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Nick Horvath on the 2009 Dragons vs Tigers Championship and Becoming the Author of an Action Hero

  • April 11, 2025
  • Dan Boyce
  • Podcasts
  • 0
  • 1962 Views

Nick Horvath joins the podcast to reflect on a one-of-a-kind basketball journey—becoming the only player to ever win a NBL, NZNBL and NCAA championship.

Horvath opens up about writing his debut novel Sledge Vs, the highs and lows of his pro career, and what it was really like playing under legends like Mike Krzyzewski and Brian Goorjian.

We go deep on the South Dragons’ fiery 2009 Grand Final clash with the Melbourne Tigers, including the now-infamous Game 3 brawl and Chris Anstey’s ejection.

Horvath shares how the Dragons rallied behind Finals MVP Donta Smith, how they shut down the Tigers in Game 5, and what it meant to win the championship—only for the franchise to fold two months later.

Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms.

He also discusses the emotional toll of injuries, navigating league instability, becoming a naturalised Kiwi, and finding peace after basketball as a physics teacher, coach, and now published author.

From NCAA titles to NBL chaos to comic-book-style hero fiction—this episode covers it all.

Listen now:

Podcast Topics include…

🏀 We talk about Sledge Vs, Nick’s highly successful action adventure novel (2:00)

🏀 Receiving a scholarship from Duke University and playing for legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski (12:30)

🏀 Finding his way to Australia and the West Sydney Razorbacks (23:00)

🏀 Overcoming a season-ending injury and a stint with the Adelaide 36ers (32:00)

🏀 Playing for the South Dragons under then-player-coach Shane Heal (34:00)

🏀 Winning an NBL championship with the Dragons in 2009 (37:00)

🏀 Playing as a local vs. playing as an import (40:00)

🏀 Brian Goorjian stories (41:00)

🏀 Playing under Coach K at Duke (43:30)

🏀 The very heated Dragons vs. Tigers Grand Final series (49:00)

🏀 How his NBL career finished up (53:00)

All of this and a whole lot more…

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