BIO: Nick Lackovic was born in Perth (WA) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Perth basketball program.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Nick Lackovic made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 23 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

Following its quarterfinal exit to Adelaide, Perth moved into 1997 without Aaron Trahair (to Sydney), Pete Hansen and Matthew Earp, while Scott Fisher missed the entire regular season after undergoing knee reconstruction. Coach Adrian Hurley retained captain Andrew Vlahov, Ricky Grace, Todd Lichti, James Crawford, Anthony Stewart, Gavin Vanderputten, Phil Doherty and Ryan Gardiner, while David Van Dyke (via Newcastle), Greg Brown, Scott Harkess and Nick Lackovic were added.

Lackovic made his NBL debut against Townsville at the Perth Entertainment Centre on June 14, going scoreless with 1 assist in 6:36 as Perth defeated the Crocodiles 109-90. Stewart (25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals) and Vlahov (21 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) led the Wildcats, while Clarence Tyson (23 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) was Townsville’s best.

Lackovic (1.3 points across 16 games) remained at the end of Perth’s guard rotation and averaged 6.4 minutes while shooting 43 per cent from the field and making four of seven three-pointers. No injury was reported during his rookie season, with his limited appearances coming in a reserve role. He also played for Perth in the state league during 1997, beginning a two-season stint in which he scored 753 points across 46 games.

George Banks (10.3 points and 7 rebounds across 7 games) joined Perth in late June after playing with Dinamo Sassari and appeared seven times before leaving the Wildcats.

Lackovic’s best game came against Canberra at the Perth Entertainment Centre on July 5, where Lackovic (6 points, 2 assists, and 2 steals) made both of his three-point attempts in 11 minutes as Perth defeated the Cannons 97-71. Grace (20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Lichti (19 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the Wildcats, while Mario Donaldson (18 points and 5 assists) was Canberra’s leading scorer.

Lichti (16.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals across 34 games) led Perth in scoring and appeared in every game, while Grace (16.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.6 steals across 34 games) directed the offence and also appeared in all 34 games. Crawford (14.7 points and 7.4 rebounds across 31 games) shot 50 per cent from the field and appeared in his tenth consecutive NBL All-Star Game, while Van Dyke (14.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks across 24 games) led Perth in rebounding and blocks. Vlahov (13.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.3 steals across 33 games) and Stewart (13.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists across 33 games) completed the main rotation as Perth finished fourth with a 17-13 record.

Perth opened the quarterfinals at the Perth Entertainment Centre on October 4, where Grace (18 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals), Lichti (15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals), Vlahov (14 points and 12 rebounds) and Crawford (12 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 assists) led the Wildcats to an 81-79 win over Brisbane, while Leroy Loggins (32 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) and Steve Woodberry (23 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Bullets.

Game two moved to the Brisbane Convention Centre, where Lackovic (0 points) entered for the final two seconds as Grace (25 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals), Vlahov (21 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Van Dyke (16 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led Perth to an 88-71 win and completed the sweep, while Woodberry (21 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 steals) was Brisbane’s best.

Fisher (10 points and 5.5 rebounds across 2 games) returned for the semifinals after missing the entire regular season.

South East Melbourne opened the semifinals at the Perth Entertainment Centre on October 13, where Lackovic (0 points) played 1:29 as Lichti (20 points and 4 rebounds), Grace (19 points and 4 assists) and Fisher (14 points and 6 rebounds) led Perth, while Chris Anstey (19 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 steals) and Tony Ronaldson (18 points) helped the Magic win 92-82.

Game two moved to Melbourne Park on October 17, where Lackovic (0 points and 2 rebounds) played 5:03 as Grace (16 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) and Van Dyke (13 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks) were Perth’s best, while Sam Mackinnon (21 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) led South East Melbourne to a 96-69 win and completed the semifinal sweep.

1998
Perth’s 1997 campaign produced a second consecutive 17-13 record and another semifinal appearance, but the offseason brought a change in direction when Adrian Hurley stepped down after five years and Alan Black returned as head coach. David Van Dyke, George Banks, Scott Harkess and Ryan Gardiner moved on, while Nick Lackovic remained alongside Andrew Vlahov, Ricky Grace, Todd Lichti, Scott Fisher, James Crawford, Anthony Stewart, Gavin Vanderputten, Phil Doherty and Greg Brown. Greg Smith and former Duke guard Thomas Hill (via Jacksonville) were the main additions for the NBL’s final winter season.

Lackovic’s only NBL appearance of the year came at Adelaide Arena on March 8. Lackovic (3 points) played four minutes, made his only field-goal attempt and went 1-of-2 at the free throw line, while Lichti (15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) and Grace (14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) led Perth in a 103-87 loss to Adelaide.

Lackovic (3 points across 1 game) did not appear in the NBL again, ending his Wildcats career with 17 appearances across two seasons. He remained active in the WA State Basketball League during 1998 after also playing locally throughout his first year with Perth.

The defeat in Adelaide came during a four-game losing run for the Wildcats from March 6 to March 22. Hill’s nine-game stint subsequently ended and reigning SBL MVP and Grand Final MVP Dewey Michaels (6.3 points and 6.1 rebounds across 23 games) (via Perth Redbacks) entered the rotation, with Perth immediately reversing its form by winning five consecutive games through April 11. Vlahov returned on April 19 after missing the opening 17 games.

Fisher (17.2 points and 9.2 rebounds across 32 games) re-established himself as Perth’s leading rebounder after knee reconstruction had restricted him to two appearances in 1997, while Grace (18.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.5 steals across 34 games) led the Wildcats in scoring and assists and was named to the All-NBL Third Team. Lichti (17.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.7 steals across 32 games) and Crawford (16 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals across 34 games) remained central to the rotation, with Vlahov (12.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.6 steals across 17 games) adding another major contributor after his return. Vlahov received Australian International Player of the Year honours, while he, Crawford and Fisher were selected to the NBL’s 20th Anniversary Team as the Wildcats secured third place with a 17-13 record.

Lackovic did not play in the finals as Perth won 95-85 over Wollongong at Beaton Park and 120-97 at Challenge Stadium to sweep the elimination series 2-0.

Adelaide ended Perth’s run in the semifinals, winning 114-97 at Challenge Stadium before a 117-110 victory at Adelaide Arena completed the sweep.

Nick Lackovic played two seasons with the Perth Wildcats. He averaged 1.3 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 17 NBL games.