The Greatest NBL Players at Every Age
April 11, 2021
Nigel Purchase
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 14/10/66
- Place of Birth: Melbourne (VIC)
- Position: G/F
- Height (CM): 200
- Weight (KG): 88
- Junior Assoc: VIC - Melbourne
- College: None
- NBL DEBUT: 4/02/84
- AGE AT DEBUT: 17
- LAST NBL GAME: 17/10/93
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 27
- NBL History: Melbourne 1984-92 | Brisbane 1993
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Nigel Purchase was born in Melbourne (VIC) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Melbourne basketball program.
FAMILY: Nigel’s son Jack Purchase also played 48 games in the NBL.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Nigel Purchase made his NBL debut with the Melbourne Tigers at 17 years of age. He scored 10 points in his first game.
In 1984, Purchase averaged 7.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1 assists as the Tigers finished in ninth place with a record of 11-13.
1985
In 1985, Purchase averaged 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, playing a key role in the Tigers rotation, helping the team finish 13th in the regular season with a 5–21 record.
1986
The 1986 season saw Purchase average 13.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.8 assists and play a key role in helping the Tigers to a third place finish in the regular season with a 6-20 record.
1987
During the 1987 season Purchase delivered the best numbers of his career, averaging 16.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game and helped the Tigers finish with a record of 3-23 and end the regular season in fourth place.
1988
During the 1988 season, Purchase averaged 7.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists and was a part of the Tigers squad which finished in a second place with a record of 8-16.
1989
In 1989 Purchase averaged 7 points and 3.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, and helped guide the Tigers to a fourth place finish in the regular season with a 16-8 record.
1990
In 1990 Purchase averaged 9.9 points and 4.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, as the Tigers finished in a fourth place with a 17-9 record.
1991
At the end of the third quarter in a game against the Brisbane Bullets unleashed a full court shot which went in off the backboard. It stands as the longest shot in NBL history.
That season Purchase averaged 5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists and helped guide the Tigers to a fifth place finish in the regular season with a 16-10 record.
During that season Purchase was also a part of the highest scoring game in NBL history when Melbourne faced Illawarra on the 27th of July, 1991. The game which saw a total of 344 points scored finished with the Tigers earning a 186-158 victory with Andrew Gaze leading the game in scoring with 59 points.
Remarkably the Hawks shot 76% from the field, which remains the highest shooting percentage ever recorded by a team in a losing effort.
Once into the play-offs Melbourne would go on to lose to Adelaide in two straight games during the elimination finals. Gaze’s brilliance would see him earn his first NBL Most Valuable Player award after averaging 39 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists, and a career-high 2.7 steals.
1992
1992 began with the Tigers adding former NBA guard Lanard Copeland as a replacement for forward David Colbert and together with Andrew Gaze the two became one of the most exciting duos to watch in the NBL. Gaze would lead the league in scoring with averages of 33.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.3 assists while Copeland delivered 28.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3 assists. After averaging 16.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game as recently as 1987, Purchase’s final season with Melbourne in 1992 saw him play just 18 times and deliver 1.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game.
The Tigers much faster lineup would finish the regular season in third-place with a 15-9 record. Once into the postseason the Tigers would eliminate Perth (2-1) in the quarter-finals, The Sydney Kings (2-1) in the semifinals and reach the Grand Final for the first time in franchise history. Facing off against crosstown rivals the South East Melbourne Magic, Gaze and the Tigers came out blazing away in the first game of the series, comfortably defeating the Magic 116-98. Gaze contributing 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in the win. The would be the last of the heroics however as the Magic would then win the next two games of the series and claim the 1992 NBL championship. Purchase final game for the Tigers came in the game three loss where he played just two minutes in the decisive defeat.
BRISBANE BULLETS
1993
Although initially slated to remain with the Tigers for the 1993 season, Purchase chose to move to Brisbane in the hope of increased playing time. Brisbane had just replaced long-time coach Brian Kerle with Bruce Palmer, who had previously led the North Melbourne Giants to the 1989 championship who Purchase had a close relationship with. Under Palmer’s tutelage, the Bullets finished the season winning 50% of their games (same as the previous year under Kerle) and made it to the semi finals before being eliminated in two straight games by Dwayne McClain, and the Sydney Kings.
Purchase contributed 1.8 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists alongside Leroy Loggins (23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists) who led the team in scoring.
Nigel Purchase played ten seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Brisbane Bullets and the Melbourne Tigers. He averaged 8.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 250 NBL games.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 27 | Brisbane | 16-10 (4) | 14 | 141 | 25 | 18 | 13 | 6 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 25 | 36% | 1 | 6 | 17% | 6 | 11 | 55% | 41% | 38% | 5 |
| 1992 | 25 | Melbourne | 15-9 (3) | 27 | 225 | 49 | 48 | 24 | 20 | 28 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 43 | 23 | 55 | 42% | 1 | 9 | 11% | 2 | 6 | 33% | 42% | 43% | 9 |
| 1991 | 24 | Melbourne | 16-10 (5) | 28 | 560 | 141 | 75 | 78 | 20 | 55 | 8 | 11 | 54 | 68 | 49 | 110 | 45% | 2 | 3 | 67% | 41 | 52 | 79% | 52% | 45% | 22 |
| 1990 | 23 | Melbourne | 17-9 (4) | 28 | 837 | 276 | 120 | 133 | 37 | 83 | 29 | 7 | 72 | 65 | 117 | 221 | 53% | 7 | 20 | 35% | 35 | 44 | 80% | 57% | 55% | 18 |
| 1989 | 23 | Melbourne | 16-8 (4) | 27 | 678 | 188 | 101 | 77 | 33 | 68 | 16 | 7 | 47 | 69 | 78 | 168 | 46% | 1 | 11 | 9% | 31 | 41 | 76% | 50% | 47% | 13 |
| 1988 | 21 | Melbourne | 8-16 (12) | 24 | 935 | 177 | 114 | 129 | 35 | 79 | 37 | 14 | 67 | 84 | 80 | 185 | 43% | 0 | 3 | 0% | 17 | 31 | 55% | 44% | 43% | 13 |
| 1986 | 20 | Melbourne | 6-20 (13) | 26 | 0 | 340 | 166 | 151 | 53 | 113 | 29 | 21 | 76 | 93 | 153 | 322 | 48% | 0 | 2 | 0% | 34 | 49 | 69% | 49% | 48% | 23 |
| 1987 | 21 | Melbourne | 3-23 (14) | 26 | 1,111 | 427 | 166 | 164 | 39 | 127 | 48 | 21 | 127 | 93 | 186 | 427 | 44% | 3 | 19 | 16% | 52 | 78 | 67% | 46% | 44% | 38 |
| 1985 | 19 | Melbourne | 5-21 (13) | 26 | 0 | 345 | 138 | 84 | 48 | 90 | 26 | 13 | 74 | 103 | 150 | 300 | 50% | 0 | 2 | 0% | 45 | 77 | 58% | 51% | 50% | 23 |
| 1984 | 17 | Melbourne | 11-13 (9) | 24 | 0 | 179 | 91 | 25 | 37 | 54 | 21 | 8 | 24 | 59 | 72 | 127 | 57% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 35 | 55 | 64% | 58% | 57% | 18 | Totals | 250 | 4487 | 2147 | 1037 | 878 | 328 | 709 | 224 | 106 | 567 | 686 | 917 | 1940 | 47.3% | 15 | 75 | 20.0% | 298 | 444 | 67.1% | 50% | 48% | 38 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 27 | Brisbane | 16-10 (4) | 14 | 10.1 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 36% | 0.1 | 0.4 | 17% | 0.4 | 0.8 | 55% | 41% | 38% | 5 |
| 1992 | 25 | Melbourne | 15-9 (3) | 27 | 8.3 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 42% | 0.0 | 0.3 | 11% | 0.1 | 0.2 | 33% | 42% | 43% | 9 |
| 1991 | 24 | Melbourne | 16-10 (5) | 28 | 20.0 | 5.0 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 3.9 | 45% | 0.1 | 0.1 | 67% | 1.5 | 1.9 | 79% | 52% | 45% | 22 |
| 1990 | 23 | Melbourne | 17-9 (4) | 28 | 29.9 | 9.9 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 4.2 | 7.9 | 53% | 0.3 | 0.7 | 35% | 1.3 | 1.6 | 80% | 57% | 55% | 18 |
| 1989 | 23 | Melbourne | 16-8 (4) | 27 | 25.1 | 7.0 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 6.2 | 46% | 0.0 | 0.4 | 9% | 1.1 | 1.5 | 76% | 50% | 47% | 13 |
| 1988 | 21 | Melbourne | 8-16 (12) | 24 | 39.0 | 7.4 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 1.5 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 7.7 | 43% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 0.7 | 1.3 | 55% | 44% | 43% | 13 |
| 1986 | 20 | Melbourne | 6-20 (13) | 26 | 0.0 | 13.1 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 2.0 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 5.9 | 12.4 | 48% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 1.3 | 1.9 | 69% | 49% | 48% | 23 |
| 1987 | 21 | Melbourne | 3-23 (14) | 26 | 42.7 | 16.4 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 1.5 | 4.9 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 4.9 | 3.6 | 7.2 | 16.4 | 44% | 0.1 | 0.7 | 16% | 2.0 | 3.0 | 67% | 46% | 44% | 38 |
| 1985 | 19 | Melbourne | 5-21 (13) | 26 | 0.0 | 13.3 | 5.3 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 5.8 | 11.5 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 1.7 | 3.0 | 58% | 51% | 50% | 23 |
| 1984 | 17 | Melbourne | 11-13 (9) | 24 | 0.0 | 7.5 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 5.3 | 57% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.5 | 2.3 | 64% | 58.4% | 57% | 18 | Total | 250 | 17.9 | 8.6 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 7.8 | 47.3% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 20.0% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 67.1% | 50% | 48% | 38 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 38 | 13 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
|---|
LIFE AFTER BASKETBALL
Purchase now acts as the founder and CEO of Chase Basketball in Melbourne, and has been doing so for over 20 years, and is attempting to give back to the sport that gave so much to him.
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