NICKNAME/S: Cat, Cat Man Doo

BIO: Martin Cattalini was born in Fremantle (WA).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Martin Cattalini made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 19 years of age. He scored four points in his first game.

Cattalini began his NBL career for the Wildcats in 1993, where he played in 19 games and averaged 3.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.2 assists. He would play a small role in the Wildcat’s loss to the Melbourne Tigers in the Grand Final series.

1994
1994 saw Perth return with almost their entire roster (all bar the retiring Steve Davis) after falling short against Melbourne in the previous year’s Grand Final. In a effort to build towards the future, however, up and coming talent in the form of AIS graduate Aaron Trahair and CJ Bruton, son of Wildcats’ legend Cal, were added to the roster.

Perth started the season by winning their first three games and sat atop the NBL ladder with a record of 7-2 after the first five rounds. Around the halfway mark of the season, Perth suffered losses to Brisbane (127–126), Hobart (93–92) and South East Melbourne (112–94), which saw them drop down to the middle of the ladder with a record of 10-5. Whilst many believed the Wildcats would rebound from the Grand Final loss and be among the league’s top team’s, they struggled to replicate last season’s form. Whilst they would show signs of brilliance, as they did in their beat down of Melbourne in Round 18 (131–108), they also lost to multiple team’s that weren’t even in the playoff picture, as they did the very next round, suffering a home loss to the Newcastle Falcons (83–92).

Scott Fisher (20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals) led the team in scoring for the second year in a row, with the Wildcats’other key players Ricky Grace (18.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.5 steals), James Crawford (18.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.3 blocks) and Andrew Vlahov (17.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.1 steals) putting up great numbers all season but Perth was unable to recapture the success of the previous season.

Perth finished the season with a record equal to Sydney (16-10) but was given the higher playoff seed (sixth) thanks to a 2-0 head to head record against the Kings. In the quarterfinals, Perth would face South East Melbourne, who outclassed them in game one, winning by 31 points (113-82). With the series then returning to Melbourne, the Magic defeated them by 14 points (100-86) to end the Wildcats season prematurely. Cattalini averaged 8.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.4 assists Over the course of the season, but by season’s end had developed into a key part of the Wildcat’s rotation. He delivered his best game of his career (up to that point) in the first game of the quarterfinals, notching up 27 points and 7 rebounds, shooting 9 -12 from the field.

1995
Coming off a disappointing season where falling one game short of a championship in 1993, Perth barely made the playoffs. Coach Adrian Hurley stepped into this season with rumours suggesting the team would be dismantled if they didn’t get it done this year. Despite this, minimal changes were the roster, with Hurley putting his faith into Perth’s younger players and their expected improvement. The only changes he made to the squad were bringing in Anthony Stewart (via Hobart), to replace the outgoing Trevor Torrance (to Gold Coast), CJ Bruton (US college), and Eric Watterson (retirement).

Team captain Andrew Vlahov (20.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.2 steals) would deliver his best season, becoming the team’s leading scorer and rebounder and the Wildcats’other young talent, Aaron Trahair (9.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals) and Martin Cattalini (9.4 points and 5.0 rebounds) both delivered the best seasons of their career so far. The addition of Stewart (10.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 steals) made a huge difference to the Wildcats playing style, with his ability to hit the three creating more room in the low post for Vlahov, Scott Fisher and James Crawford and Andrew Vlahov to operate in. This also allowed veteran players Ricky Grace (18.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 1.7 steals), Scott Fisher (19.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists) and James Crawford (15.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks) to play slightly reduced roles and be rested and energised when it came time to deliver in the big games.

Hurley would rely on a eight-man rotation for the majority of the year, and thanks to a four-game winning streak to end the season, they were about to finish first (by one game) during the regular season. Perth then faced a rematch with Melbourne in the quarterfinals, with the eighth seeded Tigers surprising Wildcats with a (91-103) loss behind big games from Andrew Gaze (28 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists) and Lanard Copeland (29 points). In game two, Vlahov (30 points and 11 rebounds) equalled his season high for points in a game and made sure the Tigers didn’t end their season early with a nine point victory (108-99). The Wildcats closed out the series with a win in game three (96-92) with all five starters, Crawford (20 points), Vlahov (18 points), Grace (18 points), Scott Fisher (17 points) and Cattalini (11 points) all scoring in double figures.

In the semifinals, Perth faced off against Adelaide where they couldn’t stop their star import Robert Rose (27 points in game one and 22 points in game two), but were able to lock down almost every other player on the 36ers roster. Scott Fisher led the team in scoring in both games, backing up his 27 points and 7 rebounds in Perth’s game one win (94-78), with 26 points and 9 rebounds in game two (85-76).

Perth would face the reigning NBL champions North Melbourne in the Grand Final series, losing their home opener (94-107) thanks to the sharpshooting of Giants stars Chris Jent (29 points and 7 assists), Rod Johnson (21 points and 3 assists), Pat Riedy (21 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists) and Darryl McDonald (18 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals). James Crawford (24 points and 9 rebounds) would top score for the Wildcats.

The series shifted to Melbourne for game two, and with Perth trailing 53-45 at half-time and facing elimination, coach Hurley noticed hundreds of balloons in the ceiling and said to Vlahov,’ Look Andrew, the Giants are ready to celebrate, they think they’ve got it won’. That was enough to motivate Vlahov (29 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists) to be unstoppable for the remainder of the game, keeping the Wildcats championship hopes alive. Jent (28 points and 8 rebounds) top scoring again for the Giants in the nine point Wildcats win (97-88).

The Wildcats continued their strong defensive effort in game three, holding the Giants to 15 points in the first quarter while scoring 30 themselves. North Melbourne’s leading scorer Chris Jent was limited to 5/14 shooting, and Perth forced the entire Giants squad to shoot 38% from the field (29/77 shots).

Coach Hurley’s plan to rest the team’s veterans also seemed to pay off, with 35-year-old James Crawford (32 points on 83% field goal shooting, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks) proving unstoppable inside. Perth closed things out with a blowout victory (108-88) that saw them win their third championship in six years behind a dominant season that saw them win the ‘Triple Crown’, the pre-season, regular season and the Grand Final series all in the same year.

Andrew Vlahov, who had recently been named in the league’s All-NBL First Team, was awarded the Finals MVP after averaging 24 points per game over the three games.

The Wildcats had little time to celebrate, boarding a flight to take part in the McDonald’s Championships in London, where they would face the NBA champions Houston Rockets. The Wildcats would go down 116-72, but Vlahov (15 points) and Fisher (18 points, 12 rebounds) played well in a game that was the most viewed TV game featuring a NBL team in Australian basketball history.

Perth then played Euroleague champions Real Madrid to determine third place in the tournament. Real Madrid was without star Arvydas Sabonis, but Perth took it to Europe’s best at the time and won 93-86. Grace (26 points and 7 assists), Crawford (26 points) and Vlahov (12 points and 11 rebounds) finished as Perth’s leading scorers.

Over the course of the season, Cattalini struggled to find court time behind Vlahov, Fisher and Crawford and was not offered a deal to return the following season. Wildcats rivals Adelaide didn’t waste any time signing the up and coming star, however, and he moved to Adelaide, where he added much needed depth to the team’s frontcourt.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
1996
After losing to Perth in the semifinals in 1995, a series which included a vicious elbow from Chris Blakemore to the head of Wildcats forward Martin Cattalini, head coach Mike Dunlap had lost favour with Blakemore and 36ers MVP Robert Rose, who both left the team and signed with the Canberra Cannons. Long range specialist Mike McKay also found Dunlap hard to play for, and he left to play with the Brisbane Bullets.

Despite this, the 36ers recruited well going into the 1996 NBL season, signing slam-dunking forward Leon Trimmingham from the Sydney Kings and, funnily enough, Martin Cattalini from the championship winning Perth Wildcats. John Rillie, who was coming off a Rookie of the Year winning season with Brisbane, was added as a backup guard to Brett Maher, and new import Rick Brunson, who had just narrowly missed out on being drafted to the NBA. This was also the season Davis was replaced as captain of the 36ers by Brett Maher, who at mid-season would be selected to play for Australia at the 1996 Olympic Games.

Cattalini found a role as a valuable contributor off the bench and averaged 8.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.7 assists over 30 games. The 36ers got great production from starters Brunson (21.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2.5 steals), Trimmingham (19 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals), Maher (15.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.9 steals), Rillie (13.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.2 steals) and Mark Davis (12.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2 assists) but continued to struggle against the league’s top team’s.

Following the sudden death of his father after the 1996 season, coach Dunlap returned home to the United States and decided to stay there to be closer to his family. The team finished in sixth place with a record of 16-10. The 36ers defeated arch-rivals Perth Wildcats in the quarterfinals before being eliminated in the semifinals by eventual champs the South East Melbourne Magic in two straight games.

This season would also be Dunlap’s last with the team after he requested the team release 36ers legend Mark Davis and focus on the team’s younger players. Since joining the 36ers, Dunlap had been systematically removing the older players from the squad, but the club board instead retained Davis (who went on to play another four seasons) and agreed that Dunlap would not return as coach.

1997
Having just shown head coach Mike Dunlap the door, the 36ers hired his assistant and former Gold Coast Rollers coach Dave Claxton as his replacement. Despite finishing sixth the season prior, Adelaide chose to retain the majority of the roster this season, the only major changes being the addition of Rupert Sapwell (Geelong) and replacing import guard Rick Brunson with big man Jeff Brown. Perhaps the biggest change to the roster wasn’t during free agency but when Brett Maher (18.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.9 steals) was handed the team captaincy from club legend Mark Davis (something he would hold until his retirement in 2009).

The plan had been for Brown to play alongside Leon Trimmingham (19.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks) and Mark Davis (9.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) to form a dominant frontcourt, similar to what had been delivered recent championships for the Perth Wildcats. Six games in, it was clear Brown (7.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steals) wasn’t the player the 36ers needed, and he was swiftly released. Hoping to find a quick replacement, Adelaide brought back former big man Willie Simmons, who hadn’t played in the NBL since 1994 and was now 35 years old. Simmons (5.6 points and 4.0 rebounds) added what he could, but needless to say, Adelaide struggled through the remaining games and finished in seventh place (14-16), missing the playoffs for the first time since 1992. Cattalini appeared in 30 games and averaged 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.8 assists, this included his best NBL game to date in the last game of the season, when he led a comeback against the red hot Melbourne Tigers who were in the midst of their record setting 17 game win streak. Cattalini exploded for 30 points (14-21 shooting), 8 rebounds and 2 steals and nearly forced the game into overtime.

1998
Martin Cattalini returned for his third season with Adelaide after the 36ers finished seventh with a 14-16 record and missed the 1997 playoffs. Dave Claxton, who had been appointed shortly before the previous season following Mike Dunlap’s unexpected departure, was replaced by former Adelaide guard Phil Smyth, whose only previous coaching experience had come as a specialist coach at the Australian Institute of Sport during his playing career.

Imports Leon Trimmingham and Jeff Brown departed, while Brett Wheeler (to South East Melbourne), Brad McKinnon, Willie Simmons and Nathan Hawkes were also no longer with the club. Captain Brett Maher rejected serious interest from Sydney and re-signed, with Cattalini, Mark Davis, John Rillie, Rupert Sapwell and Scott Ninnis also returning. Smyth added Paul Rees (via North Melbourne), Darnell Mee (via France/Canberra), Kevin Brooks, Dean Brogan (via AIS), Paul Bauer and Jason Williams.

Mee had spent the previous season in France while rehabilitating the knee injury which limited his first NBL campaign before recommending former Denver Nuggets teammate Brooks to Adelaide. The 36ers signed Brooks to a two-year deal, and although his unusual shooting release initially left his teammates questioning whether he would last a week, he quickly established himself as Adelaide’s leading scorer.

Adelaide opened the season at Adelaide Arena on January 31, where Cattalini finished with a season-high 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists as the 36ers defeated Townsville 125-86 in Smyth’s first game as coach. Brooks (20 points and 7 rebounds) and Davis (18 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 block) also contributed as Adelaide began the season with a 39-point victory.

Cattalini (15.8 points and 6.7 rebounds across 33 games) emerged as one of Adelaide’s primary scoring options, starting throughout the season and giving the 36ers another perimeter threat alongside Brooks, Maher and Mee. Adelaide won seven of its opening eight games, including victories over North Melbourne, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

Cattalini delivered one of his strongest all-round performances against Wollongong at Beaton Park on April 26, finishing with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists as Adelaide defeated the Hawks 114-100. Brooks (34 points and 4 rebounds) made eight three-pointers and Maher (23 points and 5 rebounds) provided further support, while Clayton Ritter (33 points and 10 rebounds), Elliot Hatcher (21 points, 4 assists, and 4 steals) and Glen Saville (21 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks) led Wollongong.

Another major performance came against Perth at Adelaide Arena on May 3, where Cattalini finished with 24 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 assists as the 36ers defeated the Wildcats 106-97. Brooks (24 points and 4 rebounds) and Mee (20 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 assists) helped Adelaide record its second victory over Perth for the season.

Brooks (19.4 points and 6.7 rebounds) led Adelaide in scoring, while Maher (17.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals) and Mee (14.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks) joined Cattalini as the team’s four major offensive contributors. Rillie (9.8 points and 4.3 rebounds), Davis (9.8 points and 4.8 rebounds), Rees (7.4 points and 5.1 rebounds), Sapwell (6.1 points) and Ninnis (5.4 points) completed Smyth’s main rotation, while Maher earned All-NBL Second Team honours.

Adelaide lost its final three regular-season games against Newcastle, South East Melbourne and Brisbane, with Cattalini missing the June 7 loss to the Bullets in his only absence of the season. No injury or another reason for the missed game was confirmed as the 36ers finished second with a 19-11 record, recording their highest number of regular-season victories since 1988.

The semifinals matched Adelaide against Perth, which had lost only four regular-season games. The 36ers had won two of the three meetings between the clubs, defeating the Wildcats 103-87 and 106-97 at Adelaide Arena before losing 106-103 at the Perth Entertainment Centre.

Game one was played at Challenge Stadium, where Cattalini (20 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) helped Adelaide defeat Perth 114-97. Maher (36 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists) made seven three-pointers during a career-high scoring performance, while Mee (16 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Rillie (15 points) also contributed. James Crawford (22 points and 6 rebounds), Ricky Grace (20 points) and Scott Fisher (19 points and 10 rebounds) led Perth.

Game two moved to Adelaide Arena, where Cattalini (20 points and 5 rebounds), Maher (26 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists), Brooks (22 points and 4 rebounds), Rillie (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Mee (12 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) gave the 36ers five major contributors in a 117-110 victory. Andrew Vlahov (32 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals), Grace (26 points and 5 assists), Fisher (18 points and 11 rebounds) and Todd Lichti (12 points and 5 assists) led Perth as Adelaide completed the sweep and advanced to the Grand Final.

The Grand Final matched Adelaide against defending champion South East Melbourne, which had finished first with a 26-4 record and swept Brisbane in the semifinals. The Magic had defeated the 36ers in all three regular-season meetings, winning 96-94 in Adelaide, 77-74 at Melbourne Park and 99-98 at the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre, with the three games decided by a combined six points.

Before the series, Brooks and Mee suggested every Adelaide player shave his head, helping bring the group closer together before facing the heavily favoured Magic.

The Grand Final opened at Adelaide Arena, where Cattalini (16 points and 8 rebounds) helped the 36ers defeat South East Melbourne 100-93 and record only their second victory over the Magic since the club was formed in 1992. Brooks (24 points and 8 rebounds), Davis (16 points and 4 rebounds), Rillie (15 points and 6 rebounds) and Mee (14 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks) also contributed, while Wheeler (29 points and 9 rebounds), Clinton McDaniel (20 points and 4 assists) and Tony Ronaldson (18 points and 8 rebounds) led South East Melbourne.

Game two moved to Melbourne Park, where Adelaide forced 26 turnovers, held South East Melbourne below 15 points in three quarters and converted 25-of-33 free throws compared to the Magic’s 6-of-8. Brooks (21 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks), Cattalini (20 points and 6 rebounds), Maher (11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) and Mee (11 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 4 blocks) led the 36ers, while Wheeler (12 points and 5 rebounds), Ronaldson (11 points and 6 rebounds) and Sam Mackinnon (9 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) led South East Melbourne as Adelaide won 90-62, completed the sweep, collected its first championship since 1986 and Brooks was named Grand Final MVP, with Cattalini finishing with 20 points and 6 rebounds.

1998/99
After winning the 1998 NBL championship, Adelaide entered the league’s first summer season without John Rillie (to West Sydney), Dean Brogan (to Newcastle) and Scott Ninnis (retired), who joined Phil Smyth’s coaching staff. Captain Brett Maher, Martin Cattalini, Darnell Mee, Kevin Brooks, Mark Davis, Paul Rees, Rupert Sapwell, Paul Bauer and Jason Williams returned, while David Stiff (via North Melbourne) was added to the championship roster.

Mee signed a three-year deal to remain with Adelaide, while Brooks initially appeared lost to the club after the 36ers could not match the offers he received from Europe and South America within the salary cap. Adelaide considered replacing Brooks with Paul Rogers, who joined Perth, before Smyth convinced Brooks to return on a one-year deal.

“There was never any doubt I wanted to come back and help defend the title but as professionals us players have to market ourselves at the highest possible price and my agent was adamant I could earn a lot more money elsewhere. I started to look at other possibilities in Spain, Italy and Turkey where I was being offered 30-40 per cent more money than I’m getting here but in the end Adelaide was the place I wanted to be,” Brooks said.

Adelaide opened its championship defence against Perth at the Perth Entertainment Centre on October 10, where Cattalini finished with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks, but the Wildcats defeated the 36ers 106-96. Brooks (22 points) and Mee (18 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals) provided support, while Scott Fisher (26 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Perth.

Cattalini (14.9 points and 7 rebounds across 32 games) remained one of Adelaide’s leading offensive players and appeared in all but one regular-season game before playing throughout the playoffs. The defending champions won only two of their opening six games and fell to 2-4 after consecutive home losses against West Sydney and Brisbane, before recovering to win five of their next six.

Cattalini’s best scoring game came against Sydney at the Entertainment Centre on December 16, where he made five three-pointers and finished with 26 points and 8 rebounds as Adelaide defeated the Kings 115-82. Davis (24 points and 5 rebounds) and Brooks (23 points and 4 rebounds) provided support, while Acie Earl (29 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 blocks) was Sydney’s best.

Cattalini missed Adelaide’s 105-92 win over Perth on December 18, his only regular-season absence, before returning against Victoria on Boxing Day.

On New Year’s Eve, Cattalini finished with 24 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal as Adelaide defeated Brisbane 104-90 at the Clipsal Powerhouse. Maher (25 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) and Mee (20 points and 5 rebounds) provided support as the 36ers improved to 9-6.

Cattalini matched his season-high on the boards against Brisbane on March 12, finishing with 17 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block as Adelaide defeated the Bullets 98-83 at the Brisbane Convention Centre. Mee (17 points and 8 rebounds) and Sapwell (17 points and 6 rebounds) also contributed, while Steve Woodberry (29 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) led Brisbane.

Maher (19.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals) led Adelaide in scoring, with Brooks (17.3 points and 6.1 rebounds) and Mee (14.8 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1.2 blocks) combining with Cattalini to give the 36ers four major offensive options. Stiff (9.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks), Davis (8.9 points and 4.2 rebounds), Sapwell (7.3 points and 3.6 rebounds) and Rees (6.2 points and 4.2 rebounds) completed Smyth’s main rotation. Brooks and Mee earned All-NBL First Team honours, Maher was selected to the All-NBL Second Team and Mee won the NBL Best Defensive Player award.

Adelaide entered its final regular-season game needing to defeat Townsville and have Perth win against Melbourne to claim the minor premiership. Cattalini finished with 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block as the 36ers defeated the Crocodiles 107-92, with Brooks (27 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) and Maher (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) leading Adelaide, while Robert Rose (25 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists) was Townsville’s best. Perth defeated Melbourne, allowing Adelaide to complete a 9-1 finish, claim its first minor premiership since 1988 and finish first with an 18-8 record.

Adelaide opened the qualifying finals against a Perth team which had won two of the three regular-season meetings between the clubs, including both games played at the Perth Entertainment Centre.

Game one was played at Challenge Stadium, where Cattalini (13 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) helped Adelaide defeat Perth 99-87. Brooks (24 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals), Davis (18 points and 5 rebounds), Maher (14 points) and Mee (13 points, 9 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks) led the 36ers, while Andrew Vlahov (26 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists), Fisher (20 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Anthony Stewart (18 points and 5 rebounds) were Perth’s best.

Game two moved to the Clipsal Powerhouse, where Cattalini (16 points and 8 rebounds), Mee (25 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals), Maher (22 points) and Sapwell (10 points) led Adelaide to a 97-80 victory and completed the sweep. Fisher (17 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists), Ricky Grace (16 points and 5 assists) and Vlahov (12 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks) led Perth.

The semifinals matched Adelaide against a Wollongong team which the 36ers had defeated in two of their three regular-season meetings.

The series opened at the WIN Entertainment Centre, where Cattalini (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists), Maher (25 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Brooks (22 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Adelaide to a 93-81 victory. Clayton Ritter (23 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals), Mat Campbell (15 points and 6 assists) and CJ Bruton (13 points and 5 assists) led Wollongong.

Game two moved to the Clipsal Powerhouse, where Wollongong led by 16 points late in the third quarter and remained ahead 88-85 with 9.9 seconds remaining. Sapwell missed a three-pointer, but Stiff saved the rebound from going out of bounds and returned the ball to Sapwell, who made his second attempt to force overtime. Cattalini (8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block), Stiff (22 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 blocks), Maher (19 points), Brooks (16 points and 7 rebounds), Sapwell (11 points and 4 rebounds) and Mee (9 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks) helped Adelaide defeat Wollongong 99-98 and complete the sweep, while Bruton (27 points and 7 rebounds), Campbell (20 points) and Ritter (9 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Hawks.

Adelaide entered the Grand Final undefeated during the postseason against the Victoria Titans, a new club formed through the merger of the South East Melbourne Magic and North Melbourne Giants. The 36ers had defeated Victoria in both regular-season meetings and held home-court advantage after finishing first.

The Grand Final opened at Melbourne Park, where Cattalini (5 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) contributed as Adelaide defeated Victoria 104-94. Maher (31 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) made six three-pointers, while Mee (25 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and Sapwell (11 points) provided support. Darryl McDonald (23 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals), Tony Ronaldson (19 points) and Ben Pepper (18 points) led Victoria.

Game two moved to the Clipsal Powerhouse, where Cattalini (12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) made both of his three-point attempts, but Victoria defeated Adelaide 88-82 to level the series. Maher (25 points), Brooks (12 points and 4 rebounds) and Rees (11 points) provided Adelaide’s other double-figure scorers, while Ronaldson (22 points), Brett Wheeler (18 points and 9 rebounds), Jason Smith (15 points and 6 rebounds) and McDonald (12 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists) led the Titans.

The deciding game remained at the Clipsal Powerhouse, where Cattalini (19 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) led Adelaide in scoring as the 36ers held Victoria to 32 first-half points and defeated the Titans 80-69 in front of more than 7,000 supporters. Maher (15 points and 7 rebounds), Brooks (13 points and 6 rebounds) and Sapwell (13 points) provided support, while Pepper (15 points) and Ronaldson (15 points) led Victoria as Adelaide became the first team to win consecutive NBL championships since Perth in 1990 and 1991 and Maher was named Grand Final MVP.

The championship, box scores and award selections were cross-checked against Basketball.com.au, Adelaide’s official history, Boti Nagy, ESPN, ABC and the historical All-NBL records. ([Adelaide 36ers][2])

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NBL_seasons?utm_source=chatgpt.com “List of NBL seasons”
[2]: https://www.adelaide36ers.com/pages/history?utm_source=chatgpt.com “History”

1999/00
Coming off winning back-to-back championships, Adelaide seemed primed for a NBL dynasty and bolstered their roster by signing Paul Maley. Maley, who had contemplated retiring after his experience with the Victoria Titans, was thought to be everything the team needed to achieve a three-peat, but then, economic factors impacted the 36ers’ season in a way no one could have predicted.

The NBL wasn’t in as good a financial shape as the 36ers, and in a cost-cutting move aimed at assisting struggling NBL clubs, the league reduced the league salary cup from $70,000 to $625,000. This reduction in cap resulted in the team being unable to re-sign star Kevin Brooks for the same money without breaching the cap, considering it also had added Maley only a few weeks earlier. Although the league applied for consideration on this, it was denied, and Brooks was forced to make a move to Sydney to play with the Kings.

Days later, high-scoring forward Martin Cattalini agreed to play in France for ASVEL Villeranne, which would have been ‘double whammy’, but prior to the season tipping off, he backflipped and re-signed with Adelaide in the hopes that a big year would result in being selected for the 2000 Olympics to be held in Sydney.

The season kicked off the season with a 109–89 win over Perth at home, with the 36ers fielding a starting lineup of leading scorer Martin Cattalini (20.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists), team captain Brett Maher (20.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists), Darnell Mee (13.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.2 blocks) who filled almost every category on the stat sheet and veterans Paul Rees (7.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists) and Paul Maley (12.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists).

As a result of winning the 1999 NBL championship, the 36ers were again invited to participate in the McDonald’s Cup, held at the 12,000 seat Fila Forum in Milan, Italy which was scheduled during the first month of the regular season. After losing their first game 90–79 to Brazilian side CR Vasco da Gama (who went all the way to meet the San Antonio Spurs in the final), the team won the 5–6 place playoff 91–84 over Lebanese team Hekmeh BC.

After returning to Australia, Adelaide never skipped a beat. They won three straight games before heading to Townsville, a game where Maher nailed five from five threes, scored 15 points in the first quarter, and finished with a career-high 40 points as Adelaide lost its first game of the season in overtime.

Maley missed a number of games due to a recurring back injury which saw David Stiff enter the starting lineup, where he responded with a career-high 35-point game (70% from the field) in a 111-103 win over Wollongong.

On 6 February 2000, the 36ers participated in the league’s first ‘open air’ game where 10,318 fans gathered to see the Titans deliver a rare loss (83-75) at Melbourne Park.

At the end of the season, Adelaide finished on top of the ladder with a 22–6 record and as a result, along with Townsville who finished second, was given first-round byes. The elimination finals saw Perth defeat West Sydney on one side of the bracket, and Victoria knock out Melbourne on the other, resulting in the 36ers facing off against a Brian Goorjian led team for the third year in a row.

The Titans, who had discarded Paul Maley (12.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game) to see him become a valuable bench contributor for Adelaide, entered the series as favourites. The Titans would win game one 101-86 in Melbourne, with Ronaldson leading the team with 26 points and 5 rebounds and MacDonald filling the box score with 24 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks before the series moved to Adelaide for game two and three.

Game two saw the 36ers return to their high-scoring offence, which had proven unstoppable over the past two seasons. Martin Cattalini’s 24 points and 7 rebounds, combined with Darnell Mee’s all-around brilliance, collecting 22 points,7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals, the 36ers evened the series with a 95-72 win.

With many pencilling in another Titans elimination from the 36ers, the team rallied behind MacDonald, who again impacted the game from every angle, finishing with 24 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. His counterpart Darnell Mee seemed equally up to the task and finished with 22 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals, but the remaining 36ers squad struggled to score through the impenetrable Titans defence, and with Victoria winning the decider 89-93 the Titans celebrated as though they’d shaken King Kong off their back.

It was a year of upsets with Townsville being eliminated by Perth in the other semi final bracket in three games. Not surprisingly, Victoria had nothing left for Perth in the Grand Final and lost in two straight games.

Following the 1999/00 season, Brett Maher and Martin Cattalini were both selected to represent the Australian Boomers at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. The 36ers’ versatile Olympic forward then headed to Spain for the following season where he would play until deciding to return to the 36ers in 2002.

2002/03
During the 2002/03 season, Cattalini averaged 19.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists and helped the 36ers finish with a record of 16-14 and end the regular season in fifth place.

2003/04
During the 2003/04 season, Cattalini averaged 22.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists and was a part of the 36ers squad which finished in eighth place with a record of 14-19.

CAIRNS TAIPANS
2005/06
In 2005/06, Cattalini averaged 19 points and 6.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists, as the Taipans finished in fifth place with a 18-14 record.

2006/07
Martin Cattalini had his best season in 2006/07. At 33 years of age, he averaged 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists and shot 50% while knocking down one of every three shots behind the three-point line. He would lead the Taipans to a 17-16 record that season, good enough for sixth place and a NBL playoffs appearance. Cairns defeated the seventh-placed South Dragons 118-97 in the first round of elimination Finals and then knocked out the third-placed Perth Wildcats, 82-78 in the second round of elimination finals, setting up a best of three semi finals series against the Melbourne Tigers.

Chris Anstey’s Tigers went on to win the first two games of the series and eliminated the Taipans in straight sets.

2007/08
In 2007/08, Cattalini averaged 13.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists as the Taipans finished in sixth place with a record of 16-14.

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 Larry 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 Cattalini (15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) led the team that remained against all the odds, and surprisingly, Cairns finished with a reasonable record of 11-19 to end the season.

PERTH WILDCATS
2009/10
Following the 2008/09 season, the Wildcats came within weeks of folding unless they raised a million dollars in sponsorship. The NBL itself was also in strife; with the competition falling on tough times, there was a real possibility at the time that there would be no league in 2009-10. Collaborating with other clubs, the Wildcats helped reform the league.

Once the season was given the green light, the Wildcats hired a new coach in Rob Beveridge, who was tasked with recruiting a new-look team where Shawn Redhage, Stephen Weigh and Brad Robbins would be complimented by newly acquired proven talent Damian Martin (via Sydney), Drew Williamson (via Townsville), Luke Schenscher (via Adelaide), Martin Cattalini (via Cairns) and rookie Jesse Wagstaff to round out the bench. Import Kevin Lisch was then recruited to lead the Wildcats on the offensive end and lead the team into a new era. Just prior to the season kicking off, Paul Rogers relinquished the captaincy heading into the 2009/10 season, handing over the reins to Redhage. In what would be his final NBL season, Rogers would play two games before a injury to his elbow and triceps in the team’s second game would see him sidelined for the rest of the season. The injuries would ultimately end Rogers’ playing career, and the Wildcats signed import Galen Young as his replacement.

Lisch started out slowly over his initial weeks in the league, averaging only 11.4 points across his first five NBL games. A victory over the Melbourne Tigers (94-90) where he dropped a season-high 21 points in 27 minutes, proved to all that he would be a force in this league. By January, the Wildcats had emerged as clear frontrunners (13 wins, 8 losses) as new point guard Damian Martin (8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists) delivered his best season to date, numbers which would earn him a Australian Boomers call-up at the end of the season. Alongside them, Cattalini would finish the season with averages of 7.3 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.

The team rolled through the regular season to finish in first place (17-11) before going on to the semi finals to face Gold Coast (fourth seed). Lisch (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Wildcats in scoring in game one (81-68). In game two, Lisch (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) backed it up, by leading the team to victory once again (82-78), sending Perth through to a Grand Final matchup with Wollongong (making their first Grand Final series since 2003).

Perth started the series with a very comfortable win at home (75–64), with Lisch (15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 1 block) filling the box score. The series then moved to Wollongong for game two, where the Hawks rebounded to defeat Perth (75-63), with both Lisch (11 points) and Redhage (9 points) struggling to make a impact in the loss.

After Games 1 and 2 proved to be comfortable victories for each home team, the series returned to Perth for the third and deciding game, where the Wildcats found themselves down by as many as 11 points in the second quarter. Lisch (29 points and 5 rebounds) would prove to be the difference-maker in the second half, carrying the team offensively, defeating Wollongong (96–72) and guiding the team to a record fifth NBL Championship. Lisch was subsequently named Finals MVP after averaging 18 points and 4 rebounds over the three-game series.

Cattalini and Paul Rogers would both retire, having won a championship to cap off their impressive careers.

Martin Cattalini played fifteen seasons in the NBL. He averaged 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 453 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 32nd in total games played.
– 27th in total points
– 39th in total rebounds