NICKNAME/S: The Mailman

BIO: Paul Maley was born in Los Alamos, New México (USA).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Paul Maley made his NBL debut with the Westside Melbourne Saints at 23 years of age. He scored 40 points in his first game.

1990
In 1990, Maley averaged 25.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists as the Saints finished with a record of 3-23 during the regular season.

1991

When the North Melbourne Giants still looking to find a suitable replacement for star forward Tim Dillon who had left the team after their 1989 championship, the Giants signed Maley and paired him with Scott Fisher for the 1991 season.

Maley saw his productivity jump from a healthy 25.8 points with the Saints to a 27.6 points per game tally in his first year with the Giants.

After finished second in the regular season the team were defeated in the semifinals by rival club Eastside Magic.

Maley (21.9 points and 9.9 rebounds) and Fisher 27.1 points and 11.3 rebounds) would again led the Giants to a semi-final appearance in 1992 but were again outed by the Magic. At the end of the season Fisher would leave Melbourne and sign a deal with the Perth Wildcats.

In 1993, under new head coach Brett Brown, the Giants replaced Fisher with Jason Reese who seemed the perfect replacement for Fisher on paper after averaging 26.5 points and 12.3 rebounds with Canberra the previous season. For some reason the combination never quite gelled and the Giants would lose to Fisher’s Perth Wildcats squad in the quarter finals.

1992
In 1992, Maley would average 21.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists alongside fellow import Scott Fisher (27.1 points and 11.3 rebounds) and together, they would again lead the Giants to the postseason with a fourth place finish (14 wins, 10 losses). The Giants would then eliminate the Illawarra Hawks in the Quarterfinals before being outed by the South East Melbourne Magic, who had re-branded from the Spectres at the start of the season, in their semi-final matchup.

1993
In 1993, the Giants chose not to re-sign long term head coach Bruce Palmer who since taking over in 1987 had led them to the semi finals five of six years and to the 1989 championship. His successor would be found in young Melbourne Tigers assistant Brett Brown whose appointment was deemed a cash saving move by a team beginning to face years of financial uncertainty. Another sign of the Giant’s financial struggles became evident when they lost star import Scott Fisher to the ‘deeper pockets’ of the Perth Wildcats.

Brown began his search for Fisher’s replacement first with import Chuckie White, who failed to cut it during pre-season, before settling on Jason Reese. Reese was known around the league as ‘workhorse’ and dominant inside scorer that had spent the past two seasons with Hobart (1991) and Canberra (1992) and Mark Leader, who had became a naturalised Australian in 1993, replaced Fisher as team captain.

Reese went on to lead the team in scoring (26.4 ppg and 8.9 rpg), fellow import Paul Maley led the team in rebounding (22.5 ppg and 9.1 rpg) and Maley also contributed 22.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.

North Melbourne finished the season (13-13) sneaking into the final playoff spot. There, they would face familiar foes, Scott Fisher and the Perth Wildcats who had finished the season in first place (21-5). Despite winning game one at home (105-101), the Giants would lose games two (98-108) and three (104-117) to Perth to put a end to their season.

1994 – ONE GIANT LEAP
North Melbourne’s financial struggles publicly came to light after 1993, but the team was saved at the eleventh hour from its burgeoning financial woes by a group of new investors. The new ownership made a number of changes, including a uniform design change, tossing away the team’s maroon uniforms and switching to the colours of the NBA’s most marketable outfit, the Charlotte Hornets.

The Giants roster had aged considerably in the years between its 1989 championship and 1994, with its roster now being the oldest roster in the league. When the team added a 30-year-old point import guard Darryl McDonald to the roster, the media and betting agencies alike tipped the Giants to finish bottom of the ladder. The pundits couldn’t be more inaccurate, however, with the team McDonald leading the league in steals and assists and finishing second in both the NBL MVP (behind Andrew Gaze) and Best Defensive Player (Darren Lucas) awards.

Giants fans began to get excited when the Giants came home undefeated after the ‘Doomsday Double’, first avenging a home loss to Perth then holding off Adelaide at the Clipsal Powerhouse, a feat which hadn’t been achieved since 1986. The new look outfit would go on to win 19 of their 26 games and finish the year in second place. with Pat Reidy (19.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 3.4) and Paul Maley (19.4 ppg and 6.7 rpg) carrying most of the offensive load.

Once into the NBL playoffs, the Giants faced the Sydney Kings, who opened the Quarterfinalswith a absolute blitz of the Giants (131–109) before falling in three games. On the other side of the bracket, South East Melbourne swept Perth before being swept in a similar fashion by the Giants after a Adonis Jordan three-point heave (he could have found a open David Graham for a better shot but missed him) in the game’s closing moments missed its mark and the chance to force a third game.

Game one of the Grand Final series was held at the Clipsal Powerhouse in Adelaide and after Robert Rose had dragged the Sixers back into the match when they still had trailed by 14 inside the last six minutes of regulation the ball ended up in McDonald’s hands before he nailed the game-winning shot in overtime, delivering a 95–93 win.

As the series moved to the Glasshouse in Melbourne for game two Rose would come out firing, his 31 point effort would see him finish as the game’s high scoring, but a balanced attack from North Melbourne proved too strong for the 36ers. The Giants would control the first half, the scoreboard reading 51-41 at halftime and with 36ers forward Mark Davis in serious pain, the Giants were able to put the foot down in the third quarter and then closed out the game with a 117-97 victory.

Paul Rees, who benefitted greatly from McDonald’s passing all series, finished up earning the Finals MVP award after delivering 17 points and 5 rebounds in game one and 20 points (making all seven of his shots) and 7 rebounds in game two.

The 1994 NBL season made history bypassed the one-million spectator mark during the regular season for the first time.

1995
Maley missed the opportunity to attempt back-to-back titles with the Giants suffering a back injury which saw him sit out the entire 1995 season and impact his mobility for the rest of his career.

1996
After falling one win short of back-to-back championships, North Melbourne returned most of its roster for Brett Brown’s fourth season. Darryl McDonald, Pat Reidy, Paul Rees, Paul Maley, Rod Johnson, Larry Sengstock, Matthew Shanahan and John Stelzer all remained in place, while Mark Leader and Darryl Pearce retired and Chris Jent (to New York Knicks) exited after his one-season stint with the Giants. Australian Boomers guard Tonny Jensen (via Townsville) joined the roster, while Maley returned from the back injury that had ruled him out for the entire 1995 season.

North Melbourne opened the season in Sydney on April 12, where Jensen (25 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists) made five three-pointers in his Giants debut, but the Kings defeated North Melbourne 102-97 despite Maley (20 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals), McDonald (16 points, 4 rebounds, 12 assists, and 2 steals) and Reidy (16 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) keeping the Giants close.

Jensen (14.6 points) gave North Melbourne another perimeter scorer and four days later produced his best scoring game of the season, finishing with 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 block as the Giants defeated Melbourne 105-85 at Melbourne Park. McDonald (20 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) recorded a triple-double, while Reidy (27 points and 10 rebounds) and Rees (17 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks) helped the Giants claim their first win of the season.

Jensen (19 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists) continued his strong start against Canberra on April 20, then added 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists against Sydney on April 25 as North Melbourne leaned on its new Boomers guard through the opening month of the season.

Jensen (24 points, 3 assists, and 1 steal) helped North Melbourne defeat Brisbane 102-95 on May 3, with McDonald (25 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 6 steals, and 2 blocks) and Reidy (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) driving one of the Giants’ best early-season wins.

Jensen (23 points) made six three-pointers against Wollongong on August 16, but North Melbourne fell to the Hawks despite Reidy (23 points and 6 rebounds), McDonald (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 13 assists) and Maley (14 points) keeping the Giants close.

Jensen (20 points) produced his final 20-point game of the regular season against Newcastle on September 13, but the Falcons defeated North Melbourne 118-107 despite McDonald (25 points, 6 rebounds, 12 assists, and 5 steals), Maley (19 points and 11 rebounds) and Reidy (17 points) leading the Giants.

Reidy (20.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.5 steals) led North Melbourne in scoring, while McDonald (17.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3.9 steals) again led the NBL in assists, earned All-NBL First Team honours, won the Good Hands Award and was named NBL All-Star Game MVP. Maley (17.3 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals) returned strongly after missing the previous season, Rees (14 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks) remained the main interior presence, while Johnson (9.1 points and 1.3 steals), Shanahan (5 points), Sengstock (4.9 points and 4.8 rebounds) and Stelzer (2.1 points) completed Brown’s rotation as North Melbourne finished seventh with a 15-11 record in a tight ladder where only two games separated third place and eighth. Jensen also represented Australia at the Atlanta Olympics, where the Boomers finished fourth.

The quarterfinals opened at the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre, where South East Melbourne defeated North Melbourne 96-82 behind Andrew Parkinson (19 points). Jensen (7 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals) played 37:50 minutes, while Rees (28 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks), Reidy (19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) and McDonald (11 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block) led the Giants as the Magic took control of the series.

Game two moved to Melbourne Park, where Tony Ronaldson (25 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) and Mike Kelly (17 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) led South East Melbourne to a 87-77 win and completed the sweep. Jensen (18 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) played 39:45 minutes in the 87-77 loss.

1997
Maley would again miss the entire 1997 season with a back injury.

1998
After being eliminated by Melbourne in the 1997 semifinals, North Melbourne moved into what became its final Giants season with the club’s financial pressure still growing. Mike Mitchell, Paul Rees (to Adelaide), Rod Johnson (to Canberra), Stephen Hoare (to West Sydney) and Matthew Reece all exited the team, while Brett Brown retained Darryl McDonald, Pat Reidy, David Stiff, Andrew Goodwin and Matthew Shanahan. Paul Maley also returned after missing the previous season with a back injury, with Ben Pepper (via Newcastle), David Close (via Canberra), rookie David Smith (via AIS) and new import Darnell Hoskins added to round out the roster.

North Melbourne opened the season at Beaton Park on January 30 without McDonald, losing to Wollongong 109-96 as Maley (2 points and 7 rebounds) returned to the Giants lineup, with Reidy (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Hoskins (15 points) leading North Melbourne in the loss.

With McDonald sidelined for the opening 13 games, Brown added Nate Driggers to cover the backcourt while Maley (12.7 points and 4.9 rebounds) gave the Giants another frontcourt scoring option after returning from injury. North Melbourne lost its first five games before defeating Melbourne 102-82 on February 27 behind Reidy (22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Hoskins (29 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists), while Maley (6 points and 6 rebounds) played 33:29 minutes in the win.

Driggers (6 points and 3.3 rebounds) played seven games before being released after failing to provide the cover needed during McDonald’s absence. Hoskins (17 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 steals) briefly looked like he might settle the import spot when Hoskins (40 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Reidy (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) led North Melbourne to a 97-91 win over Sydney on March 14, but Hoskins played his final game on March 29 and was released as Brown continued reshaping the roster, with NBL legend Butch Hays (8.9 points and 3.4 assists) brought out of retirement on April 3 to steady the group before McDonald returned.

Maley (15 points and 5 rebounds) helped North Melbourne defeat Wollongong 110-92 on March 29, with Pepper (28 points, 27 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Stiff (13 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks) leading the Giants to one of their strongest home wins of the season.

McDonald (12.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 2.3 steals) returned against Adelaide on April 4 as North Melbourne defeated the 36ers 115-99, with Reidy (20 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Maley (19 points and 4 rebounds) leading the way as the Giants collected only their fourth win of the year.

Maley’s best game of the season came against Melbourne on April 18, where Maley (25 points and 8 rebounds) helped North Melbourne push the Tigers into overtime before falling 112-106, with Reidy (26 points and 8 rebounds) and McDonald (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) keeping the Giants close.

Maley (22 points and 7 rebounds) followed with another strong game against Wollongong on April 24, but North Melbourne lost 110-103 despite Stiff (18 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Pepper (16 points and 8 rebounds) providing support.

Maley (23 points and 4 rebounds) helped North Melbourne defeat Adelaide 116-101 on May 22, with Pepper (20 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks) and Reidy (19 points and 8 rebounds) helping the Giants claim their eighth win of the season.

Reidy (17.9 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists) led North Melbourne in scoring, while Pepper (13.7 points and 8.2 rebounds) gave the Giants a new interior focal point after arriving from Newcastle. Stiff (11.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals), Goodwin (10.4 points and 4.8 rebounds), Smith (7.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals), who earned Rookie of the Year, Shanahan (6.4 points) and Close (6.1 points) filled out Brown’s rotation.

North Melbourne defeated Perth 109-103 in its final home game on June 5, with Maley (22 points and 8 rebounds), Pepper (22 points and 7 rebounds) and McDonald (21 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists) leading the Giants to one of their best wins of the season. With North Melbourne set to merge with South East Melbourne after several years of financial instability and re-launch as the Victoria Titans, the Giants closed the season the next night at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, falling 115-113 to Sydney to finish 10th with a 9-21 record, including only one road win, as Maley (14 points and 4 rebounds) played 33:46 minutes in the loss.

VICTORIA TITANS
1998/99
After the NBL’s move to summer, interest in the league had declined, and financially, it had become difficult for Melbourne to sustain three separate clubs. In an effort to boost sponsorship and membership numbers, the South East Melbourne Magic merged with the North Melbourne Giants, who had struggled financially for a number of years.

The team was re-branded to the Victoria Titans and, with the majority of the front office being former Magic owners, a decision was made to retain Brian Goorjian as head coach, leaving Giants coach Brett Brown without a job. Selecting a team generated criticism as Goorjian’s appointment coincided with the decision not to offer Pat Reidy (to Newcastle), then a member of the Australian national team, a spot on the roster.

The Titans completed their roster by signing four players from the Giants roster, Darryl McDonald, Ben Pepper, David Smith, and Paul Maley, and five players from the Magic roster, Jason Smith, Frank Drmic, Brett Wheeler, Mike Kelly and Tony Ronaldson, while Brad Sheridan (via AIS) also joined the new club.

Victoria opened its inaugural season against Melbourne at Melbourne Park on October 10, where Maley (6 points and 6 rebounds) played 21:04 minutes, but the Tigers defeated the Titans 99-80. McDonald (16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) and Pepper (15 points and 10 rebounds) were Victoria’s best as the new roster struggled for cohesion in its first game together.

Maley (7.2 points) gave Goorjian another scoring option off the bench and helped Victoria respond in game two against Canberra, finishing with 10 points as the Titans defeated the Cannons 110-94. Ronaldson (28 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists), McDonald (21 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals) and Wheeler (20 points and 6 rebounds) led the first win in club history.

Maley’s best scoring game came in Brisbane on January 2, where he finished with 19 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 blocks as Victoria defeated the Bullets 99-82. Kelly (23 points and 4 assists), Smith (17 points) and Pepper (15 points and 9 rebounds) gave the Titans support as they won without McDonald, who remained out injured.

Maley produced another double-figure game against Wollongong on February 19, finishing with 11 points and 6 rebounds, but the Hawks edged Victoria 86-85 at the WIN Entertainment Centre. Smith (22 points and 7 rebounds), Ronaldson (18 points and 6 rebounds) and Pepper (14 points and 7 rebounds) were Victoria’s other main contributors in the one-point loss.

Ronaldson (16.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists), who was named team captain of the new franchise, responded by leading Victoria in scoring and earning club MVP honours. Pepper (12.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks) finished second in scoring and led the team in rebounds and blocks, while McDonald (11.1 points, 5 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 2.4 steals) led both the Titans and the NBL in assists and steals. Smith (11.2 points and 4.1 rebounds), Wheeler (11 points and 5.9 rebounds), Drmic (10.8 points and 5.2 rebounds) and Kelly (10.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals) gave Goorjian seven double-figure scorers as Victoria finished fourth with a 16-10 record, lost only three games at home and entered the playoffs on a four-game winning streak.

Victoria opened the Qualifying Finals at Melbourne Park by defeating Wollongong 96-65 behind Ronaldson (20 points and 4 rebounds), Smith (18 points), Wheeler (15 points and 6 rebounds), Pepper (12 points and 16 rebounds) and Maley (12 points and 5 rebounds), while Glen Saville (10 points) and David Andersen (7 points) were Wollongong’s best.

Game two moved to the WIN Entertainment Centre, where Victoria defeated Wollongong 91-82 and completed the sweep behind Ronaldson (20 points and 4 rebounds), Smith (19 points and 5 rebounds), Wheeler (14 points and 8 rebounds) and McDonald (7 points, 5 rebounds, 14 assists, and 5 steals), while Maley (3 points) played 7:41 minutes as the Titans moved into the semifinals.

The semifinals opened at Melbourne Park, where Victoria ground out an 80-77 win over Melbourne behind Ronaldson (17 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists), Maley (16 points), Kelly (15 points and 3 steals) and McDonald (11 points, 3 rebounds, and 9 assists), while Marcus Timmons (31 points and 9 rebounds) led the Tigers. Maley made seven of nine shots in 22:11 minutes as Victoria took game one.

Game two stayed at Melbourne Park, where Kelly (19 points and 7 rebounds), Pepper (15 points, 13 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and McDonald (13 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals) led Victoria to a 94-87 win over Melbourne, completing the sweep and sending the Titans into a Grand Final series against Adelaide. Maley (8 points) played 13:48 minutes in the win.

The Grand Final series opened in Melbourne, where Adelaide made 16 three-pointers and defeated Victoria 104-94 behind Brett Maher (31 points) and Darnell Mee (25 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists). McDonald (23 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals), Ronaldson (19 points and 4 rebounds) and Pepper (18 points) led Victoria, while Maley (7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block) played 17:37 minutes.

Game two moved to Adelaide, where Maher (25 points) came out firing for the 36ers, but Victoria slowed the game down and levelled the series with an 88-82 win. Ronaldson (22 points), Wheeler (18 points and 9 rebounds), Smith (15 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) and McDonald (12 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists) led the Titans, while Maley (3 points) played 5:42 minutes as Victoria forced a deciding game.

Game three remained in Adelaide, where more than 7,000 36ers fans saw Martin Cattalini (19 points and 9 rebounds) lead Adelaide and Maher (15 points and 7 rebounds) named Grand Final MVP as the 36ers completed back-to-back championships. Pepper (15 points) and Ronaldson (15 points and 6 rebounds) led Victoria, who shot 26-of-78 from the field, while Maley (7 points and 3 rebounds) played 15:02 minutes in the 80-69 loss.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
1999/00
Maley spent the 1999/00 season drifting in-and-out of the 36ers lineup, his back injury having flared up again and there was also some turmoil behind closed doors over his contract. The Mailman was convinced he had a three year deal – which meant a season to go beyond the end of this one. The 36ers maintained he was on a two-year deal, its uncertain which party was at fault as both parties had contracts to substantiate their claims. Maley had played just 19 of Adelaide’s 31 games in the 2000 season and the 36ers were clearly concerned about his longevity and how keeping him on the roster would impact their long-and-short term goals. While conversations about his future were kept behind closed doors, Maley’s great popularity within the team polarised opinion as to whether the club’s stance was right.

2000/01
In 2000-01 Maley’s back injury forced him to register career lows in every statistical category. He would retire due to injury at the end of the season.

Paul Maley played ten seasons across four NBL teams. This included the Westside Melbourne Saints, North Melbourne Giants, Victoria Titans and Adelaide 36ers. He averaged 17.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 270 NBL games.