now Justin Tatum is in his fourth season with Illawarra, and the Hawks have gone from NBL champions to the bottom of the ladder. Could they be experiencing the same problem? Justin Tatum transformed Illawarra from one of the NBL's worst teams into champions. But ahead of today's clash…

    READ MORE
  • COULD BRIAN GOORJIAN HAVE SAVED THE MELBOURNE TIGERS?

    In 2002, the Melbourne Tigers were fighting for survival when they identified an opportunity to attract supporters from their biggest rivals. Their plan to honour Brian Goorjian was blocked by the Victoria Giants, potentially changing the course of Melbourne basketball history. In 2002, the Melbourne Tigers devised a plan that could have changed the future of their club. The Tigers were emerging from financial administration, crowds were falling and the club had been forced to abandon its home at Vodafone Arena, now known as John…

    READ MORE
  • GOLD COAST NBL EXPANSION SET TO BECOME A REALITY?

    A new funding proposal, a crucial November meeting and renewed interest from the NBL could finally provide a pathway for professional basketball to return to the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast's long-running push to return to the NBL has reached another critical stage, with Mayor Tom Tate preparing to meet Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie in November to discuss the future of the proposed $1 billion Gold Coast Arena. After years of negotiations, changing timelines and funding setbacks, the city's hopes of securing an NBL…

    READ MORE
  • Paul Rees on NBL titles, battles with Brian Goorjian and small town success

    Four-time NBL champion and 1994 Grand Final MVP Paul Rees joins the podcast to reflect on his journey from small-town basketball to a 17-season NBL career with the Brisbane Bullets, North Melbourne Giants and Adelaide 36ers. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Rees about winning championships with North Melbourne and Adelaide, playing under Brett Brown and Phil Smyth, representing Australia at the 1994 World Championship, and battling Brian Goorjian and some of the NBL’s best teams throughout…

    READ MORE
  • MELBOURNE UNITED NEEDS TO DECIDE: Are they the Tigers or not?

    Jensen Bradtke wearing his father Mark’s famous No. 50 should be one of the great stories of NBL27. Instead, it has again exposed a question Melbourne United has never properly answered: when does Melbourne Tigers history belong to United, and when doesn’t it? Seeing BRADTKE and No. 50 together on a Melbourne basketball jersey again should be nothing other than a celebration. Jensen Bradtke is beginning his first season with Melbourne United, wearing the same number his father Mark wore through one of the great…

    READ MORE

HAVE A TAKE ON THE GAME?

WRITE FOR AUSSIE HOOPLA

Love Australian basketball? Have a story to tell or an opinion worth sharing? We're keen to hear from passionate basketball fans, writers and aspiring journalists. Pitch your idea and be part of the Aussie Hoopla writing team.

JOIN OUR WRITING TEAM