NICKNAME/S: The Magician

BIO: Robert Paul Rose was born in Rochester, New York (USA) and played the majority of his career in the NBL, where he won a championship with the South East Melbourne Magic in 1992 and was a two-time NBL Most Valuable Player in 1993 and 2001.

Rose was nicknamed “Australia’s Michael Jordan” due to his clutch shooting and defensive abilities.

Member of NBL 25th Anniversary Team (named 2003)

NBL EXPERIENCE

Robert Rose made his NBL debut with the South East Melbourne Magic at 26 years of age. He scored 34 points in his first game.

With the South Melbourne Saints financially stressed at the end of 1991 and ownership unable to continue covering costs a merger was agreed to between the embattled Saints and nearby rivals, the Eastside Melbourne Spectres East Melbourne Magic. In 1992, the merged rosters became known as the South East Melbourne Magic. With the Spectres having the more successful team, having been one game away from being champions the prior season, the Magic retained Spectres coach Brian Goorjian to lead the team. Andrew Parkinson and Andrej Lemanis were the only players retained from the Saints roster, who were added to the core of the Spectres roster.

Bruce Bolden, Tony Ronaldson, Darren Lucas, Scott Ninnis and Darren Perry were joined by John Dorge via the Geelong Supercats and import Milt Newton to finalise the roster for the team’s NBL debut, a campaign coined by the media as ‘One Magic Year’.

???? THROWBACK THURSDAY ????

Did you believe in Magic? How could you not with this old tune! Before the days of @SEMelbPhoenix we had the South East Melbourne Magic. Do you remember how many NBL Championships Magic had to their name? Read more – https://t.co/OezFZFpFDS #HoopsAtHome pic.twitter.com/mQfmy7kiG4

— Basketball Victoria (@Basketball_Vic) April 16, 2020

The team got off to a strong start to the year, winning six of their first seven games but felt a change was needed and released Newton, replacing him with Rose mid-season. From there, the Magic rarely missed a beat, winning all 12 of their home games and losing only four games for the regular season. Rose would average 19.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists for the season.

In the playoffs, the Magic made short work of both the Canberra Cannons and North Melbourne Giants, setting up a NBL Grand Final against their crosstown rival Melbourne Tigers (15-9), who had finished third.

In game one of the series, South East Melbourne’s starting point guard Darren Perry suffered a torn ACL and would miss the next nine months due to injury and the remainder of the Grand Final. The injury rattled the Magic, with the Tigers guards Lanard Copeland (34 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks) and Andrew Gaze (26 points) capitalising, taking home a 18 point win (116-98).

In game two, the Magic backcourt stepped up in Perry’s absence with Darren Lucas (19 points) finishing with a season-high and Scott Ninnis locked down Copeland (14 points), who had single-handed won the opening game for the Tigers, forcing him to shoot a poor 6 of 19 from the field. Robert Rose controlled the point guard spot at the offensive end and finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals while Bruce Bolden also delivered big numbers, finishing with 22 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 4 blocksto give the Magic a 115-93 win and even up the series.

The Tigers had been taken by surprise by the Magic’s ability to bounce back without Perry, and although Melbourne battled valiantly in game three, the Magic seemed to have won the mental game with the previous victory. Once again, the Magic backcourt stepped up, this time forcing Gaze (18 points) into a horrible 5/19 shooting night and holding Copeland (24 points) below his season average. Rose contributed 26 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks as the Magic ground out a 95-88 win in the deciding game. Bruce Bolden, who delivered 21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks in game three was awarded the NBL Finals MVP award by NBA Commissioner David Stern who was visiting Australia at the time.

1993
With the Magic coming off a NBL championship in their first year in the league, many pondered what they could do in their second. Coach Brian Goorjian was able to return with the majority of the roster intact. Even Darren Perry, who suffered a ACL injury that saw him miss nine months of action, made it back to the court. The only major additions to the roster being David Graham (via North Melbourne) and Simon Kerle (via Brisbane) to cover the loss of Scott Ninnis (to Adelaide).

Rose would average 18.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists and a league-leading 3.0 steals per game and be named the NBL MVP. The dominant inside play of Bruce Bolden (21.6 points and 12.6 rebounds) and a breakout season from 21-year-old Tony Ronaldson (20.2 points, 6.3 rebounds) resulted in another strong team performance during the regular season, finishing in second place with a 20-6 record.

South East Melbourne would eliminate the seventh-placed Adelaide 36ers in two games during the quarterfinals to set up a rematch of last year’s grand final, a semi-final showdown against the Melbourne Tigers. Bradtke, who had shifted to Melbourne from Adelaide during the pre-season, dominated the series. He delivered 21 points and 9 rebounds in the Tiger’s 108-106 win in game one and then backed it up with 28 points and 15 rebounds in their 89-72 win in game two.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
1994
In 1994, Rose averaged 22.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists as the 36ers finished with a record of 18-8 and in second place during the regular season.

1995
In 1995 Rose averaged 26.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists as the 36ers finished with a record of 17-9 and in sixth place during the regular season.

CANBERRA CANNONS
1996
1996
The 1996 season saw Rose average 27.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists and play a key role in helping the Cannons to a fourth place finish in the regular season with a 16-10 record.

1997
During the 1997 season Rose averaged 23 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists and helped the Cannons finish with a record of 15-15 and end the regular season in fifth place.

1998
During the 1998 season, Rose averaged 19.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.4 assists and was a part of the Cannons squad which finished in a seventh place with a record of 14-16.

Robert Rose had played three spectacular seasons in Canberra and was selected to the All NBL First Team in 1996 and 1997. The Cannons didn’t see any postseason success but Rose became a hot commodity again and when his contract ran out with Canberra he was quickly lured to the Townsville Crocodiles.

TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES
1998/99
The 1998/99 season saw the NBL shift to summer, and with it, Townsville underwent a brand change, switching from the ‘Suns’ to the ‘Crocodiles’ after a dispute with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, who held the ‘Suns’ trademark in Australia. Faced with the prospect of paying Phoenix royalties on merchandise sales, the team changed its name to the Townsville Crocodiles.

The change to the Crocodiles was apt for many a reason. Besides being synonymous with the Queensland region, it was also the team name of Australia’s gold medal winning 22-and-under junior team in 1997, which featured coach Ian Stacker and Sam Mackinnon. At the time, it was viewed that the outgoing Stacker, a assistant to Brian Goorjian of the South East Melbourne Magic, had ‘stolen’ Mackinnon to headline his new squad, which gained national media attention.

Stacker was also quick to grab outgoing Canberra import Robert Rose and revamped the rest of the team with only Simon Kerle, Brad Davidson, David Pennisi and Jason Cameron returning from last season’s roster.

Prior to the 1998/99 season, the aforementioned Magic also underwent a brand change when they merged with the North Melbourne Giants, resulting in a number of players being without a team. Import James Harper (via South Florida University) and Andrew Goodwin (via North Melbourne), coming off two of his best NBL seasons, filled the remaining spots in the Crocodiles’ starting line-up..

The team was led in most categories by the 33-year-old Rose (21.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.3 steals) leading the team in points, assists and collecting the second highest rebounds and steals while leading the team in minutes played (47.2 minutes per game). 22-year-old Mackinnon (16.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks) led the team in rebounds and steals after seeing a boost in minutes, as they jumped from 39 to 44 per game after moving to Townsville.

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Although the team showed flashes of brilliance behind Rose and Mackinnon, especially at home, where they compiled a 9-4 record they struggled to win on the road. The roster, while improved, was ‘paper thin’ and relied on only eight players for the season, finishing with a 12-14 record.

1999/00
In 1999/00 Rose averaged 17.2 points and 7.2 rebounds, and helped guide the Crocodiles to a second place finish in the regular season with a 22-6 record.

2000/01
In 2000/01 Rose averaged 22 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.2 assists as the Crocodiles finished with a record of 22-6 and in second place during the regular season.

“The Magician” would transform the unsuccessful team, leading them into the semi finals for the 1999/00 season and to the grand final the season after. Rose brilliance was acknowledged by the league as he collected his second league MVP award in 2000 at 35 years of age. Rose he averaged 22 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal per game and led the Crocodiles to a first place finish in the regular season behind a record of 27 wins, 10 losses.

They would matchup against the Wollongong Hawks in that year’s Grand Final series, the first time either team had made a grand final appearance. the Crocodiles ultimately were defeated by the Wollongong Hawks by the narrowest of margins, a four points Hawks victory in the deciding game three closing the door on Rose and Townsville’s championship opportunity.

Little Shane with the ???????????? three, but then Robert Rose does this ????

Is this the greatest finish to a NBL game of all-time? ???? pic.twitter.com/pSKDF28JPK

— NBL (@NBL) June 17, 2023

2001/02
In 2001/02 Rose averaged 22.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists for a struggling Townsville team who finished with 13 wins and 17 losses.

2002/03
The 2002/03 season saw Rose average 16.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists and play a key role in helping the Crocodiles to a third place finish in the regular season with a 19-11 record.

2003/04
During the 2003/04 season Rose averaged 16.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists and helped the Crocodiles finish with a record of 13-20 and end the regular season in ninth place.

2004/05
During the 2004/05 season, Rose averaged 12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists and was a part of the Crocodiles squad which finished in third place with a record of 19-13.

2005/06
In 2005/06, Rose averaged 8.3 points and 3.3 rebounds, and helped guide the Crocodiles to a ninth-place finish during the regular season with a 9-23 record.

CAIRNS TAIPANS
2006/07
After the 2005/06 season, at age 42, the Crocodiles decided not to renew Rose’s contract. He then signed with North Queensland rivals the Cairns Taipans for the 2006/07 season and average 4.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists. The Taipans finished with a record of 17-16, finishing in sixth place during the regular season.

Rose then retired having played in 472 NBL games.

Robert Rose played sixteen seasons across four NBL teams. This included the South East Melbourne Magic, Canberra Cannons, Townsville Crocodiles, Adelaide 36ers and Cairns Taipans. He averaged 19 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 477 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 21st in total games played.
– 9th in total points
– 14th in total rebounds
– 6th in total assists
– 6th in total steals
– 35th in total blocks

HIGHLIGHTS:

Dan Boyce (811 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.