Larry Davidson (Born 1958)
March 31, 2025
Michael Johnson
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 20/03/63
- Place of Birth: Brisbane (QLD)
- Position: G/F
- Height (CM): 195
- Weight (KG): 82
- Junior Assoc:
- College: None
- NBL DEBUT: 6/02/82
- AGE AT DEBUT: 18
- LAST NBL GAME: 24/09/95
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 32
- NBL History: Newcastle 1982-95
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Michael Johnson was born in Brisbane (QLD)
NBL EXPERIENCE
Michael Johnson made his NBL debut with the Newcastle Falcons at 18 years of age. He scored 21 points in his first game.
The Falcons built a high-powered roster in 1982, highlighted by the arrival of import George Morrow and Australian Boomers star Ian Davies. Davies (20.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists), fresh off a championship season with Launceston, joined Newcastle after his former team folded due to financial difficulties and immediately became a key contributor.
A late-season injury sidelined veteran guard Dave Ankeney (8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists) for the final third of the year, prompting the Falcons to bring in high-scoring replacement Rodney Wright. Wright made an immediate impact, averaging 22.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists over the final eight games, during which Newcastle went 6–2—including a five-game winning streak to close out the regular season.
Morrow (25.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists) dominated in the paint and was rewarded with All-NBL First Team honours. Despite setting a franchise record with 17 regular season wins, the Falcons narrowly missed the playoffs due to the league’s playoff structure at the time.
Other key contributors included promising rookie guard Michael Johnson (14.8 points, 5.3 rebounds) and Dan Riley (7.3 points, 3.5 rebounds), who both provided solid minutes off the bench.
1983
1984
1984 marked a new chapter for the Falcons, as club legend Dave Ankeney took over as head coach, replacing Denis Kibble. Ankeney, the club’s all-time leading scorer at the time, sought to build a contender around emerging local star Michael Johnson, who had broken out the previous season. The team also moved on from imports George Morrow and Donnie Cruse, replacing them with athletic forward Jerry Dennard and versatile big man Jim Bateman.
Newcastle started the season in red-hot form, opening with five straight wins—including a statement 91–80 victory over the previously unbeaten Brisbane Bullets (6–0). For much of the campaign, the Falcons found themselves in a three-way dogfight for Eastern Division supremacy, battling Brisbane and Coburg for top spot.
Jim Bateman (24.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.4 steals) made an immediate impact in his debut season, providing interior toughness and offensive firepower. Michael Johnson (21.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists) followed up his breakout year with another strong campaign, while veteran Ian Davies (19.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists) offered experience and reliable scoring on the wing.
Other key contributors included Jerry Dennard (15.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.7 steals) and Ian Robilliard (12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.7 steals), with both players finishing among the league leaders in steals—turning defence into offence and applying constant pressure on opposing backcourts.
With three games remaining, all three contenders were locked on identical records. But a costly 129–117 loss to Adelaide saw Newcastle slip behind Brisbane (19–5) and finish the regular season tied with Coburg at 18–6. With the head-to-head split at 1–1, the Giants claimed second place via point differential (+4), relegating the Falcons to third place and a sudden-death path through the finals.
In the elimination final, Newcastle overcame Illawarra 108–101 behind standout performances from Johnson (23 points), Davies (26 points), and Bateman (21 points). However, their season came to an abrupt end the following night in a 132–109 loss to Coburg in the semi-finals.
Despite the painful exit, the 1984 campaign was the most successful in club history. With an 18–6 regular season record and a playoff win, the Falcons had firmly established themselves as a powerhouse in the Eastern Division and a legitimate NBL contender.
1985
After reaching the playoffs for the first time in 1984, the Newcastle Falcons entered the 1985 season aiming to build on their success. Head coach Dave Ankeney retained the core of the roster, with the only major change being the addition of American import forward Scott Horrell, who replaced Jerry Dennard (departed to Illawarra).
Michael Johnson opened the year as a key piece of the Falcons’ backcourt and immediately made an impact. In the season opener, Newcastle defeated the Sydney Supersonics 121–102 in a high-scoring contest. Johnson contributed 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, complementing standout performances from Jim Bateman (47 points, 16 rebounds) and Ian Robilliard (23 points, 5 assists, 5 steals).
Newcastle jumped out to a 4–1 start, with their only early loss coming at the hands of the eventual champions Brisbane Bullets (104–74), led by Calvin Bruton (30 points). Johnson chipped in 10 points in that matchup. The Falcons rebounded with a six-game winning streak to move to 10–2 and looked like genuine contenders at the midway point of the season.
Johnson continued to deliver consistent scoring and production across the year, finishing with averages of 19.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.3 blocks across all 28 games. His ability to stretch the floor, create off the dribble, and rebound from the guard position gave Newcastle balance on both ends. Alongside Bateman, Davies, and Horrell, Johnson was one of the four key offensive weapons that drove the Falcons’ attack.
Despite their strong start, the second half of the season saw Newcastle slump dramatically, dropping nine of their final eleven games. However, a 16–10 record was still enough to secure sixth place and a return to the postseason.
In the elimination final against Nunawading, Johnson played a vital role. He recorded 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists, helping Newcastle to a 103–97 win. Ian Davies (26 points, 5 rebounds) and Jim Bateman (16 points, 12 rebounds) also stood tall, while Ron Lemons (38 points, 12 rebounds) led the Spectres.
The victory sent Newcastle to the semi-finals for the first time in franchise history, but their run ended in emphatic fashion against Adelaide. Johnson was a lone bright spot, leading the Falcons with 37 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in the 151–103 defeat. Bateman added 19 points and 13 rebounds, but Adelaide’s Al Green (45 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists) and Darryl Pearce (41 points, 6 assists, 5 steals) overwhelmed the Falcons in what was their biggest loss of the season.
1994
Newcastle reshaped its roster in 1994, swapping out leading scorer Everette Stephens for former league MVP Derek Rucker, while Paul Simpson and Tonny Jensen (both via Townsville) were added to the squad.
Rucker posted 18 assists in the opener and poured in 40 points in Game 2, but with the Falcons at 0–3, coach Tom Wisman challenged him to lift the group, a response that arrived in Round 4 against Geelong when he dished 24 assists alongside a major scoring haul to secure the club’s first victory of the season.
Newcastle closed the regular season 13–13, finishing ninth and narrowly missing the playoffs on tiebreak to the Illawarra Hawks despite identical records, highlighting how costly the 0–3 start proved in the final reckoning.
Derek Rucker (25.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 10.6 assists, and 2.9 steals) put together an elite all-around year, led the league in assists, earned All-NBL Third Team honours, and powered a mid-season surge that steadied Newcastle after the early skid.
Terry Dozier (20.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists), Michael Johnson (14.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists), and Tonny Jensen (13.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists) rounded out the primary contributors, giving Wisman multiple scoring outlets around Rucker’s playmaking.
While Newcastle ultimately fell short of the postseason, the campaign featured clear highlights, headlined by Rucker’s Round 4 masterclass and steady outputs from Dozier, Johnson, and Jensen that kept the Falcons in the finals hunt until the closing weeks.
Michael Johnson played fourteen seasons the Newcastle Falcons. He averaged 20.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 364 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 20th in total points
– 40th in total assists
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 32 | Newcastle | 17-9 (8) | 29 | 1,063.0 | 411 | 85 | 87 | 13 | 72 | 19 | 11 | 42 | 37 | 151 | 308 | 49% | 77 | 196 | 39% | 32 | 45 | 71% | 62% | 62% | 28 |
| 1994 | 31 | Newcastle | 13-13 (8) | 26 | 978.0 | 371 | 89 | 62 | 16 | 73 | 18 | 12 | 29 | 31 | 141 | 300 | 47% | 64 | 160 | 40% | 25 | 34 | 74% | 59% | 58% | 26 |
| 1993 | 30 | Newcastle | 15-11 (5) | 28 | 1,123.0 | 450 | 139 | 98 | 19 | 120 | 26 | 13 | 57 | 47 | 161 | 368 | 44% | 84 | 197 | 43% | 44 | 54 | 81% | 57% | 55% | 32 |
| 1992 | 29 | Newcastle | 9-15 (12) | 24 | 994.0 | 496 | 93 | 99 | 23 | 70 | 25 | 8 | 63 | 51 | 177 | 381 | 46% | 73 | 175 | 42% | 69 | 81 | 85% | 59% | 56% | 34 |
| 1991 | 28 | Newcastle | 5-21 (14) | 26 | 1,096.0 | 528 | 89 | 101 | 26 | 63 | 19 | 13 | 63 | 48 | 193 | 420 | 46% | 68 | 183 | 37% | 74 | 98 | 76% | 57% | 54% | 41 |
| 1990 | 27 | Newcastle | 4-22 (13) | 26 | 1,178.0 | 725 | 115 | 90 | 45 | 70 | 23 | 8 | 58 | 31 | 278 | 612 | 45% | 68 | 191 | 36% | 101 | 126 | 80% | 54% | 51% | 42 |
| 1989 | 26 | Newcastle | 6-18 (12) | 24 | 1,121.0 | 663 | 145 | 135 | 57 | 88 | 23 | 10 | 50 | 33 | 250 | 578 | 43% | 81 | 218 | 37% | 82 | 105 | 78% | 53% | 50% | 50 |
| 1988 | 25 | Newcastle | 13-11 (5) | 25 | 1,168.0 | 730 | 109 | 89 | 30 | 79 | 21 | 17 | 53 | 42 | 267 | 594 | 45% | 84 | 203 | 41% | 112 | 136 | 82% | 55% | 52% | 50 |
| 1987 | 24 | Newcastle | 6-20 (12) | 25 | 1,090.0 | 556 | 134 | 73 | 52 | 82 | 27 | 8 | 41 | 35 | 221 | 476 | 46% | 41 | 99 | 41% | 73 | 95 | 77% | 53% | 51% | 34 |
| 1986 | 23 | Newcastle | 10-16 (10) | 26 | 0.0 | 630 | 112 | 82 | 47 | 65 | 19 | 10 | 46 | 36 | 253 | 589 | 43% | 61 | 148 | 41% | 63 | 87 | 72% | 50% | 48% | 42 |
| 1985 | 22 | Newcastle | 16-10 (6) | 28 | 0.0 | 550 | 135 | 88 | 57 | 78 | 23 | 8 | 40 | 19 | 231 | 467 | 49% | 52 | 115 | 45% | 36 | 49 | 73% | 56% | 55% | 37 |
| 1984 | 21 | Newcastle | 18-6 (4) | 26 | 0.0 | 567 | 121 | 74 | 46 | 75 | 25 | 8 | 38 | 20 | 245 | 464 | 53% | 25 | 59 | 42% | 52 | 62 | 84% | 57% | 55% | 41 |
| 1983 | 20 | Newcastle | 13-9 (7) | 25 | 0.0 | 542 | 120 | 40 | 43 | 77 | 8 | 10 | 28 | 35 | 253 | 448 | 56% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 36 | 40 | 90% | 58% | 56% | 34 |
| 1982 | 19 | Newcastle | 17-9 (5) | 26 | 0.0 | 385 | 139 | 41 | 49 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 34 | 176 | 365 | 48% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 33 | 50 | 66% | 50% | 48% | 32 | Totals | 364 | 9811 | 7604 | 1625 | 1159 | 523 | 1102 | 276 | 136 | 650 | 499 | 2997 | 6370 | 47.0% | 778 | 1944 | 40.0% | 832 | 1062 | 78.3% | 56% | 53% | 50 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 32 | Newcastle | 17-9 (8) | 29 | 36.7 | 14.2 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 5.2 | 10.6 | 49% | 2.7 | 6.8 | 39% | 1.1 | 1.6 | 71% | 62% | 62% | 28 |
| 1994 | 31 | Newcastle | 13-13 (8) | 26 | 37.6 | 14.3 | 3.4 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 5.4 | 11.5 | 47% | 2.5 | 6.2 | 40% | 1.0 | 1.3 | 74% | 59% | 58% | 26 |
| 1993 | 30 | Newcastle | 15-11 (5) | 28 | 40.1 | 16.1 | 5.0 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 4.3 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 5.8 | 13.1 | 44% | 3.0 | 7.0 | 43% | 1.6 | 1.9 | 81% | 57% | 55% | 32 |
| 1992 | 29 | Newcastle | 9-15 (12) | 24 | 41.4 | 20.7 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 7.4 | 15.9 | 46% | 3.0 | 7.3 | 42% | 2.9 | 3.4 | 85% | 59% | 56% | 34 |
| 1991 | 28 | Newcastle | 5-21 (14) | 26 | 42.2 | 20.3 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 7.4 | 16.2 | 46% | 2.6 | 7.0 | 37% | 2.8 | 3.8 | 76% | 57% | 54% | 41 |
| 1990 | 27 | Newcastle | 4-22 (13) | 26 | 45.3 | 27.9 | 4.4 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 10.7 | 23.5 | 45% | 2.6 | 7.3 | 36% | 3.9 | 4.8 | 80% | 54% | 51% | 42 |
| 1989 | 26 | Newcastle | 6-18 (12) | 24 | 46.7 | 27.6 | 6.0 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 10.4 | 24.1 | 43% | 3.4 | 9.1 | 37% | 3.4 | 4.4 | 78% | 53% | 50% | 50 |
| 1988 | 25 | Newcastle | 13-11 (5) | 25 | 46.7 | 29.2 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 10.7 | 23.8 | 45% | 3.4 | 8.1 | 41% | 4.5 | 5.4 | 82% | 55% | 52% | 50 |
| 1987 | 24 | Newcastle | 6-20 (12) | 25 | 43.6 | 22.2 | 5.4 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 8.8 | 19.0 | 46% | 1.6 | 4.0 | 41% | 2.9 | 3.8 | 77% | 53% | 51% | 34 |
| 1986 | 23 | Newcastle | 10-16 (10) | 26 | 0.0 | 24.2 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 9.7 | 22.7 | 43% | 2.3 | 5.7 | 41% | 2.4 | 3.3 | 72% | 50% | 48% | 42 |
| 1985 | 22 | Newcastle | 16-10 (6) | 28 | 0.0 | 19.6 | 4.8 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 8.3 | 16.7 | 49% | 1.9 | 4.1 | 45% | 1.3 | 1.8 | 73% | 56% | 55% | 37 |
| 1984 | 21 | Newcastle | 18-6 (4) | 26 | 0.0 | 21.8 | 4.7 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 9.4 | 17.8 | 53% | 1.0 | 2.3 | 42% | 2.0 | 2.4 | 84% | 57% | 55% | 41 |
| 1983 | 20 | Newcastle | 13-9 (7) | 25 | 0.0 | 21.7 | 4.8 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 10.1 | 17.9 | 56% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.4 | 1.6 | 90% | 58.0% | 56% | 34 |
| 1982 | 19 | Newcastle | 17-9 (5) | 26 | 0.0 | 14.8 | 5.3 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 6.8 | 14.0 | 48% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.3 | 1.9 | 66% | 49.5% | 48% | 32 | Total | 364 | 27.0 | 20.9 | 4.5 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 8.2 | 17.5 | 47.0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 40.0% | 2.1 | 5.3 | 78.3% | 56% | 53% | 50 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 50 | 21 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Newcastle (1983)
Johnson joined Newcastle College for the 1983 Newcastle Amateur Basketball Association first division season, after being born in Brisbane on 20 March 1963 and developing through a non-college pathway. The College men won their first major title that year, finishing as minor premiers before defeating Mallinsons 82–66 in the grand final at the Broadmeadow Entertainment Centre.
Johnson was one of the College players singled out in the 1983 grand final win, with Ian Robilliard and Stuart Mackaway also prominent in general play. The victory came after the College had lost by narrow margins in major semi-finals across previous seasons, with the 1983 result giving the team both the minor premiership and first division premiership.
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