Trentyn Flowers
October 9, 2023
Robert Franks
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 18/12/96
- Place of Birth: Seattle, Washington
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 201
- Weight (KG): 102
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Washington State (2015–2019)
- NBL DEBUT: 3/12/21
- AGE AT DEBUT: 24
- LAST NBL GAME: 5/02/23
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 26
- NBL History: Brisbane 2022 | Adelaide 2023
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Robert Franks was born in Seattle, Washington.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Robert Franks made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 24 years of age. He scored 19 points in his first game.
After finishing sixth with an 18-18 record and missing the playoffs in 2021, Brisbane entered 2021/22 with Andrej Lemanis leaving after five seasons and former Sydney Kings assistant James Duncan taking over as head coach after CJ Bruton was also considered. Vic Law (to Perth), Matt Hodgson (to Perth), Harry Froling (to Illawarra), Callum Dalton (to Melbourne) and BJ Johnson (to Orlando) departed, while Lamar Patterson returned, Tyrell Harrison and Jason Cadee signed two-year deals and the Bullets added Chuanxing Liu, Jack Salt, Deng Deng, Isaiah Moss, Next Star Tom Digbeu and Robert Franks (via Lakeland Magic).
Franks joined on a one-year import deal after helping Lakeland Magic win the G League championship, filling Brisbane’s final roster place. Duncan said, “He’s a winner that understands the work and grind needed to be successful.”
Franks (19 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks) made his NBL debut at MyState Bank Arena on December 3, where Brisbane lost its season opener 83-74 in overtime to league newcomer Tasmania, with Sobey (24 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Patterson (10 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists) the Bullets’ other leading performers, while Adams (20 points) led the JackJumpers.
Franks (18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds across 27 games) became Brisbane’s primary scorer, leading the Bullets in points 13 times and recording 12 double-doubles, the second-most in the NBL. He finished fifth in league scoring and inside the top five in rebounding while shooting 50 per cent from the field, 39 per cent from three and 76 per cent from the free throw line, and despite standing 201cm was regularly used as a small-ball centre. Franks remained available for all but one game, missing Brisbane’s April 11 win in Adelaide after being rested with an undisclosed ailment.
Franks (31 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 steals) produced his best scoring game against New Zealand at Cairns Convention Centre on March 24, making 12-of-17 shots as Brisbane recovered from 99-92 down with 14 seconds remaining to win 101-100 in overtime. Franks hit a three-pointer, Krebs (5 points) followed with another, then Deng (16 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals) stole the inbounds pass and found Drmic (15 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) for the game-winning three, with Patterson (17 points and 7 assists) also prominent while Wetzell (23 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks) led New Zealand, and the performance completed Franks’ fifth consecutive 20-point game.
Patterson (16.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists), Sobey (16.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists), Cadee (10.4 points and 5 assists), Drmic (7.4 points and 3.3 rebounds), Deng (6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds) and Harrison (6.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks) were Brisbane’s other players above five points per game. Sobey’s knee injury limited him to 12 appearances and Harrison missed 11 games with an elbow injury, leaving Brisbane 5-9 at the halfway point, while Sobey signed a three-year extension in April and Cadee finished fifth in NBL assists after setting a career-high with 11 against New Zealand. Duncan’s team finished as the league’s worst defence at 89.3 points conceded per game and led the NBL with 14.6 turnovers, missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season.
Franks was named the Leroy Loggins MVP and Members’ MVP, while Jack Salt received the Players’ Player Award, Deng was named Defensive Player of the Year and Chuanxing Liu won Young Player of the Year.
The MVP. Robert Franks. pic.twitter.com/Loh126oIkU— Brisbane Bullets (@BrisbaneBullets) April 28, 2022
Brisbane closed the season in eighth place with a 10-18 record at Cairns Convention Centre on April 23, where Franks (30 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal), Krebs (career-high 20 points) and Samuel (14 points) led the Bullets, while McCall (42 points, 10 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block) produced the first 40-point, 10-assist game of the NBL’s 40-minute era as Cairns won 112-98.
ADELAIDE 36ERS
2022/23
After finishing seventh with a 10-18 record during CJ Bruton’s first season as coach, Adelaide entered NBL23 after finally giving Bruton a full offseason to prepare a roster which had struggled to establish a cohesive core and been decimated by frontcourt injuries. Captain Mitch McCarron, Daniel Johnson, Sunday Dech, Hyrum Harris and Kai Sotto returned, while Isaac Humphries (to Melbourne), Mojave King (to G League Ignite), Todd Withers (to Vilnius), Cameron Bairstow (retired), Dusty Hannahs, Tad Dufelmeier Jr and Emmanuel Malou departed. Anthony Drmic (via Brisbane), Kyrin Galloway (via New Zealand), Antonius Cleveland (via Illawarra), Craig Randall II (via Long Island Nets) and Robert Franks (via Brisbane) joined the group.
Franks signed a two-year deal with Adelaide after leading Brisbane in scoring and rebounding and winning the Bullets’ Leroy Loggins Most Valuable Player award during NBL22. He was also added to the 36ers’ four-man leadership group alongside McCarron, Johnson and Dech. “I was in Brisbane last year, CJ called this off-season and gave me a pitch of wanting to come and team up with Antonius Cleveland,” Franks said.
Adelaide raised expectations during its NBLxNBA tour by becoming the first NBL team to defeat an NBA opponent, beating the Phoenix Suns 134-124 behind Randall II (35 points) and Franks (32 points and 7 rebounds), who made six three-pointers as the 36ers connected on 24 of their 43 attempts from long range. The trip ended with a 131-98 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where Randall II (27 points), Franks (20 points and 7 rebounds) and Cleveland (19 points) led Adelaide.
Adelaide opened its regular season against Tasmania at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on October 13, where Franks (14 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks) started alongside Randall II (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Cleveland (10 points and 5 rebounds). Tasmania made seven three-pointers during a 32-10 opening quarter and won 97-72 behind Magette (23 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals).
Franks (17.7 points and 6.5 rebounds across 28 games) led Adelaide in scoring and rebounding, making 50 per cent of his field-goal attempts and 36.4 per cent from three-point range. However, the 36ers were unable to maintain the momentum created during their United States trip and opened the season with a 3-4 record. Randall II (20.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3 assists across 6 games) had several verbal altercations with Bruton and was released after reacting negatively to being moved to the bench.
Franks recorded the first of his three 25-point games against Illawarra at the WIN Entertainment Centre on November 3, making 11 of his 15 field-goal attempts and finishing with 25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal. Johnson (28 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Drmic (16 points) helped Adelaide overcome Randall II’s absence and defeat the Hawks 96-80, while Harvey (25 points) led Illawarra.
Two nights later, Franks (24 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 steal) led Adelaide against Perth in front of a record crowd of 9,071 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Cleveland (22 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Randall II (13 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) provided support, but Manek (25 points) helped Perth finish the game with a 14-0 run and defeat the 36ers 94-89.
Adelaide gained revenge at RAC Arena on November 24, where Franks (21 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks) controlled the frontcourt alongside Johnson (17 points and 8 rebounds) and Cleveland (16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals). Cotton (17 points and 5 assists) led Perth, but Adelaide won 96-82 and recorded its largest victory at the venue.
Franks’ best all-round performance came against Melbourne at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on January 21, where he made 10 of his 15 field-goal attempts and finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks. Sotto (15 points and 7 rebounds) and Dech (14 points and 2 steals) supported him, but Goulding (28 points) led Melbourne to a 94-87 win which delivered Adelaide its fifth loss from six games.
After releasing Randall II, Adelaide signed former Sydney guard Ian Clark (via Sydney) for the final 10 games with the team sitting at 6-8. Clark (12.2 points and 3.1 assists across 10 games) added championship experience as the 36ers battled Melbourne, Perth and South East Melbourne for the final two Play-In positions.
Franks led Adelaide offensively, while Cleveland (15.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 steals across 28 games) won his second consecutive NBL Best Defensive Player award and Adelaide’s Mark Davis Trophy as club Most Valuable Player. Johnson (11.1 points and 5.3 rebounds across 27 games) produced his lowest scoring average in almost a decade, while Drmic (10.3 points and 3.4 rebounds across 25 games), McCarron (7.8 points, 5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.6 steals across 26 games), Dech (7.3 points across 28 games) and Sotto (6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds across 27 games) were the other main contributors.
Adelaide entered its final game needing to defeat Melbourne and have Sydney beat Perth to reach the Play-In tournament. Franks (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks) faced Melbourne at John Cain Arena on February 5, with Cleveland (30 points and 6 rebounds) and Dech (20 points and 4 assists) leading Adelaide, while Tucker (31 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) carried United to a 116-107 win as the 36ers suffered their sixth loss from their final eight games and finished eighth with a 13-15 record.
Robert Franks played two seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Brisbane Bullets and the Adelaide 36ers. He averaged 17.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 55 NBL games.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 26 | Adelaide | 13-15 (8) | 28 | 862 | 496 | 182 | 63 | 49 | 133 | 20 | 21 | 78 | 76 | 183 | 366 | 50% | 47 | 129 | 36% | 83 | 107 | 78% | 59% | 56% | 25 |
| 2021-22 | 25 | Brisbane | 10-18 (8) | 27 | 890 | 491 | 241 | 43 | 57 | 184 | 22 | 16 | 45 | 65 | 177 | 356 | 50% | 63 | 161 | 39% | 114 | 195 | 58% | 55% | 59% | 31 | Totals | 55 | 1752 | 987 | 423 | 106 | 106 | 317 | 42 | 37 | 123 | 141 | 360 | 722 | 49.9% | 110 | 290 | 37.9% | 197 | 302 | 65.2% | 58% | 57% | 31 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 26 | Adelaide | 13-15 (8) | 28 | 30.8 | 17.7 | 6.5 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 6.5 | 13.1 | 50% | 1.7 | 4.6 | 36% | 3.0 | 3.8 | 78% | 59% | 56% | 25 |
| 2021-22 | 25 | Brisbane | 10-18 (8) | 27 | 33.0 | 18.2 | 8.9 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 6.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 6.6 | 13.2 | 50% | 2.3 | 6.0 | 39% | 4.2 | 7.2 | 58% | 55% | 59% | 31 | Total | 55 | 31.9 | 17.9 | 7.7 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 5.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 6.5 | 13.1 | 49.9% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 37.9% | 2.0 | 5.3 | 65.2% | 58% | 57% | 31 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 31 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
As well as playing for G League sides Greensboro Swarm and Stockton Kings, Franks went on to win a championship with Orlando’s affiliate, the Lakeland Magic.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Israel - Hapoel Gilboa Galil (2023) | Japan - Nagoya Diamond Dolphins (2023–2024), Ibaraki Robots (2024–2025)
Robert Franks spent part of the 2022–2023 season in Israel with Hapoel Gilboa Galil in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, where he played 11 games and averaged 18.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 blocks per game, shooting 46.6 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from three-point range and 85.7 percent at the free-throw line, and he shared the roster with teammates including Chad Brown, Amit Suss and Rashard Odomes.
Franks spent the 2023–2024 season in Japan with the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins in the B.League, appearing in 36 games and averaging 18.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 49.4 percent from the field, 38.7 percent from three-point range and 81.6 percent at the line, and he was listed on the roster alongside players including Takumi Saito and Joshua Smith.
Franks spent the 2024–2025 season in Japan with the Ibaraki Robots in the B.League, playing 58 games and averaging 15.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, and his season totals led Ibaraki in both points (925) and rebounds (436) while he also ranked second on the team in blocks (29), playing alongside teammates including Kohei Nakamura and Jehyve Floyd.
COLLEGE
Robert Franks played four NCAA Division I seasons at Washington State University from 2015–16 through 2018–19, developing into one of the most productive and decorated players in program history while starting 102 of 124 career games for the Cougars.
After a limited role as a freshman in 2015–16, Franks began to establish himself during the 2016–17 season, averaging 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while emerging as a versatile forward capable of stretching the floor and defending multiple positions.
His breakout came during the 2017–18 season, when Franks made one of the largest statistical leaps in the Pac-12, averaging 15.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 49 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range, earning Pac-12 Most Improved Player honours at season’s end.
Franks reached his peak as a senior in 2018–19, averaging 21.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, ranking among the top scorers nationally and finishing second in the Pac-12 in scoring, while leading Washington State in points, rebounds, three-pointers made, and free throws attempted.
During the 2018–19 campaign, Franks recorded multiple 30-point games, including a career-high 34 points against Colorado on January 31, and produced 13 double-doubles across the season while logging heavy minutes as the focal point of the Cougars’ offense.
His senior-year performances earned him First Team All-Pac-12 selection, and he was also named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District Team, capping one of the strongest individual seasons in Washington State history.
Franks finished his Washington State career with 1,592 points, ranking among the top ten scorers in school history, and also placed top ten all-time at the program in rebounds, three-pointers made, and free throws made, highlighting his all-around offensive impact.
Across his four collegiate seasons, Franks appeared in 124 games, averaged 12.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, and became known as a durable, high-usage forward who played through significant defensive attention while carrying Washington State’s scoring load in Pac-12 competition.
By the conclusion of his senior season, Franks had established himself as one of the most accomplished Cougars of the modern Pac-12 era, combining elite scoring production, conference-wide recognition, and sustained year-to-year development into a complete NCAA résumé.
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