Trevor Torrance
July 23, 2020
Paul Kuiper
- Nationality: AUS/USA
- Date of Birth: 8/02/63
- Place of Birth: Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA)
- Position: CTR
- Height (CM): 210
- Weight (KG): 110
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Baylor (1983-1985)
- NBL DEBUT: 26/04/86
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 19/08/95
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 32
- NBL History: St. Kilda 1986 | Westside Melbourne 1987 | Perth 1988-89 | Gold Coast 1990-91, 1995 | Newcastle 1992-94
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Paul Kuiper was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Paul Kuiper made his NBL debut with the St. Kilda Saints at 23 years of age. He scored 14 points in his first game.
In 1986, Kuiper averaged 14.1 points and 7.6 rebounds in his first year in the NBL playing for the St. Kilda Saints who failed to make the playoffs, finishing with a 5-21 record.
WESTSIDE MELBOURNE SAINTS
1987
In 1987, Kuiper had his best year in the NBL. He averaged 22.8 points and 11 rebounds but again, the Saints struggled to be competitive in the NBL and won only four games for the season.
PERTH WILDCATS
1988
In 1988, Kuiper averaged 15.5 points and 7.4 rebounds, and helped the Perth Wildcats reach the semi finals before being eliminated by Scott Fisher, Tim Dillon and the North Melbourne Giants.
1989
In 1989 Kuiper averaged 4.0 points and 4.8 rebounds, and helped Wildcats finish the year in third place finish with a record of 16-8. The team would defeat the Adelaide 36ers in three games before losing to the North Melbourne Giants for the second year in a row.
The Perth Wildcats are saddened to learn of the sudden passing of former player, Paul Kuiper.
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– Kuiper played 35 games for the Wildcats in 1988 and 1989. He played 188 NBL games in total over 10 years.
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– Our thoughts are with Paul's family and friends. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/sJjLbjjVos— Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) April 10, 2022
GOLD COAST COUGARS
1990
Kuiper struggled to find a role within the Perth Wildcats roster and moved to play with the Gold Coast Cougars in 1990 where after his worst year in the NBL he returned to his previous form, averaging 15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds. It was a rebuilding season for the Cougars however and the team failed to make the playoffs, finishing the year with a 9-17 record.
GOLD COAST ROLLERS
1991
In 1991, Gold Coast re-branded themselves from the Cougars to the Rollers and although they recorded their best team result ever, finishing with 14 wins and 12 losses, the team still failed to make the playoffs. Kuiper averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds in what would be the team’s most successful year in its six years existance and Gold Coast’s only winning season.
NEWCASTLE FALCONS
1992
In 1992, Kuiper averaged 12.9 points and 7.7 rebounds, and helped the Newcastle Falcons record a 9-15 record.
1993
In 1993, Kuiper averaged 11.2 points and 7 rebounds, and helped guide the Falcons to a fifth place finish in the regular season with a 15-11 record.
1994
Newcastle reworked its roster in 1994, moving on from leading scorer Everette Stephens and installing former MVP Derek Rucker at point guard, with Matthew Alexander (via North Melbourne) plus Paul Simpson and Tonny Jensen (both via Townsville) strengthening the rotation.
Rucker kickstarted the year with 18 assists and followed up with a 40-point outburst, but after an 0–3 opening coach Tom Wisman urged him to lift the collective, and in Round 4 at Geelong he handed out 24 assists, with some tallies noting 27, while piling on points to clinch the club’s first victory.
The Falcons finished 13–13, placed ninth, and missed the postseason to the Illawarra Hawks on a tiebreak despite identical records, underscoring the cost of the early slump.
Derek Rucker (25.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 10.6 assists, and 2.9 steals) led the league in assists, earned All-NBL Third Team honours, and drove the midseason uptick, with support from 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).
Paul Kuiper (8.3 points, and 6 rebounds) was the team’s starting centre across 26 games and anchored the interior, while Grant Kruger (7.2 points, and 4.6 rebounds) rounded out the frontcourt mix.
GOLD COAST ROLLERS
1995
In 1995 Kuiper averaged 1.9 points and 1.4 rebounds, and helped Rollers finish the year in third place finish with a record of 5-21 .
Remembering Paul Kuiper.
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– One of the NBL's great characters, Kuiper was a well known personality off the court due to his involvement on Hoops TV after his final season in 1995.
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– On the court, Kuiper played in 188 NBL games, representing Australia at the 1986 World Championships. pic.twitter.com/Xm471UiYuQ— The NBL (@NBL) April 11, 2022
Paul Kuiper played ten seasons across six NBL teams. This included the St. Kilda Saints, Gold Coast Cougars, Westside Melbourne Saints, Newcastle Falcons, Perth Wildcats and Gold Coast Rollers. He averaged 12.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 188 NBL games.
HIGHLIGHTS:
We're still not sure how Paul Kuiper missed out on the best actor gong at the 1994 #Oscars for his role in Mission: Impossible – SAVING GAZEY.@carfinomagic, @derekrucker5, @markbradtke & @AndrewGaze10 were also hard done by in the best supporting actor category tbh. pic.twitter.com/tCKnEKGcu4
— The NBL (@NBL) February 24, 2019
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 | Gold Coast | 5-21 (13) | 14 | 82 | 27 | 19 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 21 | 11 | 23 | 48% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 5 | 8 | 63% | 50% | 48% | 5 |
| 1994 | 31 | Newcastle | 13-13 (9) | 26 | 457 | 216 | 156 | 5 | 45 | 111 | 8 | 14 | 42 | 75 | 92 | 154 | 60% | 0 | 2 | 0% | 32 | 61 | 52% | 59% | 60% | 19 |
| 1993 | 30 | Newcastle | 15-11 (5) | 22 | 482 | 247 | 153 | 5 | 57 | 96 | 6 | 16 | 33 | 63 | 105 | 161 | 65% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 37 | 70 | 53% | 64% | 65% | 26 |
| 1992 | 29 | Newcastle | 9-15 (12) | 7 | 167 | 90 | 54 | 6 | 17 | 37 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 24 | 39 | 73 | 53% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 12 | 23 | 52% | 54% | 53% | 24 |
| 1991 | 28 | Gold Coast | 14-12 (8) | 21 | 533 | 275 | 154 | 15 | 51 | 103 | 10 | 19 | 39 | 76 | 118 | 195 | 61% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 39 | 66 | 59% | 61% | 61% | 26 |
| 1990 | 27 | Gold Coast | 9-17 (11) | 26 | 725 | 399 | 227 | 13 | 91 | 136 | 9 | 16 | 64 | 75 | 178 | 344 | 52% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 43 | 70 | 61% | 53% | 52% | 26 |
| 1989 | 26 | Perth | 16-8 (3) | 10 | 139 | 40 | 48 | 0 | 15 | 33 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 28 | 19 | 39 | 49% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 2 | 6 | 33% | 48% | 49% | 10 |
| 1988 | 25 | Perth | 13-11 (6) | 25 | 634 | 388 | 186 | 14 | 60 | 126 | 16 | 14 | 60 | 81 | 177 | 288 | 61% | 1 | 1 | 100% | 33 | 69 | 48% | 60% | 62% | 30 |
| 1987 | 24 | Westside Melbourne | 4-22 (13) | 20 | 712 | 456 | 219 | 17 | 87 | 132 | 13 | 23 | 53 | 55 | 205 | 391 | 52% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 46 | 89 | 52% | 53% | 52% | 47 |
| 1986 | 23 | St. Kilda | 5-21 (14) | 17 | 0 | 239 | 129 | 8 | 42 | 87 | 7 | 17 | 45 | 58 | 111 | 214 | 52% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 17 | 49 | 35% | 50% | 52% | 35 | Totals | 188 | 3931 | 2377 | 1345 | 89 | 473 | 872 | 74 | 135 | 375 | 556 | 1055 | 1882 | 56.1% | 1 | 3 | 33.3% | 266 | 511 | 52.1% | 56% | 56% | 47 |
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 | Gold Coast | 5-21 (13) | 14 | 5.9 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 48% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.4 | 0.6 | 63% | 50% | 48% | 5 |
| 1994 | 31 | Newcastle | 13-13 (9) | 26 | 17.6 | 8.3 | 6.0 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 4.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 5.9 | 60% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 1.2 | 2.3 | 52% | 59% | 60% | 19 |
| 1993 | 30 | Newcastle | 15-11 (5) | 22 | 21.9 | 11.2 | 7.0 | 0.2 | 2.6 | 4.4 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 4.8 | 7.3 | 65% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.7 | 3.2 | 53% | 64% | 65% | 26 |
| 1992 | 29 | Newcastle | 9-15 (12) | 7 | 23.9 | 12.9 | 7.7 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 5.3 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 5.6 | 10.4 | 53% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.7 | 3.3 | 52% | 54% | 53% | 24 |
| 1991 | 28 | Gold Coast | 14-12 (8) | 21 | 25.4 | 13.1 | 7.3 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 4.9 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 3.6 | 5.6 | 9.3 | 61% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.9 | 3.1 | 59% | 61% | 61% | 26 |
| 1990 | 27 | Gold Coast | 9-17 (11) | 26 | 27.9 | 15.3 | 8.7 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 5.2 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 6.8 | 13.2 | 52% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.7 | 2.7 | 61% | 53% | 52% | 26 |
| 1989 | 26 | Perth | 16-8 (3) | 10 | 13.9 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 3.3 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 49% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.2 | 0.6 | 33% | 48% | 49% | 10 |
| 1988 | 25 | Perth | 13-11 (6) | 25 | 25.4 | 15.5 | 7.4 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 5.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 7.1 | 11.5 | 61% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100% | 1.3 | 2.8 | 48% | 60% | 62% | 30 |
| 1987 | 24 | Westside Melbourne | 4-22 (13) | 20 | 35.6 | 22.8 | 11.0 | 0.9 | 4.4 | 6.6 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 10.3 | 19.6 | 52% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 2.3 | 4.5 | 52% | 53% | 52% | 47 |
| 1986 | 23 | St. Kilda | 5-21 (14) | 17 | 0.0 | 14.1 | 7.6 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 5.1 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 6.5 | 12.6 | 52% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.0 | 2.9 | 35% | 50% | 52% | 35 | Total | 188 | 20.9 | 12.6 | 7.2 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 4.6 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 5.6 | 10.0 | 56.1% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 33.3% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 52.1% | 56% | 56% | 47 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 47 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 0 |
|---|
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Kuiper suited up for Australia for the first time at the FIBA World Championships in 1986, a year where the Boomers struggled against much stronger competition. Australia finished with a 2-3 record and failed to progress past the initial stages.
FIBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% |
FIBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 23 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | Total | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% |
COLLEGE
Paul Kuiper played two seasons at Baylor University from 1983–84 to 1984–85, appearing in 56 games and averaging 5.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game across his Baylor career, giving the Bears steady frontcourt minutes during a transitional stretch in the Southwest Conference.
As a junior in 1983–84, Kuiper played 28 games and made 16 starts, averaging 5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 17.7 minutes per game while shooting 45.0% from the field, and his season totals included 162 points, 108 rebounds and 14 blocks as Baylor finished 5–23 overall and 1–15 in SWC play under head coach Jim Haller.
Heading into 1984–85, preseason publications listed Kuiper among Baylor’s key returning contributors, and in his senior season he again averaged 5.9 points per game while lifting his rebounding to 4.6 per contest and adding 0.6 assists per game as the Bears improved to 11–17 overall (4–12 SWC), with their scoring jumping to 81.8 points per game across the season.
LIFE AFTER BASKETBALL
Paul Kuiper passed away suddenly in April 2022; the Perth Wildcats publicly announced his death on April 10.
The Wildcats extended condolences to his family and friends, while the NBL paid tribute on April 11, remembering Kuiper as one of the league's great characters.
Former coach Rick Martin and Australian basketball journalist and broadcaster Brent Costelloe were among those to share personal remembrances following his death.
The precise date and medical cause of his death have not been independently confirmed by the available reports.
Related
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