BIO: Robbie Dempster was born in Manjimup (WA) and began playing basketball as a junior with the A) basketball program. Dempster received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 1982. He spent three years year there and played for the program’s state league team (1982, 1983).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Robbie Dempster made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats on 3/2/1984. He scored eight points in his first game.

In 1984, the Westate Wildcats were renamed to the Perth Wildcats, but success did not follow the name change immediately. With new head coach Lynn Massey now guiding the squad, Perth finished on the bottom of the ladder finish with only three wins. Captain Mike Ellis averaged 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 3.4 steals per game and won the club MVP for the second time. Dempster averaged 8.7 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in his first year in the NBL.

1985
Jay Brehmer, who became the Wildcats’ fourth coach in four seasons, joined the team for the 1985 season and brought in a number of new faces. US imports Dan Clausen (via Adelaide) and Roland Brooks joined the team as well as local talent Adam Brennan and Sandy Caldwell, who would both play key roles as rookies. Perth began the season by winning their first three games in a row, taking a number of team’s by surprise in the process. Once the team began playing opponents on the road, however, they quickly fell back to earth and sat on 4 wins and 4 losses only a month later.

The team was led by Dan Clausen who racked up big numbers in every statistical category. He led the team in points (25.7 ppg), rebounds (15.7 rpg) and blocks (2.4 bpg) while ranking second in assists (3.4 apg), steals (1.4 spg), making him a clear choice for the club MVP award. Roland Brooks (23.2 points and 10.0 rebounds) and Mike Ellis (17.7 points and 6.0 assists) supported Clausen admirably but Perth’s inability to win outside of Western Australia (compiling a 4-9 record on away games) they finished the season in eighth place, falling well short of making the NBL playoffs. Dempster averaged 2.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.3 assists, while Perth finished with a 13–13 record, which at the time, was the best result in franchise history.

ILLAWARRA HAWKS
1986
1986
The 1986 season saw Dempster leave Perth in search of increased playing opportunities and signed with the Illawarra Hawks. The change in scenary paid off, with his numbers basically doubling from the season prior. He averaged 5.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game and played a key role in helping the Hawks to a fifth place finish in the regular season with a 15-11 record.

1987
In 1987, the Hawks had their best season to date, finishing in third place (20–6). During this season, Dempster averaged 3.3 points, 2 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS
1988
During the 1988 season, Dempster averaged 2.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.5 assists and was a part of the Falcons squad which finished in fifth place with a record of 13-11.

PERTH WILDCATS
1989
In 1989, Dempster averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds, and helped guide the Wildcat’s to a third place finish in the regular season with a 16-8 record.

1990
In 1990, Dempster averaged 1.5 points and 0.9 rebounds, and helped guide the Wildcat’s to a fifth place finish in the regular season with a 17-9 record.

Robbie Dempster played seven seasons in the NBL. He averaged 3.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 150 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (817 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.