NICKNAME/S: Ray Ray

BIO: Ray Borner OAM was born in Ballarat, VIC.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Ray Borner made his NBL debut with the Coburg Giants at 17 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

In his rookie season, Borner averaged 4.4 points and helped guide the Coburg Giants to a ninth-place finish during the regular season with a 7-15 record.

1981
In 1981, Borner averaged 11 points and helped guide the Giants to a tenth-place finish in the regular season with a 7-15 record.

1982
1982 saw Borner average 10.7 points and 7.5 rebounds and play a key role in helping the Giants to a fourth-place finish in the regular season (18-8).

1983
In 1983, Borner averaged 13.8 points and 8.6 rebounds and helped guide the Giants to sixth place finish in the regular season with a 13-9 record.

1984
During the 1984 season, Borner averaged 19.7 points and 10.8 rebounds and helped guide the Giants to a third-place finish in the regular season (18-6).

1985
In 1985, Borner averaged 22.1 points and 11.3 rebounds and helped guide the Giants to a fifth-place finish in the regular season(18-8). He was named as the league’s Most Valuable Player, becoming the first Australian born player to ever win the award.

ILLAWARRA HAWKS
1986
In 1986, Borner averaged 16.7 points and 9.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists as the Hawks finished in fifth place with a 15-11 record.

1987
In 1987, the Hawks had their best season to date, finishing in third place (20–6). Illawarra would be led by its talented frontcourt of Jim Bateman (19.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals), Ray Borner (19.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks) and Don Bickett (14.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.4 steals), who the fans collectively named ‘The Killer B’s’. Captain Gordie Mcleod (12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 1.8 steals) and high-flying import Alphonse Hammond (19.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.9 steals). 21-year-old Greg Hubbard (11.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.1 steals) was also added to the roster, logging 28 minutes a game and becoming the first Hawk to ever win the Rookie of the Year award.

Once into the postseason, Illawarra lost a three-game series again to the eventual champions, the Brisbane Bullets.

1988
1988 saw Borner average 16.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists and play a key role in helping the Hawks to a seventh-place finish during the regular season with a 11-13 record.

NORTH MELBOURNE GIANTS
1989
Since 1986, the Giants had slowly crept closer and closer to winning their first NBL championship, with it all culminating this season. After missing the playoffs in 1986, Bruce Palmer replaced Les Riddle as coach and turned things around, coming within one game of winning the championship and come 1989, it was all business. The team added naturalised import Cecil Exum from the state league and Ray Borner (via Illawarra) to strengthen the frontcourt alongside Scott Fisher (32.1 points and 12.7 rebounds) and Tim Dillon (29.4 points and 10.0 rebounds), who delivered two of the best statistical seasons in NBL history. Borner (14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds) would become the team’s missing piece and help the Giants finish in first place finish (18-6), one game ahead of Canberra (17-7), who had defeated the Giants in the previous year’s grand final.

Fisher would be selected to the All-NBL First Team and win the league’s Most Valuable Player at seasons end. After a first-round bye for both team’s, North Melbourne defeated third-seed Perth (16-8) in their semi final matchup. After splitting the first two games (1-1), the Giants delivered a 55 point thrashing to the Wildcat’s (165-110) in the highest scoring playoff game in NBL history, a record which still stands today. Canberra defeated fifth seed Sydney (15-9) in the other semi final series, setting up a Grand Final rematch between both team’s.

Both North Melbourne and Canberra would receive a first round bye and automatic entry to the semi finals. There, Canberra would eliminate Sydney (2-1), while North Melbourne defeated Perth (2-1) in similar fashion.

Canberra, who would reach their fourth time in seven years, would host game one, where the trio of Fisher (37 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 steals), Dillon (24 points and 12 rebounds), and Borner (18 points and 9 rebounds) walked into the AIS Arena and come away with a six point win (111-105).

The Giants returned to Melbourne for game two, and similar to the season prior, the Glasshouse was a sell-out, with 7,200 Giants fans keen to see the North Melbourne go one step further than last year. Fisher (33 points and 12 rebounds) was relentless at the offensive end and finished as the game’s high scorer. Teammates Dillon (21 points and 15 rebounds), Borner (16 points and 7 rebounds), David Graham (16 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals), Exum (10 points and 8 rebounds) and Mark Leader (10 points and 12 rebounds) delivered a balanced offensive attack, the Giants finishing the game with six players scoring in double figures.

North Melbourne ensured that Canberra had no chance of repeating last years result by destroying the Cannons on the glass, with the team having collected 60 rebounds, compared to Canberra’s 39 at the final siren (111-97).

The Giants 1989 title was the first Grand Final won by a Victorian team in the modern era. Not since the St Kilda Saints won in 1980 during the league’s semi-professional years had a Melbourne team become champions. Fisher, who averaged 35 points and 12 rebounds in the series, was a easy choice for Grand Final MVP honours.

1990
The Giants lost a number of key players after winning the 1989 Grand Final, which resulted in head coach Bruce Palmer furiously recruiting new talent instead of devising ways to defend their championship. The biggest loss was Tim Dillon, the team’s second-leading scorer and rebounder, who chose to return to the USA. Naturalised import Cecil Exum (to Melbourne) and veteran guard Mark Wright’s retirement also left big holes to fill.

Former Indiana Hoosier Joe Hillman was signed as a replacement for Dillon, naturalised import Dwayne Nelson (via Adelaide) replaced Exum and 19-year-old Pat Reidy was signed out of the Australian Institute of Sport.

Despite the roster overhaul, the Giants seemed just a strong as last season, tearing through opponents and winning their first eight games in a row. Scott Fisher (31.4 points, 12 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.5 steals) delivered one of the greatest statistical seasons in NBL history. He shot 55% from the field and led the team in points and rebounds while being second in assists and steals and was selected to the All-NBL First Team.

Hillman (22.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 2.3 steals) while Borner (15.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals) and David Graham (15.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals) rounded out the team’s offence.

North Melbourne (20-6) and Eastside Melbourne (18-8), would finish first and second, earning a bye in the first round of the playoffs and facing the eventual winners of the elimination finals. There, Perth would advance after defeating Melbourne (2-0) and Brisbane, after losing the opening game, would eliminate Sydney (2-1).

Perth would play close to a perfect game to upset the defending champs in game one (121-111). Perth shot 54% from the field (45/84) and 53% from the three-point line (9/17), getting incredible games from Ricky Grace (39 points, 5 assists, and 2 blocks), Mike Ellis (26 points, 12 assists, and 2 steals), Kendal Pinder (20 points and 14 rebounds), and James Crawford (20 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks), all four players scoring 20+ points. Fisher (27 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists) would top score for the Giants.

North Melbourne came back with a vengeance in the next game, defeating the Wildcats by 21 points at home (131-110). Fisher (35 points and 14 rebounds) would top score again, but this time got plenty of support from Hillman (25 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists), Leader (25 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Borner (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals). Grace (25 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals), again top scoring for the Wildcats.

North Melbourne, who had only lost three home games for the season, began game three as clear favourites, but in a nail-biting finale that was decided by a single basket, Perth came out victorious (112-110) and moved on to the Grand Final. Fisher (32 points, 21 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals) did everything he could, filling the box score, while Pinder (28 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 assists) was the leading scorer for the Wildcats.

Perth would go on to become eventual champions, defeating Brisbane in three games.

1991
Although the addition of Joe Hillman did contribute to North Melbourne’s success the last season, he was no Tim Dillon (who had left the team after their 1989 championship). With the Giants hoping to find another Dillon, they signed Yale University grad Paul Maley (via South Melbourne) and looked to make a run at the championship again. Cecil Exum, who had been a integral part of the championship season, returned after a season with rival club Melbourne.

Scott Fisher (30.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.0 steals) led the team offensively once again, and Maley (27.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 steals) benefitted from playing alongside Fisher, improving his scoring from 25.8 points per game the season prior. Other standouts this season included veteran Ray Borner (14.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists) and second year talent Pat Reidy (14.7 points, 4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 steals) would play his way into the Giants’ regular rotation.

North Melbourne (16-10) squeezed into the playoffs as the sixth seed and faced third seed Geelong (17-9) in the Elimination Finals. Game one saw Fisher (44 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks) do everything he could, but the Supercats easily accounted for the Fiants, winning by 20 points (139-119). North Melbourne would regroup and win both games two (136-116) and three (125-113), with Fisher averaging 37 points and 12 rebounds for the series.

Their semi final opponent would be Eastside Melbourne, who featured a impressive frontcourt of Bruce Bolden, Dean Uthoff, and Kent Lockhart. They were able to ‘put the handcuffs’ on Fisher, who managed only 14 points in North Melbourne’s game one loss (93-99) and 16 points in game two (104-115), ending the Giants’ season.

1992
North Melbourne would return with the core of its roster intact, the only major change being Cecil Exum, who struggled to regain his previous form with the Giants last season, being replaced by Rod Johnson (via Illawarra). The offence would be built around Scott Fisher (27.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.9 steals), Paul Maley (21.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 steals), Pat Reidy (14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 steals) and David Graham (13.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals). Borner would deliver his lowest-scoring season of his career, appearing in 27 games and averaging 8.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.0 steals.

The Giants finished the season in fourth place (14-10), with Fisher being selected to the All-NBL First Team and taking home the league’s Most Valuable Player award (alongside co-winner Andrew Gaze). Once into the playoffs, North Melbourne would eliminate fifth-seed Illawarra (13-11) in the Quarterfinals in two straight games. Scott Fisher (25 points, 15 rebounds and 2 assists) top scoring in game one (118-98), and Paul Maley (32 points, 19 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) came up big in game two (123-104).

North Melbourne would see their season end, being outclassed by South East Melbourne (previously Eastside Melbourne), who ended their season for the second year in a row. While Robert Rose (37 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 steals) came close to a triple-double, the trio of Bruce Bolden, John Dorge and Tony Ronaldson held Fisher (17 points and 3 rebounds) and Maley (14 points and 11 rebounds) to 28 points combined in game one (86-112). Paul Maley (32 points and 11 rebounds) was able to get on a roll in game two (106-127), but again Fisher (12 points and 6 rebounds) struggled to make a impact, and South East Melbourne moved on to the Grand Final. Scott Ninnis (23 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists) and Darren Perry (22 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists) top scoring for the Magic.

GEELONG SUPERCATS
1993
After the team was gutted in 1992, a move which resulted in Geelong finishing with just two wins for the season, the Supercats were able to regroup and add to their wafer-thin roster of last season. Vince Hinchen (via Melbourne) would return after a season playing with the Tigers, and Ray Borner (via North Melbourne) was signed to help fill a gaping hole inside. Imports Bobby Locke and Chris Williams were replaced by Adrian Branch, who had won a NBA championship with the Lakers in 1987, and Mike Morrison, who had just finished up a stint with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns.

Six games into the season, the Supercats received a letter from coach Steve Breheny, which outlined he felt he did not have the support of the club. It was reported that he did not want Branch as part of the team, but the club chose to sign him to a two-year deal anyways. After a loss to Melbourne, Breheny brought Branch off the bench in their next game against Adelaide, feeling he cared more about stats than winning (a sentiment echoed by his former Brisbane coach Brian Kerle). Geelong would win this game (113-100), with Branch playing 36 minutes and scoring 30 points. Branch then skipped trainings, prompting Breheny to pen a letter to management asking for their support or agreeing to re-sign. The Supercats (2-4) accepted his resignation and continued the season under interim coach Terry Kealey. Jim Calvin was hired as a permanent solution shortly after.

Branch (26.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.9 steals) would go on to lead the team statistically, with Morrison (22.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.2 steals), Cecil Exum (16.6 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.4 steals), Borner (16.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks) and Vince Hinchen (14.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals) adding support. The team saw very little support from the bench, with its starting five all playing a minimum of 35 minutes a game and only Wayne Larkins (6.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.2 steals) playing meaningful minutes off the bench. The team basically played with six players for the entire season.

With three rounds left, Geelong sat equal last alongside Hobart and Townsville, all three team’s sitting on four wins. Geelong, however, reeled off three wins in a row to end the season, knocking off Sydney (126–115), Gold Coast (113–108) and fourth-placed Brisbane (118–115) to end the season on a high note.

1994
In 1994, Borner averaged 16.7 points and 9.4 rebounds, and helped guide the Supercats to a first place finish in the regular season with a 7-19 record.

CANBERRA CANNONS
1995
In 1995, Borner averaged 18.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2 assists as the Cannons finished with a record of 12-14 and in ninth place during the regular season.

1996
Canberra once again restructured their roster in an effort to push for success, parting ways with import duo Jervaughn Scales and Fred Cofield while bringing in Robert Rose (via Adelaide) and Darnell Mee, who had previously played with the Denver Nuggets in the NBA. The Cannons also signed Chris Blakemore (via Adelaide) and rookie Brendan Mann, fresh off a gold medal win with the Australian Junior team, to replace the outgoing Lachlan Armfield (to Newcastle) and Matt Witkowski (to Gold Coast).

Although Rose (27.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.1 steals) was told he was “too old” when Adelaide released him, he responded with an outstanding season, earning All-NBL First Team honors and nearly winning the MVP award. Mee (15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks) proved to be a dynamic two-way force, despite battling a serious knee injury throughout the season. Ray Borner provided interior presence, appearing in 32 games and contributing 12.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.1 steals as Canberra returned to the playoffs, finishing fourth with a 16-10 record.

In the first round, Canberra faced the fifth-seeded Sydney Kings (16-10), led by high-scoring duo Shane Heal and Isaac Burton. Sydney took Game 1 in dominant fashion, with Stephen Whitehead (24 points, 5 rebounds) leading the charge in a surprising 113-89 blowout. Canberra responded emphatically in Game 2 with an offensive explosion, as Jamie Pearlman (29 points), David Close (25 points), and Borner (21 points, 8 rebounds) all stepped up alongside Mee (29 points, 7 assists, 3 blocks) and Rose (11 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists). The Cannons dismantled Sydney 146-99, winning by an astonishing 47 points. In the deciding Game 3, Canberra’s depth proved to be the difference. While Rose (23 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists) and Mee (20 points, 8 assists) went head-to-head with Heal (21 points) and Burton (25 points, 13 rebounds), Canberra’s supporting cast stepped up, with Borner (18 points, 7 rebounds), Blakemore (17 points, 6 rebounds), and Pearlman (17 points) leading the Cannons to a 101-89 series-clinching win.

In the semifinals, Canberra faced Melbourne and took Game 1 with a 98-87 win behind a strong effort from Simon Dwight (20 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 blocks), supported by Rose (22 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists) and Mee (23 points). Andrew Gaze (28 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists) led Melbourne’s efforts, but the Cannons’ balanced attack prevailed. Melbourne responded in Game 2 with an aggressive defensive effort, holding Canberra to 35% shooting from the field. Rose (17 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists) was the only Cannons player to reach double figures, while the Tigers’ trio of Gaze (30 points), Lanard Copeland (23 points), and Mark Bradtke (20 points) powered a 100-82 win to force a decider.

Game 3 saw Canberra battle hard on the defensive end, with Rose (21 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals) and Mee (18 points, 4 assists) locking down Copeland (6 points, 5 rebounds). However, it wasn’t enough to slow down Melbourne’s dominant duo of Gaze (29 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks) and Bradtke (26 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks), who carried the Tigers to a hard-fought 91-87 win. The loss ended Canberra’s season, while Melbourne advanced to the Grand Final series.

1997
The 1997 season saw Borner average 9.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists and play a key role in helping the Cannons to a fifth place finish in the regular season with a 15-15 record.

1998
During the 1998 season Borner averaged 6.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists and helped the Cannons finish with a record of 14-16 and end the regular season in seventh place.

1998/99
During the 1998/99 season, Borner averaged 8.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists and was a part of the Cannons squad which finished with a record of 8-18.

1999/00
In 2000, Borner averaged 5.6 points and 4.3 rebounds, and helped guide the Cannons to a ninth-place finish during the regular season with a 11-17 record.

WOLLONGONG HAWKS
2000/01
Prior to the start of the 2000/01 season, coach Brendan Joyce turned over almost half his roster, adding Axel Dench, Charles Thomas, Damon Lowery, Grant Kruger, Matt Shanahan and Borner.

Over the course of the season, Borner played the role of reliable veteran and averaged 4.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game while helping to develop the team’s big men. The team went on to finish in fourth place during the regular season with a club-best 21 wins from 28 games.

In the playoffs Wollongong would upset Perth in game one of the qualifying finals behind a 22 point, 13 rebound effort from Melvin Thomas, a 19 point effort from Damon Lowery and 10 points and 5 rebounds from Campbell to win at home 97–90

The Hawks fell short in game two in Perth, 95–106 with Dench struggling to get going offensively, he finished with only 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks. This set up a Game 3, held in Perth, where the Hawks won a major upset thanks to a 26 point, 16 rebound performance from Glen Saville and 20 point game from Lowery. Campbell also added 6 points and 3 rebounds with the Hawks winning 98–88.

This set up a semi-final matchup with the Adelaide 36ers and their stars Darnell Mee and Kevin Brooks. Campbell added 10 points and big games from Hawks stars Melvin Thomas (18 points and 13 rebounds) and Charles Thomas (17 points and 6 rebounds) saw the team able to squeak out a narrow 84-83 game win in the series opener. The Hawks would return to Wollongong but lose game two 100–111 with Campbell contributing 14 points in the loss. Then, in the deciding game the Hawks would win game three in a nail biter at Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre when Damon Lowery sunk three free throws with no time on the clock, propelling the team into the 2001 NBL Grand Final to face the Townsville Crocodiles. Dench also added 10 points and 3 rebounds in the deciding game

The Hawks went on to face the Townsville Crocodiles in the 2001 NBL Grand Final, winning game one at home 104-101 with Melvin Thomas continuing to lead the way, contributing 24 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 assists. Campbell also added 19 points. Then, the series would shift to Townsville for games two and three and the Crocodiles rebounded at home winning the second game 114–97 after shutting down the Hawks offensively with Campbell only able to score four points. game three was a gruelling matchup, played the very next day where the blue-collar Hawks snuck out the three-point victory 97-94, Charles Thomas top scoring with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists, Melvin Thomas scoring 18 points and hauling in 12 rebounds, and Glen Saville collecting 18 points and 12 rebounds to claim the NBL Finals MVP. Campbell was also a big part of the win, scoring 10 points and grabbing 3 rebounds. The Hawks 2–1 victory saw them become the first New South Wales club to win a NBL championship.

Borner would retire at the end of the season after winning his second NBL championship.

Ray Borner played twenty-two seasons across five NBL teams. This included the Coburg Giants, Geelong Supercats, North Melbourne Giants, Canberra Cannons, Illawarra Hawks and Wollongong Hawks. He averaged 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 518 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 9th in total games played.
– 23rd in total points
– 7th in total rebounds
– 25th in total steals
– 12th in total blocks

HIGHLIGHTS:

Dan Boyce (833 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.