NBL Next Star Malique Lewis on the Phoenix’s Playoff Run and plans for the NBA draft
February 21, 2025
Mike Kelly
- Nationality: USA/AUS
- Date of Birth: 20/11/67
- Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California (USA)
- Position: G/F
- Height (CM): 196
- Weight (KG): 96
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Orange Coast (1986–1987) Westmont (1987–1989)
- NBL DEBUT: 24/09/93
- AGE AT DEBUT: 25
- LAST NBL GAME: 23/09/05
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 37
- NBL History: Hobart 1993 | South East Melbourne 1994-98 | Victoria 1999 | Townsville 2000-04 | Wollongong 2005-06
- Championships: 1
- South East Melbourne (1996)
BIO: Mike Kelly was born in Los Angeles, California (USA) and began his career at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, during which he was part of a team with a 29–0 record that won the 1985 CIF Championship.
He then moved to Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, and stayed there for two years.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Mike Kelly made his NBL debut with the Hobart Devils at 25 years of age. He scored 24 points in his first game.
After a short stint as a replacement player with Hobart (1993) and a number of impressive seasons playing in Australia’s state League Mike Kelly signed a contract to play with the South East Melbourne Magic in 1996.
During his first fullly contracted season in the NBL, Kelly played major minutes (33 per game) and averaged 11.6 points and 5.2 rebounds, helping guide the Magic to a second place finish in the regular season with a 19-7 record.
The Magic then got revenge on the North Melbourne Giants who had ended their season in 1995, eliminating them easily in two straight games in the quarter-finals. Kelly added 15 points and 8 rebounds in game one and 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists in Game 2.
The Magic then eliminated the Adelaide 36ers in two straight games, Kelly’s offensive impact was limited by the 36ers talented guard rotation in the semifinals, but he still contributed 12 points and 3 rebounds in game one and 15 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals in game two to propel the Magic past Adelaide and onto a Grand Final matchup with crosstown rival the Melbourne Tigers.
The Tigers would claim Game 1, 100-89, Kelly would add 14 points and 6 assists as the Tigers Andrew Gaze delivered his best game of the series, erupting for 35 points and collecting 8 rebounds. The Magic would then bounce back and win game two (88-84) in front of a Grand Final record crowd of 15,064 at the National Tennis Centre at Flinders Park, which still stands as Melbourne’s highest-attended NBL game ever.
In the third and deciding game the Magic delivered the final blow a 30 point blowout victory, 107-70, Kelly contributing 16 points and 7 rebounds in the win.
The 1996 NBL Grand Final series drew a aggregate attendance record of 43,605 (average 14,535), the largest crowd ever for a three game NBL series. Mike Kelly would be awarded the Finals MVP award after averaging 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2.3 steals across the three game series.
Kelly remained with the Magic for the 1997 NBL season, and was once again awarded the NBL Best Defensive Player Award. He averaged 12.6 points and 4.8 rebounds, and played a key role in guiding the Magic to a first place finish in the regular season with a 22-8 record.
The Magic received a first round bye in the play-offs before meeting the Perth Wildcats in the semifinals. The Magic would defeat Perth 92-82 in game one before a convincing 96-69 victory in game two to set them up to face Andrew Gaze and the Melbourne Tigers for the third NBL Grand Final matchup between these team’s in six years. That season Gaze, Lanard Copeland, Mark Bradtke and mid-season acquisition Marcus Timmons were a part of the Tiger’s all-time franchise record streak of 16 consecutive wins that saw them capture the 1997 title, defeating the South East Melbourne Magic in three games. Lanard Copeland was named Finals MVP after averaging 27.6 points and 3.3 rebounds over the the game series.
A great Australian sporting rivalry!! pic.twitter.com/qVrlKwROkN
— RANDOM HOOPS (@HoopsRandom) March 21, 2023
During the 1998 season Kelly earned the League best defensive player award for the second straight season and averaged 13 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He played a key role in helping the Magic to a first place finish in the regular season with a 26-4 record.
The Magic received a first round bye in the play-offs before meeting the Brisbane Bullets in the semifinals. The Magic would defeat Brisbane 106-98 in game one and 90-84 in game two to see them reach the NBL Grand Final. The Magic would face the Adelaide 36ers in the championship deciding series and lose a narrow game one 93-100 before the 36ers dominated them in game two 90-62 to win the title.
Kelly moved to a brand new club for the 1998/99 season, the newly formed Victoria Titans. During his two year stay with the club, they reached the finals twice and the Grand Final once.
In 1999 Kelly averaged 10.2 points and 3.9 rebounds, and helped guide the Titans to a third place finish in the regular season with a 16-1 record.
For the 2000/01 NBL season Kelly moved clubs again, this time to the Townsville Crocodiles. Fresh off a 22–6 record the previous year, the club repeated that record and reached the Grand Final, however lost in a tight contest with the Wollongong Hawks 2–1.
After multiple successful years, the Crocodiles struggled in the 2001/02 season and the early part of the 2002/03 season, however a 16-game winning streak pushed the club into the finals. Despite their best efforts, they were pushed out of the finals by the Wollongong Hawks and the Sydney Kings.
Kelly joined the Wollongong Hawks for the 2004/05 NBL season, during which they reach the Grand Final. However, they were beaten 3–0 by the Sydney Kings.
Kelly remained with the Wollongong Hawks for the 2005/06 NBL season, however only played four games before retiring.
Mike Kelly played thirteen seasons across five NBL teams. This included the Hobart Devils, South East Melbourne Magic, Victoria Titans, Townsville Crocodiles and Wollongong Hawks. He averaged 12.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 346 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 41st in total assists
– 34th in total steals
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-06 | 38 | Wollongong | 19-13 (3) | 4 | 32.0 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 22% | 1 | 7 | 14% | 4 | 4 | 100% | 41% | 0% | 4 |
| 2004-05 | 37 | Wollongong | 20-12 (2) | 37 | 765.0 | 300 | 108 | 67 | 44 | 64 | 24 | 6 | 38 | 95 | 104 | 255 | 41% | 47 | 141 | 33% | 45 | 56 | 80% | 53% | 50% | 22 |
| 2003-04 | 36 | Townsville | 13-20 (9) | 33 | 1,047.0 | 325 | 159 | 91 | 64 | 95 | 39 | 5 | 47 | 117 | 116 | 273 | 42% | 51 | 139 | 37% | 42 | 54 | 78% | 54% | 52% | 26 |
| 2002-03 | 35 | Townsville | 19-11 (3) | 35 | 1,258.0 | 437 | 165 | 114 | 65 | 100 | 43 | 8 | 68 | 134 | 151 | 371 | 41% | 72 | 193 | 37% | 63 | 88 | 72% | 53% | 50% | 27 |
| 2001-02 | 34 | Townsville | 13-17 (9) | 30 | 1,192.0 | 464 | 181 | 122 | 78 | 103 | 40 | 7 | 66 | 125 | 158 | 374 | 42% | 64 | 189 | 34% | 84 | 106 | 79% | 55% | 51% | 30 |
| 2000-01 | 33 | Townsville | 22-6 (2) | 37 | 1,539.0 | 616 | 217 | 172 | 78 | 139 | 49 | 6 | 106 | 146 | 209 | 467 | 45% | 105 | 243 | 43% | 93 | 118 | 79% | 59% | 56% | 34 |
| 1999-00 | 32 | Townsville | 22-6 (2) | 31 | 1,242.0 | 498 | 143 | 111 | 58 | 85 | 42 | 5 | 68 | 99 | 158 | 362 | 44% | 87 | 198 | 44% | 95 | 112 | 85% | 60% | 56% | 32 |
| 1998-99 | 31 | Victoria | 16-10 (3) | 33 | 1,230.0 | 338 | 130 | 108 | 41 | 89 | 39 | 6 | 56 | 111 | 124 | 328 | 38% | 53 | 176 | 30% | 37 | 54 | 69% | 48% | 46% | 23 |
| 1998 | 30 | South East Melbourne | 26-4 (1) | 34 | 1,229.0 | 441 | 142 | 113 | 56 | 86 | 43 | 11 | 75 | 131 | 157 | 351 | 45% | 73 | 172 | 42% | 54 | 71 | 76% | 57% | 55% | 25 |
| 1997 | 29 | South East Melbourne | 22-8 (1) | 35 | 1,342.0 | 440 | 167 | 108 | 56 | 111 | 53 | 12 | 65 | 128 | 157 | 358 | 44% | 62 | 154 | 40% | 64 | 91 | 70% | 55% | 53% | 19 |
| 1996 | 28 | South East Melbourne | 19-7 (2) | 33 | 1,091.0 | 382 | 172 | 115 | 54 | 118 | 62 | 8 | 64 | 120 | 142 | 322 | 44% | 33 | 107 | 31% | 65 | 76 | 86% | 53% | 49% | 20 |
| 1994 | 26 | South East Melbourne | 18-8 (1) | 2 | 82.0 | 33 | 20 | 11 | 7 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 24 | 54% | 1 | 6 | 17% | 6 | 8 | 75% | 59% | 56% | 23 |
| 1993 | 25 | Hobart | 6-20 (13) | 2 | 67.0 | 39 | 18 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 32 | 47% | 1 | 6 | 17% | 8 | 10 | 80% | 53% | 48% | 24 | Totals | 346 | 12116 | 4322 | 1628 | 1137 | 610 | 1018 | 441 | 76 | 665 | 1220 | 1506 | 3526 | 42.7% | 650 | 1731 | 37.6% | 660 | 848 | 77.8% | 55% | 52% | 34 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-06 | 38 | Wollongong | 19-13 (3) | 4 | 8.0 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 22% | 0.3 | 1.8 | 14% | 1.0 | 1.0 | 100% | 41% | 0% | 4 |
| 2004-05 | 37 | Wollongong | 20-12 (2) | 37 | 20.7 | 8.1 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 6.9 | 41% | 1.3 | 3.8 | 33% | 1.2 | 1.5 | 80% | 53% | 50% | 22 |
| 2003-04 | 36 | Townsville | 13-20 (9) | 33 | 31.7 | 9.8 | 4.8 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 8.3 | 42% | 1.5 | 4.2 | 37% | 1.3 | 1.6 | 78% | 54% | 52% | 26 |
| 2002-03 | 35 | Townsville | 19-11 (3) | 35 | 35.9 | 12.5 | 4.7 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 10.6 | 41% | 2.1 | 5.5 | 37% | 1.8 | 2.5 | 72% | 53% | 50% | 27 |
| 2001-02 | 34 | Townsville | 13-17 (9) | 30 | 39.7 | 15.5 | 6.0 | 4.1 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 12.5 | 42% | 2.1 | 6.3 | 34% | 2.8 | 3.5 | 79% | 55% | 51% | 30 |
| 2000-01 | 33 | Townsville | 22-6 (2) | 37 | 41.6 | 16.6 | 5.9 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 5.6 | 12.6 | 45% | 2.8 | 6.6 | 43% | 2.5 | 3.2 | 79% | 59% | 56% | 34 |
| 1999-00 | 32 | Townsville | 22-6 (2) | 31 | 40.1 | 16.1 | 4.6 | 3.6 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 5.1 | 11.7 | 44% | 2.8 | 6.4 | 44% | 3.1 | 3.6 | 85% | 60% | 56% | 32 |
| 1998-99 | 31 | Victoria | 16-10 (3) | 33 | 37.3 | 10.2 | 3.9 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 9.9 | 38% | 1.6 | 5.3 | 30% | 1.1 | 1.6 | 69% | 48% | 46% | 23 |
| 1998 | 30 | South East Melbourne | 26-4 (1) | 34 | 36.1 | 13.0 | 4.2 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 10.3 | 45% | 2.1 | 5.1 | 42% | 1.6 | 2.1 | 76% | 57% | 55% | 25 |
| 1997 | 29 | South East Melbourne | 22-8 (1) | 35 | 38.3 | 12.6 | 4.8 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 10.2 | 44% | 1.8 | 4.4 | 40% | 1.8 | 2.6 | 70% | 55% | 53% | 19 |
| 1996 | 28 | South East Melbourne | 19-7 (2) | 33 | 33.1 | 11.6 | 5.2 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 9.8 | 44% | 1.0 | 3.2 | 31% | 2.0 | 2.3 | 86% | 53% | 49% | 20 |
| 1994 | 26 | South East Melbourne | 18-8 (1) | 2 | 41.0 | 16.5 | 10.0 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 6.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 6.5 | 12.0 | 54% | 0.5 | 3.0 | 17% | 3.0 | 4.0 | 75% | 59% | 56% | 23 |
| 1993 | 25 | Hobart | 6-20 (13) | 2 | 33.5 | 19.5 | 9.0 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 7.5 | 16.0 | 47% | 0.5 | 3.0 | 17% | 4.0 | 5.0 | 80% | 53% | 48% | 24 | Total | 346 | 35.0 | 12.5 | 4.7 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 10.2 | 42.7% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 37.6% | 1.9 | 5.0 | 77.8% | 55% | 52% | 34 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 34 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Griffith 1990 | North East Melbourne 1991-93 | Nunawading 1994-95 | Sandringham 1996-97
Kelly arrived in Australia to play as a import in the countries state league competitions. First Kelly spent time with the Griffith Demons (1990) and the North East Melbourne Arrows (1991-1993) in then named Continental Basketball Association (CBA). Then played with the Nunawading Spectres (1994-1995) in the SEABL and ABA. While playing with the Spectres Kelly was named Most Valuable Player of the Australian Basketball Assocation (ABA) in both 1994 and 1995.
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 75% | 91% | 89% | 65% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 34 | 9 | 5 | 2 | ||||||
| Total | 1506 | 3526 | 42.7% | 650 | 1731 | 37.6% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-06 | 38 | Wollongong | 19-13 (3) | 4 | 32.0 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 22% | 1 | 7 | 14% | 4 | 4 | 100% | 41% | 0% | 4 |
| 2004-05 | 37 | Wollongong | 20-12 (2) | 37 | 765.0 | 300 | 108 | 67 | 44 | 64 | 24 | 6 | 38 | 95 | 104 | 255 | 41% | 47 | 141 | 33% | 45 | 56 | 80% | 53% | 50% | 22 |
| 2003-04 | 36 | Townsville | 13-20 (9) | 33 | 1,047.0 | 325 | 159 | 91 | 64 | 95 | 39 | 5 | 47 | 117 | 116 | 273 | 42% | 51 | 139 | 37% | 42 | 54 | 78% | 54% | 52% | 26 |
| 2002-03 | 35 | Townsville | 19-11 (3) | 35 | 1,258.0 | 437 | 165 | 114 | 65 | 100 | 43 | 8 | 68 | 134 | 151 | 371 | 41% | 72 | 193 | 37% | 63 | 88 | 72% | 53% | 50% | 27 |
| 2001-02 | 34 | Townsville | 13-17 (9) | 30 | 1,192.0 | 464 | 181 | 122 | 78 | 103 | 40 | 7 | 66 | 125 | 158 | 374 | 42% | 64 | 189 | 34% | 84 | 106 | 79% | 55% | 51% | 30 |
| 2000-01 | 33 | Townsville | 22-6 (2) | 37 | 1,539.0 | 616 | 217 | 172 | 78 | 139 | 49 | 6 | 106 | 146 | 209 | 467 | 45% | 105 | 243 | 43% | 93 | 118 | 79% | 59% | 56% | 34 |
| 1999-00 | 32 | Townsville | 22-6 (2) | 31 | 1,242.0 | 498 | 143 | 111 | 58 | 85 | 42 | 5 | 68 | 99 | 158 | 362 | 44% | 87 | 198 | 44% | 95 | 112 | 85% | 60% | 56% | 32 |
| 1998-99 | 31 | Victoria | 16-10 (3) | 33 | 1,230.0 | 338 | 130 | 108 | 41 | 89 | 39 | 6 | 56 | 111 | 124 | 328 | 38% | 53 | 176 | 30% | 37 | 54 | 69% | 48% | 46% | 23 |
| 1998 | 30 | South East Melbourne | 26-4 (1) | 34 | 1,229.0 | 441 | 142 | 113 | 56 | 86 | 43 | 11 | 75 | 131 | 157 | 351 | 45% | 73 | 172 | 42% | 54 | 71 | 76% | 57% | 55% | 25 |
| 1997 | 29 | South East Melbourne | 22-8 (1) | 35 | 1,342.0 | 440 | 167 | 108 | 56 | 111 | 53 | 12 | 65 | 128 | 157 | 358 | 44% | 62 | 154 | 40% | 64 | 91 | 70% | 55% | 53% | 19 |
| 1996 | 28 | South East Melbourne | 19-7 (2) | 33 | 1,091.0 | 382 | 172 | 115 | 54 | 118 | 62 | 8 | 64 | 120 | 142 | 322 | 44% | 33 | 107 | 31% | 65 | 76 | 86% | 53% | 49% | 20 |
| 1994 | 26 | South East Melbourne | 18-8 (1) | 2 | 82.0 | 33 | 20 | 11 | 7 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 24 | 54% | 1 | 6 | 17% | 6 | 8 | 75% | 59% | 56% | 23 |
| 1993 | 25 | Hobart | 6-20 (13) | 2 | 67.0 | 39 | 18 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 32 | 47% | 1 | 6 | 17% | 8 | 10 | 80% | 53% | 48% | 24 | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Following his college career, Kelly spent one year in Taiwan playing for the Lucky Cement Basketball Team before moving to Australia.
COLLEGE
During his time at Orange Coast College he was recruited by Westmont College in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC), where he was a two-time All-GSAC player and helped Westmont win the 1988 NAIA District III Championship.
AWARDS
- 1x time NBL Finals MVP (1996)
- 2x time NBL Best Defensive Player (1997, 1998) - 2× All-GSAC player (1988, 1989)
-
NAIA District III Champion (1988)
COACHING HISTORY
After finishing his NBL career, Kelly embarked on a coaching career that saw him spend time along the sidelines at Vanguard University and Utah Valley University in the US as an assitant coach.
Kelly returned to Australia and spent a number of seasons as an assistant to head coach Dean Vickerman at Melbourne United before taking up the head coaching role with the Cairns Taipans.
Whilst with the Taipans he led the club from 2018-2021, winning the Lindsay Gaze Trophy for Coach of the Year in 2020, after steering the Taipans to a semi-final appearance.
Kelly has been Associate Head Coach at the Perth Wildcats for the past two seasons, and last year coached the Australian Boomers to the FIBA Asia Cup Championship in an undefeated 6-0 run.
Related
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