BIO: Larry Davidson (Born 1958) was born in Bourke, NSW and began playing basketball as a junior with the Dubbo basketball program.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Larry Davidson (Born 1958) made his NBL debut with the Newcastle Falcons at 20 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

The Newcastle Falcons played a foundational role in the establishment of the National Basketball League, not only initiating the league’s formation but also organizing its debut season. As hosts of the very first NBL game—held at Burwood Stadium—the Falcons opened their campaign with a 78–62 loss to Nunawading.

Under player-coach Bob Turner, the team dropped its second match against powerhouse St Kilda before rallying in Round 2 with a 97–69 home win over Brisbane. That victory sparked a three-game winning streak, the best stretch of their season.

Scoring was spearheaded by import Dave Ankeney (25.3 points), with Dan Riley (19.4) and Turner (11.8) providing key support. Despite competitive stretches, Newcastle struggled away from home (2–7 road record) and concluded the season in sixth place with an 8–10 record.

Larry Davidson played in all 18 games, contributing 8.7 points per game as a steady presence in the rotation.

1980
In 1980, Dean Donnollon took over as head coach from Bob Turner, who remained on the roster but saw limited playing time in his final season as a player. Newcastle boosted their scoring firepower by adding American import Carl Whitfield, forming a productive one-two punch with returning scorer Dave Ankeney.

Ankeney (20.0 points) led the team in scoring for a second straight year, while Whitfield (19.3), Dave Cook (15.6), and Dan Riley (10.6) rounded out a balanced offensive core. Donnollon even suited up for two games himself as injuries impacted roster depth.

The Falcons ended the regular season with five straight wins, finishing 13–9—an improvement on their inaugural season. Despite the late push, they narrowly missed playoff qualification by a single win.

Larry Davidson made 21 appearances during the season, averaging 5.0 points in a supporting role.

1981
Bob Turner returned to the sidelines in 1981, taking over as head coach after retiring as a player. His return to coaching coincided with the arrival of high-scoring American import Owen Wells, who made an immediate impact for the Falcons.

Wells led the team with 24.4 points per game and was rewarded with selection to the All-NBL First Team—the first Newcastle player to receive an NBL award. He was joined in the scoring column by Carl Whitfield (17.7), Cal Stamp (12.4), and Dan Riley (10.1), as the Falcons compiled a 13–9 record to finish sixth.

Turner was named NBL Coach of the Year after guiding Newcastle to a 13–9 record, but the Falcons became the unlucky casualty of a complicated four-way tie for the final playoff positions. Newcastle finished with the same win–loss record as West Adelaide, Nunawading, and Brisbane, with all four teams ending the regular season at 13–9. The situation was made even more complex when St Kilda (17-5)—who had originally finished on top of the ladder—opted to participate in the FIBA Club World Cup in Brazil rather than the NBL Finals. Their withdrawal saw Launceston (14–8) elevated to the top seed, while West Adelaide, Nunawading, and Brisbane each moved up a spot in the playoff bracket. Brisbane, who originally placed fifth, claimed the fourth and final playoff seed thanks to a superior head-to-head record. Newcastle’s 2–4 mark in the tiebreak scenario ultimately left them on the outside looking in.

Larry Davidson appeared in all 22 games this season, averaging 8.9 points.

1982
With an influx of talent and rising expectations, the Newcastle Falcons assembled one of their most competitive rosters to date in 1982. The marquee additions were import center George Morrow and Australian Boomers sharpshooter Ian Davies, who joined the club after Launceston folded due to financial difficulties. Both players made an immediate impact, elevating the Falcons into playoff contention.

Morrow dominated inside, averaging 25.0 points and 15.0 rebounds per game, while Davies added scoring punch from the perimeter with 20.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per outing. The pair carried the offensive load for most of the season before a late injury to veteran guard Dave Ankeney (8.9 points, 2.8 assists) forced the team to make a crucial move.

Rodney Wright was brought in to replace Ankeney for the final third of the year, and his arrival provided a timely boost—averaging 22.1 points and leading the Falcons to a 6–2 record over the final eight games, including a five-game winning streak to close the regular season.

Despite finishing fifth with a 17–9 record—the best in franchise history at that point—the Falcons were unlucky to miss the playoffs under the NBL’s limited finals format. George Morrow’s efforts earned him a well-deserved All-NBL First Team selection.

Promising local guard Michael Johnson (14.8 points, 5.3 rebounds) emerged as a key contributor in his rookie season, while veteran Dan Riley (7.3 points, 3.5 rebounds) continued to provide steady minutes.

Larry Davidson appeared in 22 games, contributing 4.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.5 assists off the bench.

1983
The 1983 season signaled a changing of the guard in Newcastle, with long-time head coach Bob Turner departing to lead the Canberra Cannons. Denis Kibble stepped into the role, navigating the Falcons through a newly formatted NBL landscape that split the competition into Eastern and Western divisions and expanded the finals to eight teams.

Newcastle finished the regular season with a 13–9 record—four wins shy of their 1982 total—but the divisional structure worked in their favor, earning them a spot in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The finals opened with a round-robin series, but the Falcons were unable to notch a win, falling to West Adelaide (93–86), Coburg (101–87), and Sydney (101–94) to bow out early.

Second-year guard Michael Johnson delivered a breakout campaign, averaging 21.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Ian Davies also impressed with 17.8 points and 4.9 rebounds, while import Donnie Cruse added 11.4 points and 2.3 boards. George Morrow anchored the frontcourt once again, putting up 20.9 points, 15.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and earning All-NBL First Team honors for the second consecutive year.

Larry Davidson featured in all 25 games, averaging 3.4 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in a reserve role during Newcastle’s first trip to the postseason.

1985
Larry Davidson did not play during the 1984 season, missing out on being a part of the Falcons first-ever playoff appearance. He re-joined the team in 1985 with expectations at an all-time high. Head coach Dave Ankeney retained the bulk of the core group from the previous season, with the only major roster change seeing import forward Scott Horrell replace Jerry Dennard, who moved to Illawarra.

Newcastle opened the year with a dominant 121–102 victory over Sydney at home. Jim Bateman (47 points, 16 rebounds) led the charge, going toe-to-toe with Sydney’s Kendal Pinder (37 points, 16 rebounds) in a shootout. Ian Robilliard (23 points, 5 assists, 5 steals) and Michael Johnson (20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) also stood out, while Larry Davidson (5 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal) provided valuable minutes off the bench.

After a 4–1 start—including their only early loss coming against the eventual champions Brisbane (104–74), led by Calvin Bruton (30 points)—Newcastle looked like genuine contenders. Davidson chipped in 2 points and 1 rebound in that loss, continuing his consistent role in the rotation.

The team hit a purple patch mid-season, reeling off six consecutive victories to push their record to 10–2. However, the Falcons faltered dramatically down the stretch, losing nine of their final eleven regular season games. Despite the slump, their early-season form helped them cling onto sixth spot with a 16–10 record and a ticket back to the playoffs.

Newcastle’s offensive production was spearheaded by Jim Bateman (22.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.0 blocks), Ian Davies (21.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.8 blocks), Scott Horrell (21.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists), and Michael Johnson (19.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.8 steals). Davidson appeared in 28 games and averaged 4.1 points, 1.2 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 1.0 steal while playing a veteran role off the bench.

In the elimination final, the Falcons edged out Nunawading in a thrilling contest (103–97). Davies (26 points, 5 rebounds), Johnson (23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists), and Bateman (16 points, 12 rebounds) anchored the win, while Ron Lemons (38 points, 12 rebounds) top-scored for the Spectres. Davidson appeared but didn’t hit the scoreboard in the tightly contested win.

The semi-final clash with Adelaide marked the club’s deepest playoff run in history—but it ended in heartbreak. Johnson (37 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists) and Bateman (19 points, 13 rebounds) both played well, but Newcastle was overwhelmed 151–103. Davidson had one of his best showings of the year in the final, contributing 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal in the loss. Adelaide’s Al Green (45 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists) and Darryl Pearce (41 points, 6 assists, 5 steals) were unstoppable.

Larry Davidson (Born 1958) played six seasons the Newcastle Falcons. He averaged 5.4 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.3 assists in 136 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (836 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.