Josh Giddey Officially Enters the 2021 NBA Draft
April 27, 2021
Mark Dickel
- Nationality: NZL/AUS
- Date of Birth: 21/12/76
- Place of Birth: Dunedin, Otago (New Zealand)
- Position: PG
- Height (CM): 188
- Weight (KG): 88
- Junior Assoc: NZ - Dunedin
- College: UNLV (1996–2000)
- NBL DEBUT: 20/10/00
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 1/04/11
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 34
- NBL History: Victoria 2001-02 | Sydney 2011
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Mark Robert Dickel was born in Dunedin, Otago (NZ) and attended Logan Park High School in Dunedin, New Zealand.
In 1993, he joined the Otago Nuggets of the New Zealand National Basketball League and played there until 1996 when he left for college in the United States.
FAMILY: Dickel’s father, Carl, was a New Zealand women’s national basketball team head coach for 10 years and coached the Otago Nuggets for four years from 1994 to 1997.
Dickel’s brother, Richard, is a well known coach in and around Australia and New Zealand, having coached the Waikato Pistons, Otago Nuggets, Southland Sharks and Adelaide Lightning, as well as Southland Under 17, Under 19 and Under 21 team’s.
Dickel’s nephew, Luke Aston, also plays in the New Zealand NBL.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Mark Dickel made his NBL debut with the Victoria Titans at 23 years of age. He scored 12 points in his first game.
Having been swept by Perth in the previous season’s Grand Final, Victoria reshaped its roster while retaining captain Tony Ronaldson, Jason Smith, Darryl McDonald, Brett Wheeler, Ben Pepper, Brad Sheridan and Glen Siegle. Frank Drmic (to Sydney), Nathan Taylor (to Melbourne) and David Smith exited the team.
Head coach Brian Goorjian brought Chris Anstey (via Chicago) back to Australia after three seasons in the NBA, replaced David Smith with his older brother Darren Smith and signed Mark Dickel (via UNLV). Dickel occupied an import position because New Zealand players were not considered local players in the NBL until 2003.
Victoria opened the season at the Brisbane Convention Centre on October 20, where Ronaldson (17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) helped the Titans defeat Brisbane 95-80. McDonald (16 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and Jason Smith (15 points and 4 steals) provided the support as Victoria began the season with a road win.
Ronaldson (16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists) remained captain and one of Victoria’s most dependable offensive players, combining his perimeter shooting with the size to play both forward positions as the Titans again built one of the league’s deepest rotations.
Ronaldson’s best scoring game came against Melbourne on March 10, where he made four three-pointers and finished with 31 points and 5 rebounds as Victoria defeated the Tigers 133-124 at Vodafone Arena. Jason Smith (28 points) and McDonald (23 points and 14 assists) helped the Titans win the high-scoring contest and continue their run towards first place.
Ronaldson produced one of his best all-around games against Townsville on December 11, finishing with 28 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal as Victoria defeated the Crocodiles 104-90. Jason Smith (30 points and 7 rebounds) and Wheeler (16 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks) provided the support as the Titans collected another home win.
Ronaldson added 24 points and 8 rebounds against Brisbane on January 17 as Victoria defeated the Bullets 119-96 at Ballarat Stadium. Dickel (21 points, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) and McDonald (16 points, 10 assists, and 2 steals) helped the Titans control the game as Ronaldson delivered another strong performance against Brisbane.
Victoria closed the regular season against Adelaide on March 31, where Ronaldson (23 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block) helped the Titans defeat the 36ers 113-98. Jason Smith (26 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) and McDonald (15 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals) provided the support as Victoria secured first place with a 22-6 record.
Jason Smith (20.5 points and 5.4 rebounds) produced the highest-scoring season of his career and led Victoria offensively, while Anstey (16.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2 blocks) provided scoring, rebounding and shot-blocking from the bench. McDonald (15.4 points, 5 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 2.7 steals), Dickel (13.2 points, 3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists) and Wheeler (13 points and 8 rebounds) gave Victoria six players averaging at least 13 points, while Darren Smith (6.6 points and 3.7 rebounds) and Sheridan (6 points) provided depth.
Mid-season injuries to Pepper (4.1 points and 3.8 rebounds), Anstey and Darren Smith led to development players Marcus Wright and Pero Vasiljevic being elevated into the full roster. Anstey was named Titans MVP, won the NBL Best Sixth Man award and earned All-NBL Second Team honours, while Jason Smith was selected to the All-NBL First Team and McDonald earned All-NBL Third Team honours.
Victoria opened the qualifying finals at Adelaide Arena, where the Titans defeated Adelaide 101-96 behind Anstey (27 points, 16 rebounds, and 1 block) and Wheeler (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks), while Kevin Brooks (24 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists), Brett Maher (19 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) and Darnell Mee (18 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) led Adelaide. Ronaldson (11 points and 2 rebounds) played 43:52 minutes, while Jason Smith (2 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 block) suffered a severe knee injury late in the game and missed the remainder of the postseason.
Game two moved to Melbourne, where Brooks (34 points and 9 rebounds), Maher (24 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Mee (12 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) led Adelaide to a 96-83 win. Ronaldson (22 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) top-scored for Victoria, while Wheeler (12 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 block) and Dickel (12 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) provided the support as the 36ers forced a deciding game.
Game three remained in Melbourne, where Ronaldson limped out of the warm-up and was unable to play, leaving Victoria without both its captain and the injured Jason Smith. Anstey (21 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 steals), Darren Smith (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Dickel (17 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Titans, but Adelaide won 115-103 to take the series 2-1. Victoria still advanced as the highest-placed losing team from the qualifying finals.
The semifinal series opened at Vodafone Arena, where Ronaldson (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists), McDonald (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Wheeler (17 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led Victoria to a 106-97 win over Townsville. Robert Rose (26 points), Mike Kelly (17 points and 9 rebounds) and Pat Reidy (16 points and 3 rebounds) led the Crocodiles as Victoria took game one.
Game two moved to Townsville, where Andrew Goodwin (19 points and 11 rebounds), Reidy (19 points and 4 assists) and Rose (19 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists) led the Crocodiles to a 98-82 win. Ronaldson (17 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Sheridan (17 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) top-scored for Victoria, while Anstey (2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block) suffered an injury during his 7:31 minutes and missed the deciding game.
Game three remained in Townsville, where Dickel (33 points and 4 assists) and McDonald (19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block) kept Victoria close, while Goodwin (23 points), Rose (20 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals) and Kelly (17 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) carried Townsville to a 101-97 win. Ronaldson (14 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) played 48:00 minutes in the 101-97 loss.
2001/02
Brian Goorjian’s seven-year run of Grand Final appearances ended when Victoria fell to Townsville in the 2001 semifinals, prompting the Titans to change the structure of their roster. Ben Pepper (to Wollongong) and Glen Siegle (to Brisbane) departed, ending the three-centre rotation involving Chris Anstey and Brett Wheeler. Darryl McDonald’s naturalisation allowed Goorjian to add Jamahl Mosley (via Salamanca), while Nathan Crosswell (via Melbourne’s state league squad) joined the backcourt. Victoria also retained its New Zealand playmaker, who continued to occupy an import position because New Zealand players were not considered locals until 2003.
The Titans began the season against Melbourne at Hisense Arena on October 13, where Dickel (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) top-scored for Victoria, with McDonald (19 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals) and Ronaldson (19 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists) providing support before the Tigers won 109-103.
Dickel (11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.1 assists across 29 games) shared Victoria’s playmaking responsibilities with McDonald and remained one of six Titans to average double figures, combining his passing with increased production on the glass.
Dickel’s season-high came in Townsville on November 20, where he finished with 28 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal in 53:10 minutes as Victoria fell to the Crocodiles 122-112. Ronaldson (25 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Anstey (17 points, 20 rebounds, and 1 steal) were the Titans’ other major contributors.
One week earlier in Cairns, Dickel (20 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) made three three-pointers and nine free throws, but the Taipans defeated Victoria 91-74. Mosley (12 points and 6 rebounds) and Anstey (10 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) were the only other Titans to reach double figures.
Dickel produced another 20-point performance against West Sydney on December 14, adding 5 rebounds, 9 assists, and 1 steal as Victoria defeated the Razorbacks 99-86 and reversed its two-point loss from six days earlier. Ronaldson (21 points and 4 rebounds) and Sheridan (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) helped the Titans return to the winners’ list.
Ronaldson (19.5 points and 4.5 rebounds) led Victoria in scoring, with Jason Smith (18.8 points and 5.4 rebounds) and Anstey (16.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks) giving the Titans three major offensive options. McDonald (12 points, 5.1 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 2.3 steals) led the league in steals, while Mosley (11.5 points and 6.7 rebounds), Darren Smith (8.8 points and 3.8 rebounds), Sheridan (8.1 points), Wheeler (7.3 points and 6.2 rebounds) and Crosswell (5.3 points) completed the main rotation. Anstey was named Titans MVP and selected to the All-NBL First Team, Ronaldson and McDonald earned All-NBL Third Team honours, Mosley became the first import to win the NBL Best Sixth Man award and Goorjian was named NBL Coach of the Year.
Victoria completed the regular season in Brisbane on March 23, where Dickel (5 points, 9 rebounds, 11 assists, and 2 steals) directed the offence, while Mosley (29 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Crosswell (19 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) led the scoring in a 124-109 loss to the Bullets. The Titans still secured first place and a second consecutive minor premiership with a 21-9 record.
As the top seed, Victoria drew sixth-placed Melbourne in the qualifying finals and took game one 113-107 behind Jason Smith (27 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Anstey (19 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks). Dickel (13 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal) provided additional scoring, while Hoare (20 points and 13 rebounds) was Melbourne’s best.
The Tigers levelled the series two nights later, with Copeland (41 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals) and Timmons (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) leading Melbourne to a 107-105 win. Jason Smith (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) and McDonald (11 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block) led Victoria, while Dickel (8 points and 2 rebounds) played 16:50 minutes.
In the deciding game, Anstey (32 points, 20 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and Ronaldson (24 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) carried the Titans, with Dickel (6 points and 6 assists) running the second unit. Copeland (37 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Timmons (21 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks) led Melbourne to a 103-97 win, although Victoria advanced as the highest-ranked losing team from the qualifying finals.
Adelaide then defeated Victoria 99-92 in the opening game of the semifinals behind Farley (25 points and 4 rebounds) and Maher (23 points and 8 rebounds). Ronaldson (27 points and 5 rebounds) and Jason Smith (19 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Titans, while Dickel (3 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) played 28:39 minutes.
The series shifted to Adelaide for game two, where Anstey (26 points, 12 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks), Jason Smith (20 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) and McDonald (13 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists) led Victoria to an 86-81 win. Farley (24 points) and Maher (15 points) were the 36ers’ leading scorers, while Dickel (6 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal) helped the Titans force a deciding game.
With the series tied, Farley (33 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists), Maher (16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Rees (16 points and 9 rebounds) carried Adelaide in game three. Ronaldson (26 points and 6 rebounds) and Jason Smith (16 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Victoria, while Dickel (14 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, and 1 steal) played 21:12 minutes in the 103-92 loss.
Dickel (to Wellington) returned to the Saints following the season before signing with Fenerbahçe for the 2002/03 European campaign.
The defeat became the final game played by the Victoria Titans, with financial problems leading the club to sell its licence to a group headed by Peter Fiddes and rebrand as the Victoria Giants for the following season.
SYDNEY KINGS
2010/11
In December 2010, Dickel signed with the Sydney Kings for the rest of the 2010/11 NBL season. His debut with the Kings was delayed until 8 January 2011 due to a calf injury. On 30 January 2011, he tore his calf in the final quarter of a 94–91 away loss to the Gold Coast Blaze. He returned on 6 March 2011 and played a further five games.
Mark Dickel played three seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Sydney Kings and the Victoria Titans. He averaged 11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in 71 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 48th in assists per game.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 34 | Sydney | 8-20 (9) | 9 | 227 | 32 | 27 | 44 | 3 | 24 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 24 | 9 | 30 | 30% | 9 | 26 | 35% | 5 | 8 | 63% | 47% | 45% | 9 |
| 2001-02 | 25 | Victoria | 21-9 (1) | 29 | 965 | 336 | 127 | 177 | 24 | 103 | 24 | 8 | 96 | 81 | 102 | 267 | 38% | 35 | 106 | 33% | 97 | 143 | 68% | 50% | 45% | 28 |
| 2000-01 | 24 | Victoria | 22-6 (1) | 33 | 980 | 434 | 100 | 168 | 20 | 80 | 25 | 6 | 95 | 72 | 137 | 343 | 40% | 63 | 181 | 35% | 97 | 139 | 70% | 53% | 49% | 33 | Totals | 71 | 2172 | 802 | 254 | 389 | 47 | 207 | 57 | 15 | 204 | 177 | 248 | 640 | 38.8% | 107 | 313 | 34.2% | 199 | 290 | 68.6% | 52% | 47% | 33 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 34 | Sydney | 8-20 (9) | 9 | 25.2 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 4.9 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 30% | 1.0 | 2.9 | 35% | 0.6 | 0.9 | 63% | 47% | 45% | 9 |
| 2001-02 | 25 | Victoria | 21-9 (1) | 29 | 33.3 | 11.6 | 4.4 | 6.1 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 9.2 | 38% | 1.2 | 3.7 | 33% | 3.3 | 4.9 | 68% | 50% | 45% | 28 |
| 2000-01 | 24 | Victoria | 22-6 (1) | 33 | 29.7 | 13.2 | 3.0 | 5.1 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 2.9 | 2.2 | 4.2 | 10.4 | 40% | 1.9 | 5.5 | 35% | 2.9 | 4.2 | 70% | 53% | 49% | 33 | Total | 71 | 30.6 | 11.3 | 3.6 | 5.5 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 2.9 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 9.0 | 38.8% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 34.2% | 1.5 | 4.4 | 68.6% | 52% | 47% | 33 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 33 | 11 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
|---|
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Dickel was first selected for the New Zealand national basketball team in 1994. In 1995, Dickel was both junior and senior Tall Blacks player of the year. In 1997, he played in the World Under 23 championships in Melbourne and averaged 16 points and 6 assists being recognised as a top 5 player at the tournament.
Dickel was a part of the history making Tall Black squad, whom competed in the countries in their first Olympics tournament in 2000. Their campaign ended in a game between New Zealand and Angola to determined who finish last. Playing off for eleventh spot and neither having won a single game, New Zealand came away victorious with a 70-60 win and finished in eleventh spot.
Dickel again made history, playing on the Tall Black team that not only defeated Australia to earn a spot at the 2002 FIBA World Championships, but went on to reach the bronze medal game. There, New Zealand would fall to Dirk Nowitzki led German team (94-117) to finish fourth, the countries highest finish ever at a major FIBA tournament. Dickel finished the tournament ranked third in assists per game.
Dickel remained a part of the national program for the 2004 Olympic games. There, Tall Blacks failed to win a game in their opening pool, resulting in them facing Australia in a crossover game to determine FIBA rankings. New Zealand then lost to Australia, 98-80, in the classification matches to finish in tenth place.
Dickel was a part of the Tall Blacks squad that competed at the 2006 FIBA World Championships (Japan). There, New Zealand (2–4) made it to the second round before being eliminated by Argentina (62-79). They finished the tournament tied for ninth place. Unfortunately, Dickel only played two matches due to a drug suspension.
Dickel played for the Tall Blacks for more than 100 games.
FIBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 30 | 3 | 66 | 25 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 22 | 40.9% | 2 | 10 | 20.0% | 5 | 9 | 55.6% |
| 2004 | 28 | 6 | 182 | 56 | 21 | 27 | 6 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 18 | 40 | 45.0% | 3 | 17 | 17.6% | 17 | 25 | 68.0% |
| 2002 | 26 | 9 | 234 | 60 | 33 | 41 | 7 | 26 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 23 | 16 | 48 | 33.3% | 10 | 32 | 31.3% | 18 | 26 | 69.2% |
| 2000 | 24 | 6 | 141 | 52 | 16 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 10 | 17 | 35 | 48.6% | 5 | 13 | 38.5% | 13 | 14 | 92.9% | Total | 24 | 623 | 193 | 77 | 85 | 16 | 61 | 25 | 0 | 48 | 52 | 60 | 145 | 41% | 20 | 72 | 28% | 53 | 74 | 72% |
FIBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 30 | 3 | 22.0 | 8.3 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 7.3 | 40.9% | 0.7 | 3.3 | 20.0% | 1.7 | 3.0 | 55.6% |
| 2004 | 28 | 6 | 30.3 | 9.3 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 6.7 | 45.0% | 0.5 | 2.8 | 17.6% | 2.8 | 4.2 | 68.0% |
| 2002 | 26 | 9 | 26.0 | 6.7 | 3.7 | 4.6 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 5.3 | 33.3% | 1.1 | 3.6 | 31.3% | 2.0 | 2.9 | 69.2% |
| 2000 | 24 | 6 | 23.5 | 8.7 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 5.8 | 48.6% | 0.8 | 2.2 | 38.5% | 2.2 | 2.3 | 92.9% | Total | 24 | 26.0 | 8.0 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 6.0 | 41% | 0.8 | 3.0 | 28% | 2.2 | 3.1 | 72% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- New Zealand - Otago Nuggets (1993–1996, 2003, 2012–2014), Wellington Saints (1998, 2002), North Harbour Kings (2000), Southland Sharks (2011) | Turkey - Fenerbahçe (2002–2004), Erdemirspor (2004–2005), Mutlu Akü Selçuk Üniversitesi (2008) | Belgium - Telindus Oostende (2003–2004) | Russia - Lokomotiv Rostov (2005–2006) | Poland - Anwil Włocławek (2006–2007) | Greece - Maroussi (2007), Trikala 2000 (2009–2010) | Germany - Brose Baskets Bamberg (2007–2008)
Dickel joined the Otago Nuggets for the 1993 New Zealand NBL season, playing his first season in New Zealand before going on to spend four straight seasons with the club from 1993–1996.
In 1998, during the northern-hemisphere off-season, Dickel suited up for the Wellington Saints in New Zealand while on his US college summer break.
After returning home in 2000, Dickel joined the North Harbour Kings for the final two games of the 2000 New Zealand NBL season before later returning to the Wellington Saints for the 2002 New Zealand NBL season.
Dickel moved to Turkey for the 2002–03 Turkish Basketball League season with Fenerbahçe, leading the league in assists at 5.6 per game and finishing as the competition’s assists leader on season summaries listed at 5.7 per game.
During the European off-season in 2003, Dickel returned to New Zealand for a second stint with the Otago Nuggets, then signed with Telindus Oostende in Belgium for the 2003–04 season before leaving the club in December 2003.
Dickel re-joined Fenerbahçe in January 2004 for the remainder of the 2003–04 season, and one noted highlight from his time in Istanbul was a triple-double against Galatasaray in the 2002–03 season with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists.
In mid-2004, Dickel returned to Turkey with Erdemirspor for the 2004–05 season and averaged 19.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 8.7 assists in 24 games, a season in which he led the Turkish league in assists.
In 2005, Dickel signed a two-year deal with Lokomotiv Rostov in Russia, but in August 2006 he returned a positive drug test for cannabis and received a two-match suspension from Basketball New Zealand plus an additional 10-day suspension from FIBA, with the situation contributing to Lokomotiv terminating the second year of his contract.
In September 2006, Dickel signed with Anwil Włocławek in Poland for the 2006–07 season, leaving in January 2007 to join Maroussi in Greece, where he was forced out after one game due to a season-ending back injury.
In July 2007, Dickel signed with reigning German champions Brose Baskets Bamberg, and after leaving in January 2008 following the end of the club’s EuroLeague campaign he returned to Turkey for the rest of the 2007–08 season with Mutlu Akü Selçuk Üniversitesi.
In January 2009, Dickel joined Trikala 2000 in Greece for the rest of the 2008–09 season and averaged 7.1 points per game across 14 appearances as the club avoided relegation, then re-signed in December 2009 for the remainder of the 2009–10 season.
In November 2010, Dickel signed with the Southland Sharks for the 2011 New Zealand NBL season, playing under his brother Richard as head coach.
Dickel signed a two-year deal with the Otago Nuggets in September 2011, adding the role of Basketball Otago’s director of development, and in 2013 he averaged 8.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 7.8 assists across 17 games while leading the New Zealand NBL in assists as the league’s Assist Champion at 9.1 assists per game.
In 2014, Dickel was appointed player-coach of the Nuggets and averaged 13.7 points and 6.4 rebounds while leading the league in assists again at 8.7 assists per game.
COLLEGE
Dickel played college basketball at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas from 1996 to 2000, tying for the team lead in assists his freshman year of 1996/97 and leading the team in that category in his remaining three seasons.
Dickel suited up for UNLV during the 1996–97 season, when the Rebels went 22–10 under head coach Bill Bayno, and as a freshman he averaged 5.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game while sharing the team lead in assists.
In the 1997–98 season, UNLV finished 20–13 (7–7 in WAC play) and won the WAC tournament to reach the NCAA tournament for the program’s first appearance since 1991, and Dickel averaged 5.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game while earning recognition that included All-WAC Tournament honours.
As a junior in 1998–99, Dickel appeared in 33 games and posted 6.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game, with UNLV finishing 16–13 and taking the WAC regular-season title, while his career-high 183 assists that season made him the team leader in the category and pushed his two-season point-guard stretch to 65 games with 306 total assists and a 42–23 team record in those first two years running the position.
Dickel’s senior year of 1999–2000 became his most productive campaign, as he played all 31 games and totaled 402 points (13.0 per game) while producing 280 assists (9.0 per game) to lead NCAA Division I men’s basketball in assists per game, along with 123 rebounds (4.0 per game), 53 steals (1.7 per game), 51 made three-pointers on 138 attempts (37.0%), and 109 made free throws on 141 attempts (77.3%) in 1,135 minutes (36.6 per game).
During the 2000 Mountain West Conference tournament run, Dickel was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after averaging 13.3 points and 11.3 assists across three games, highlighted by a career-high 18 assists in a 97–92 win over Wyoming on March 10, 2000, and he was later named an Associated Press All-America honorable mention selection that same month.
Across his four seasons at UNLV, Dickel appeared in postseason play every year (two NIT appearances and two NCAA tournament appearances), finished his Rebels career with 945 total points, 776 total assists (third on the school’s all-time list), and 161 steals (sixth in school history), while UNLV’s 1999–2000 team went 23–8, won both the Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships, and advanced to the NCAA tournament as a No. 10 seed before losing in the first round.
AWARDS
- Eurocup All-Star (2006)
- Turkish League assists leader (2005)
- NZNBL All-Star Five (2002)
- 2× NZNBL assist champion (1998, 2014)
- NZNBL Rookie of the Year (1993)
- Second-team All-Mountain West (2000)
- WAC Pacific Division Freshman of the Year (1997)
- NCAA season assists leader (2000)
COACHING HISTORY
While still playing, Dickel moved into coaching, serving as head coach of the Albanian national team from 2010 to 2011.
After returning to Otago, Dickel also worked as Basketball Otago’s director of development and was appointed player-coach of the Otago Nuggets for the 2014 New Zealand NBL season.
On 15 August 2014, Dickel was named head coach of the Canterbury Rams, ending his playing career and taking charge from the 2015 season. He coached the Rams from 2015 to 2018 and signed a four-year contract extension in April 2016.
During the same period, Dickel was head coach of the Mainland Eagles Academy from 2015 to 2018, helping develop the South Island pathway to U.S. college basketball. Utah Prep later credited his Rams Under-19 affiliate with four consecutive national championships and 26 athletes earning U.S. college scholarships, including eight at NCAA Division I level.
In 2018, Dickel also served as an assistant coach with the New Zealand national team.
Following the 2018 New Zealand NBL season, Dickel joined TNT KaTropa in the Philippine Basketball Association as a team consultant. He remained with TNT until February 2021 and helped the club reach the PBA Finals twice.
In January 2020, Dickel was named interim head coach of the Philippine national team for the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
Dickel later coached West Coast Elite AAU during the 2023/24 season, posting a 30-5 record.
On 27 May 2025, Utah Prep Academy in Hurricane, Utah announced Dickel as head coach of its basketball program. Utah Prep later announced him as its National Team Head Coach.
Related
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