BIO: Larry Abney was born in Nyack, New York (USA).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Larry Abney made his NBL debut with the Townsville Crocodiles at 28 years of age. He scored 24 points in his first game.

The Crocodiles entered the season with significant roster changes. Pat Reidy retired, while Derek Moore and import Robert Brown exited the team. To fill the frontcourt void, Townsville signed Larry Abney, a high-energy forward known for his rebounding and interior presence. Veteran guard Damon Lowery (via Wollongong) was also added, while development player Michael Cedar was elevated to the main roster.

Townsville opened their season in dominant fashion, defeating the West Sydney Razorbacks 111–97 on the road. Larry Abney announced his arrival with 24 points (10-15 FG) and 9 rebounds in 37 minutes, providing an instant impact alongside Brad Newley and Casey Calvary. The Crocodiles followed this with a 108–100 win over Adelaide and an explosive 124–108 victory over Perth, where Abney again starred in transition and on the glass.

By late September, Townsville held a promising 4–1 record, with Abney anchoring the frontcourt through efficient scoring and relentless rebounding. He posted 20 points and 9 boards in a 122–113 win over the New Zealand Breakers, but despite his consistent efforts, the Crocodiles’ form began to unravel. They dropped back-to-back home games to Brisbane (107–116) and then were dismantled by the Sydney Kings 128–94, with Abney finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

Abney continued to shine even as the team’s fortunes dipped. In a high-scoring shootout with the Hunter Pirates on November 20, he delivered a standout 36-point, 21-rebound performance (12-23 FG, 12-17 FT), adding 4 assists and 2 steals in 46 minutes. Despite his dominant play, Townsville fell 105–99 in a game that epitomised their season—strong individual performances overshadowed by defensive lapses and late-game breakdowns.

Over the next two months, Townsville went through a brutal stretch, dropping key games against Melbourne, Cairns, and the Pirates again. In a 107–90 loss to Cairns on February 3, Abney was one of the few bright spots with 26 points and 7 rebounds on 10-19 shooting, continuing to lead by example even as the team slid down the standings.

Across the season, Abney was Townsville’s most consistent and productive player. He averaged (20.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks) over 32 games, leading the team in both scoring and rebounding. His presence on the interior provided stability amid a rotating backcourt and a young developing core. He formed a strong statistical trio with Brad Newley (19.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists) and Casey Calvary (17.3 points, 7.1 rebounds), though team defence and depth remained issues.

Veteran John Rillie (15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists) added leadership and shot-making, while Robert Rose (8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists) closed out his NBL career, retiring after the season. Role players Kelvin Robertson (7.8 points, 2.0 assists), Greg Vanderjagt (6.3 points, 3.4 rebounds), and Damon Lowery (5.5 points, 1.9 rebounds) contributed sporadically. Young prospects Cameron Tragardh (3.1 points) and Michael Cedar (2.6 points) showed glimpses of potential off the bench.

Despite Abney’s high-level production and consistent double-double output, Townsville finished ninth with a 9–23 record and missed the playoffs. The season marked the end of an era as head coach Ian Stacker’s contract was not renewed, capping off a disappointing campaign for a team that had started with promise.

2006/07
Larry Abney returned for his second NBL season with the Crocodiles and delivered a dominant campaign as the team’s most consistent frontcourt presence.

Major roster moves saw Robert Rose (to Cairns) and import Casey Calvary exit the club, with Daniel Egan (via Brisbane) and import Jelani Gardner (via France) joining the backcourt.

Halfway into the season, Gardner (15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists) was released, and the team added EJ Rowland (12.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.0 steals) for the second half of the season.

While Brad Newley (22.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists) led the team in scoring, Larry Abney (21.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, and 1.2 steals) and John Rillie (19.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists) provided a high-powered trio. Together, they led the Crocodiles to a fifth-place finish (19–14) and a return to the postseason.

In the opening round of the playoffs, the Crocodiles hosted the Singapore Slingers at the Townsville Entertainment Centre and emerged with a 106–93 victory. Rillie led the way with 37 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists, with Newley adding 23 points in the win. Abney was again effective inside, providing scoring and rebounding support in the victory.

Their playoff run ended in the next round, as Townsville fell 122–89 to the Sydney Kings in a one-game quarter-final clash at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Abney (14 points, 7 rebounds) contributed inside, shooting 6-of-14 from the field and 2-of-4 from the free throw line in 33 minutes of action. Kelvin Robertson (21 points) was the Crocodiles’ top scorer, while EJ Rowland (17 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals) also made an impact. For the Kings, Mark Worthington (28 points, 6 rebounds), B.J. Carter (20 points), and Russell Hinder (17 points, 6 rebounds) led the scoring in a dominant display.

The Crocodiles’ supporting cast included Kelvin Robertson (10.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists), Daniel Egan (10.0 points, 4.8 rebounds), Greg Vanderjagt (6.0 points, 5.5 rebounds), and Michael Cedar (4.3 points). Abney remained the club’s anchor in the paint, leading the team in rebounds and ranking second in scoring behind Newley.

CAIRNS TAIPANS
2007/08
The 2007/08 season saw Abney average 16.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists and play a key role in helping the Taipans to a sixth-place finish during the regular season with a 16-14 record.

2008/09
This was a dark period for Cairns started the season in financial strife and by December 2008, saw themselves placed into voluntary administration. As a result, coach Alan Black and son Stephen Black (the team’s leading scorer) were let go, along with imports Abney (15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks) and Dave Thomas (11.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.5 steals). The rest of the team had to agree to a blanket 45 percent pay cut for the rest of the season. Less than 12 months later, the Taipans were again in financial trouble – at the time, the club was almost $350,000 over budget and had only recorded a profit in one of the previous four months.

In response, Basketball Australia and Cairns Regional Council vowed to continue supporting the cash-strapped Taipans.

Taipans CEO Mark Beecroft stepped in as head coach for the remaining games, while team captain Martin Cattalini (15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) led the team that remained against all the odds. Surprisingly, Cairns finished with a reasonable record of 11-19 to end the season.

2012/13
Abney averaged 4.4 points and 3.4 rebounds, and 0.4 assists during a lacklustre season where the Crocodiles limped home to a seventh place finish with a 10-18 record.

Larry Abney played five seasons in the NBL. He averaged 17.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 122 NBL games.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Dan Boyce (837 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.