Robbie Cadee

Nationality: AUS
Date of Birth: 1/05/51
Place of Birth:
Position: GRD
Height (CM): 185
Weight (KG): 70
Junior Assoc:
College: None

NBL DEBUT: 25/02/79
AGE AT DEBUT: 27
LAST NBL GAME: 18/06/83
AGE AT LAST GAME: 32
NBL History: St. Kilda 1979 | Bankstown 1980-83
Championships: 1
St. Kilda (1979)

FAMILY: Robbie’s son Jason Cadee also played 417 games in the NBL.

Robbie’s wife Debbie (formerly Debbie Lee) represented the Opals at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Robbie Cadee made his NBL debut with the St. Kilda Saints at 27 years of age. He scored 14 points in his first game.

Trailing by one point against the Canberra Cannons in the NBL’s historic first Grand Final in 1979, Robbie Cadee delivered a pinpoint pass to a cutting Peter Vitols for the go-ahead basket, sealing a dramatic 94–93 victory and securing St Kilda’s place as the league’s inaugural champions.

1980

1981

1982

1983
Coming off a dismal 2–24 record in 1982, the Bankstown Bruins entered the 1983 NBL season with a transformed roster and a new sense of purpose. Player-coach Robbie Cadee returned to lead the team both on the court and from the sidelines, taking on the dual role of captain and head coach. A trio of high-impact imports—Cliff Martin, Eric Claus, and Wayne Ricarte—joined the squad, replacing outgoing top scorers Kelvin Henderson, Donnie Cruse, and Doug Vukalovich.

The league itself underwent a major restructure in 1983, expanding from 14 to 16 teams and introducing a two-conference format for the first time. Teams were split into Eastern and Western Divisions, with each club playing 22 games—twice against divisional opponents and once against those from the opposite division.

The fresh lineup produced immediate improvement. Martin (20.0 points, 4.5 rebounds), Claus (18.9 points, 8.0 rebounds), and Ricarte (17.9 points, 7.3 rebounds) delivered consistently strong performances. Cadee, operating as the starting point guard, provided veteran leadership and direction, finishing the season with averages of 6.4 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.

Beyond the star imports, key contributions came from Ray Dawson (6.4 points, 2.9 rebounds), Mark Ryan (3.7 points, 2.0 rebounds), and Peter Sheehan (3.5 points, 2.6 rebounds). While the team still lacked depth beyond its top six, the improved talent and chemistry helped turn around a franchise that had been at the bottom of the standings just a season earlier.

Bankstown’s resurgence culminated in a 12–10 regular season record and a fifth-place finish in the Eastern Division—an astonishing ten-win improvement. Although the Bruins were eliminated in the postseason by the St. Kilda Saints, the turnaround was one of the most remarkable in league history.

At season’s end, Robbie Cadee was named the NBL’s Coach of the Year, becoming just the second player-coach in league history to receive the honour, following Cal Bruton effort in 1982. Cadee would retire from playing the following season, focusing on the head coaching role for Bankstown.

Cadee would play in 100 NBL games, averaging 9.1 points per game. His recorded assist average of 0.9 per game is misleading, however, as assists were not officially tracked during the early years of the league, rendering the career total inaccurately low.

Robbie Cadee played five seasons in the NBL, playing for both the St. Kilda Saints and the Bankstown Bruins. He averaged 9.1 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 100 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (836 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.

NBL TOTAL STATISTICS

SEASON	AGE	TEAM	TEAM RECORD	GP	MINS	PTS	REB	AST	OR	DR	STL	TO	PF	FGM	FGA	FG%	3P%	FTM	FTA	FT%	TS%	EFG%	HS
1979	28	St Kilda	15-3 (1)	19	0.0	233	0	0	0	0	0	0	48	98	196	50.0%	0.0%	37	42	88.1%	54%	50%	26
1983	32	Bankstown	12-10 (9)	22	0.0	140	35	62	15	20	22	47	50	50	117	43%	0%	40	52	77%	49%	43%	16
1982	31	Bankstown	2-24 (14)	18	0.0	58	39	30	10	29	0	43	44	25	67	37%	0%	8	11	73%	40%	37%	8
1981	30	Bankstown	7-15 (11)	22	0.0	220	0	0	0	0	0	0	72	85	171	50%	0%	50	63	79%	55%	50%	20
1980	29	Bankstown	3-19 (12)	19	0.0	260	0	0	0	0	0	0	65	108	216	50%	0%	44	56	79%	54%	50%	24
1979	28	St. Kilda	15-3 (1)	19	0	233	0	0	0	0	0	0	48	98	196	50%	0%	37	42	88%	54%	50%	26
Totals				100	0	911	74	92	25	49	22	90	279	366	767	47.7%	0.0%	179	224	79.9%	53%	48%	26

NBL PER GAME STATISTICS

SEASON	AGE	TEAM	TEAM RECORD	GP	PTS	REB	AST	OR	DR	STL	TO	PF	FGM	FGA	FG%	3P%	FTM	FTA	FT%	TS%	EFG%	HS
1979	28	St Kilda	15-3 (1)	19	12.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.5	5.2	10.3	50%	0.0%	1.9	2.2	88.1%	53.9%	50%	26
1983	32	Bankstown	12-10 (9)	22	6.4	1.6	2.8	0.7	0.9	1.0	2.1	2.3	2.3	5.3	43%	0%	1.8	2.4	77%	49%	43%	16
1982	31	Bankstown	2-24 (14)	18	3.2	2.2	1.7	0.6	1.6	0.0	2.4	2.4	1.4	3.7	37%	0%	0.4	0.6	73%	40.2%	37%	8
1981	30	Bankstown	7-15 (11)	22	10.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.3	3.9	7.8	50%	0%	2.3	2.9	79%	54.7%	50%	20
1980	29	Bankstown	3-19 (12)	19	13.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.4	5.7	11.4	50%	0%	2.3	2.9	79%	53.6%	50%	24
1979	28	St. Kilda	15-3 (1)	19	12.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.5	5.2	10.3	50%	0%	1.9	2.2	88%	53.9%	50%	26
Total				100	9.1	0.7	0.9	0.3	0.5	0.2	0.9	2.8	3.7	7.7	47.7%	0.0%			79.9%	53%	48%	26

CAREER HIGHS

POINTS	REBOUNDS	ASSISTS	STEALS	BLOCKS	TURNOVERS	TRIPLE DOUBLES
26	6	6	4	0	6	0

FIBA EXPERIENCE

Cadee played for the Australia mens national basketball team during the 1970s and competed for Australia at the 1976 Olympic Games held in Montreal.

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%
1976	25	5	0	2	5	6	1	3	0	0	0	2	1	3	33.3%	0	0	0.0%	0	0	0.0%
Total		5	0	2	5	6	1	3	0	0	0	2	1	3	33%	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%
1976	25	5	0.0	0.4	1.0	1.2	0.2	0.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.4	0.2	0.6	33.3%	0.0	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.0	0.0%
Total		5	0.0	0.4	1.0	1.2	0.2	0.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.4	0.2	0.6	33%	0.0	0.0	0%	0.0	0.0	0%

Season	Team	PTS	AST	STL	BLK	FGM	FGA	FG%	3PM	3PA	3P%
1	0	64%	54%	38%	0%
2	0	26	6	4	0
Total						366	767	47.7%	0	0	0.0%

NBA TOTAL STATISTICS

YEAR	AGE	TEAM	POS	GP	GS	MINS	PTS	TRB	AST	ORB	DRB	BLK	TOV	PF	FG	FGA	FG%	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	TS%	EFG%
1983	32	Bankstown	12-10 (9)	22	0.0	140	35	62	15	20	22	47	50	50	117	43%	0	0%	40	52	77%	49%	43%	16
1982	31	Bankstown	2-24 (14)	18	0.0	58	39	30	10	29	0	43	44	25	67	37%	0	0%	8	11	73%	40%	37%	8
1981	30	Bankstown	7-15 (11)	22	0.0	220	0	0	0	0	0	0	72	85	171	50%	0	0%	50	63	79%	55%	50%	20
1980	29	Bankstown	3-19 (12)	19	0.0	260	0	0	0	0	0	0	65	108	216	50%	0	0%	44	56	79%	54%	50%	24
1979	28	St. Kilda	15-3 (1)	19	0	233	0	0	0	0	0	0	48	98	196	50%	0	0%	37	42	88%	54%	50%	26
Total				0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0		0	0

COACHING HISTORY

After his playing career ended, Cadee went on to become a coach, leading the Opals from 1986 to 1992, and winning the 1983 NBL Coach of the Year Award.

HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PLAYER?

Whilst we try to source as much information as we can for every player who has ever played in the NBL some information on a player profile may be missing. If you have additional information on a player you'd like us to add to a profile, please send it to us using the enquiry form below.

Submissions are then sent to info@aussiehoopla.com

Primary Language

POS	TEAM	W	D	L	PTS
1	Top Club FC	21	3	3	66
2	The Reapers	20	4	3	64
3	Crimson Kings	19	4	4	61
4	Wind Slayers	18	2	6	56
5	Deadly Predators	18	2	4	56

Next Game

NBL News

2024–25 NBL Salary Breakdown: Cap vs Cash for Every Team

NBL25: Salary Spend Revealed for Every Team ESPN has compiled detailed salary and spending data for the 2024–25 NBL season, giving fans and analysts a unique look at how teams managed their budgets on the road to a championship. While some clubs leaned into the NBL’s flexible salary rules and pushed their spending past the cap in pursuit of success, others stayed conservative — with three franchises failing to even hit the league's salary floor. Understanding the System The NBL operates under a soft salary…
READ MORE
Podcasts

Nick Horvath on the 2009 Dragons vs Tigers Championship and Becoming the Author of an Action Hero

Nick Horvath joins the podcast to reflect on a one-of-a-kind basketball journey—becoming the only player to ever win a NBL, NZNBL and NCAA championship. Horvath opens up about writing his debut novel Sledge Vs, the highs and lows of his pro career, and what it was really like playing under legends like Mike Krzyzewski and Brian Goorjian. We go deep on the South Dragons’ fiery 2009 Grand Final clash with the Melbourne Tigers, including the now-infamous Game 3 brawl and Chris Anstey’s ejection. Horvath shares…
READ MORE
NBL News

NBL Teams Eye Chinese Star Lin Wei Amid NBA Draft Buzz

Chinese basketball standout Lin Wei is emerging as one of the most intriguing international prospects ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft—and he's already drawing serious interest from NBL heavyweights. The Sydney Kings and Melbourne United are currently leading the race to sign the dynamic guard should he not land on an NBA roster this offseason. Wei, a 191 cm, 85 kg combo guard, recently declared for the 2025 NBA Draft and is viewed as a borderline second-round candidate. While he’s intent on chasing his NBA…
READ MORE
NBL News

NBL Free Agent Tracker

Below is an up-to-date roster for each NBL team and a list of rumours and potential signings derived from discussions with NBL staff and media. Players listed as contracted come from information supplied by the National Basketball League. * = Denotes import player ** = Naturalised Australian DP = a member of the team's development roster SRP = the previously named Asian player exception denoting an Asian player who qualifies as a local in the NBL. MP = Marquee players listed as known Click here…
READ MORE
Australian Boomers

Adam Caporn’s Vision for the Boomers: Merging Goorjian and Lemanis’ Success

With Adam Caporn taking over as head coach of the Australian Boomers, the national team enters a critical phase in its evolution. A student of both Brian Goorjian and Andrej Lemanis, Caporn intends to build on their foundations, blending their distinct philosophies to create a balanced, adaptable, and high-performing team. In a recent interview with Aussie Hoopla, Caporn outlined his vision for the Boomers, his approach to coaching, and how he plans to shape the roster heading into major tournaments like the 2027 FIBA World…
READ MORE
Podcasts

Luke Kendall on developing basketball in India, 2006 FIBA World Champs & Sydney’s 2005 NBL Title

Former NBL player and current Casey Cavaliers head coach Luke Kendall joins the podcast to share his journey—from his junior basketball days to professional success and now a rising coaching career. Kendall developed under legendary coach Mike Dunlap at Metro State, where he won a national championship before moving to the NBL. He played for the Sydney Kings, Melbourne Tigers, Perth Wildcats, and Gold Coast Blaze, winning a championship with the Kings before injuries forced an early retirement. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of…
READ MORE
NBL News

Larry Kestelman Says Geelong Deserves an NBL Team But Is Missing a Real Estate Component

The possibility of an NBL expansion team in Geelong has gained momentum, with league owner Larry Kestelman confirming the city is a strong candidate—provided it can secure a suitable venue. However, much like we outlined in an article a number of years ago, How the Geelong Supercats could return to the NBL within 3 years, the missing piece isn’t just a stadium, but a real estate-backed development plan to make the project financially viable. Kestelman recently acknowledged Geelong’s growing basketball scene, citing record participation numbers…
READ MORE
NBL History

The Wollongong Hawks’ 2001 NBL Championship: The defining moment of an underdog’s rise

There have been championship runs in the NBL defined by dominance and the sheer weight of talent that could overwhelm opponents before the ball was tipped. The dynasties of Perth, the star-studded reign of Melbourne, and the rise of Sydney’s financial muscle all tell tales of powerhouses that knew how to stay at the top. But there has only ever been one championship like Wollongong’s in 2001—a title won through sheer resilience, a team that had no business being there until they forced their way…
READ MORE