NICKNAME/S: The Baseline Bandit

BIO: Robert Sibley was born in Brisbane (QLD)

NBL EXPERIENCE

Robert Sibley made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 17 years of age. He scored four points in his first game.

Under new coach Brian Kerle the Bullets underwent a number of roster changes, the biggest being the return of Leroy Loggins who had spent the previous two seasons with the West Adelaide Bearcats. The team then added import guard Ron ‘The Rat’ Radliff, known for his long curly hair and brilliant outside shooting to play alongside star forward Loggins, who delivered his finest season to date in 1984, averaging 29.3 points, 3.4 steals and 1.9 blocked shots per game. Loggins efforts saw him selected to the All NBL First team and voted the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Alongside Loggins, Radliff and captain Larry Sengstock, Sibley averaged 2.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.3 assists.

The Bullets’ made their first playoffs appearance since 1981, finishing the regular season in first place with a 19–5 record, a major improvement on their 10–12 record in 1983.

After defeating the Coburg Giants and the Geelong Supercats in the playoffs, the team were into their first ever NBL Grand Final with the game to be played at the ‘Glass House’ in Melbourne, which would be the last year that the NBL Grand Final was played at a pre-determined ‘neutral’ venue.

Despite the improvement Brisbane ultimately fell short, losing to the defending champion Canberra Cannons 84–82 who were led by the Australian Boomers point guard Phil Smyth. First year coach Brian Kerle’s efforts in turning the team around were rewarded by claiming 1984 Coach of the Year award.

1985
Sibley averaged 1.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists for the year as the Bullets emerged as the league’s most powerful team. With star import Cal Bruton (17 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists) returning to the team and the guidance of head coach Brian Kerle, the Bullets again finished in first place with a 20–6 record.

The Bullets received a first round bye in the NBL playoffs and would meet the winner of the elimination final between the Coburg Giants and last year’s champions Canberra. Canberra eliminated Coburg convincingly by 23 points which would give Brisbane a chance at revenge from being beaten by the Cannons in the previous years Grand Final.

The Bullets would get their revenge on Canberra with Bruton racking up 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists in the 93-76 win as Adelaide defeated the Newcastle Falcons by a record score of 151–103 on the other side of the semi-final bracket.

With the game being held at their home venue, the Chandler Arena, the Bullets went into the series as favourites against the Adelaide 36ers (whose merger with the Bearcats in 1985 had seen them become a NBL force for the first time) in what was to be the last single game grand final in NBL history. Leading 78–74 going into the last period of play, the Bullets then outscored Adelaide 42–21, setting a NBL grand final record for points scored in the final period and easily accounting for the 36ers 121–95 to record their first ever championship win. Bruton almost replicated his semi-final performance, scoring 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists as Brisbane claimed their first NBL championship.

1986
The team’s major change during the 1986 season was when they moved out of the 2,700 seat Chandler Arena and into the brand new Brisbane Entertainment Centre which could seat up to 13,500 fans, easily giving the Bullets the largest and newest home arena in the NBL at the time (the next largest venue in the league was The Glass House which could only seat 7,200). Indeed, the Entertainment Centre was not only the NBL’s but also Australia’s then largest indoor arena. They finished the regular season in third place with a 17–8 record but progressed to their third Grand Final in a row with wins over the Sydney Supersonics and regular finals opponent Canberra in the playoffs.

Sibley contributed 5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.7 assists over the season alongside Cal Bruton, who led the team with 16.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3 assists as the Bullets would up facing the Adelaide 36ers in a Grand Final rematch to decide the championship.

In the first ever NBL grand final series to be played over three games, the Bullets lost to the Ken Cole coached Adelaide 36ers 2–1, losing game three of the series 113–91 in Adelaide (the 36ers had a league leading 24–2 record for the season including a 13–0 record at home). In the opening game, over 11,000 fans, a indoor sports attendance record for Australia at that time, saw the 36ers defeat the Bullets 122–119 in overtime at the Entertainment Centre, while they became the only team to defeat the 36ers in Adelaide in 1986 when they won game two 104–83 at the Apollo Stadium. Leroy Loggins was again voted the league’s MVP in 1986, giving himself and Brisbane a second MVP title while he was again a unanimous selection to the All-NBL Team. Crucially though, Loggins fouled out of both game one and 3 of the Grand Final series which limited his on court impact.

1987
With Brisbane looking to go ‘younger, bigger and faster’ with their roster to compete with the likes of Adelaide’s Mark Davis and Perth’s James Crawford, the decision was made to release US born players Cal Bruton and Dave Nelson in favour of incoming import Emery Atkinson and giving more playing time to young local talent Robert Sibley, John Dorge and rookie Darren Perry.

The Bullets were led by star Leroy Loggins (28.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.9 steals), Ron Radliff (15.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.9 steals) and Atkinson (15.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.3 steals) whose athletic dunks had Bullets fans on their feet during the season. Sibley (5 points, 4 rebounds) and Dorge (9 points, 6 rebounds) saw their playing time boosted to 25-30 minutes a game with Sibley (11 points, 6 rebounds) and Dorge (11 points, 9 rebounds) playing big roles in the Bullets success.

Ending the season with a 20-6 record the Bullets finished in second place (Adelaide claimed top spot) and as a result received a first-round bye. There, they would face the Illawarra Hawks after they defeated the North Melbourne Giants in the elimination finals. As Brisbane waited for the semi finals to be decided, Loggins was named the NBL’s Most Valuable Player in a tie with Adelaide’s Mark Davis before continuing their winning ways. The would take out game one (109-87) but then lost a nail-biter in game two (77-78) before eliminating Illawarra in the third game (100-82).

Brisbane had made it to the NBL grand final for a league-record fourth consecutive season and face off against the Perth Wildcats who had just upset the defending champions Adelaide on the other side of the semi-final bracket.

Perth was led by player/coach and former Bullets’ favourite Cal Bruton. Bruton’s exit had also came on the back of a very public falling out with coach Brian Kerle. In a surprise move Brisbane elevated 19-year-old point guard Darren Perry (10 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals) into the starting lineup for the playoffs and alongside Atkinson (22 points, on 10/16 shooting, and 9 rebounds) and Loggins (17 points and 5 rebounds) the Bullets defeated Perth in low scoring, griding 80-79 victory. Kendall Pinder (27 points and 15 rebounds) and James Crawford (23 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks) leading the way for the visitors.

In game two, although Pinder (25 points, 15 rebounds) and Crawford (22 points, 11 rebounds) still proved hard to stop, none of the Wildcats’guards were able to score against the tandem of Perry (12 points and 3 assists) and game high scorer Loggins (36 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists). The Wildcats’ guard rotation of Bruton (9), Mike Ellis (6) and Alan Black (2) combined for just 17 points.

After winning a tightly fought first half (47-44) Brisbane owned the Wildcat’s in the second half, outscoring them by 16 points.

Leroy Loggins was awarded the Grand Final MVP, his first time winning the award as although he had been named ‘player of the game’ (behind a 41 point effort) in Brisbane’s 1985 Grand Final win, the award wasn’t presented that season.

1988
The Bullets finished the 1988 regular season in third place with a 18–6 record, but they couldn’t manage to reach their fifth grand final in a row after losing in the elimination final. A highlight of the 1988 season for the Bullets was 17 year old Shane Heal who averaged 15 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 27 minutes per game, backing up starting point guard Darren Perry. Heal would earn the league’s Rookie of the Year award at seasons end.

Sibley averaged 8.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1 assists.

1989
The 1989 season saw the Bullets miss out on the NBL playoffs for the first time since 1983, when they finished the regular season in eighth place with a 11–13 record. The Bullets had lost two of their three leading scorers from the season prior, up-and-coming star Shane Heal (Geelong) and import Emery Atkinson (Canberra).

Sibley averaged 15.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists alongside Leroy Loggins, who averaged 22.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, leading the team in scoring, finishing third in rebounds, and second in assists. Atkinson’s replacement, Winston Crite, averaged 20.8 points as well as a team-leading 7.5 rebounds. A bright spot for the season was the development of back-up centre Robert Sibley who delivered a breakout season, increasing his numbers from 8.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 21 minutes per game to 15.4 points and 6.4 rebounds in 31 minutes per game.

1990
Brisbane entered the season with a new-look squad, ready to rebound from their dismal eighth-placed finish in ’89, which saw the Bullets miss the playoffs for the first time under coach Brian Kerle. Only three of the 13 players who wore a Bullets singlet the previous year returned – Leroy Loggins, Robert Sibley, and Greg Fox.

Those exiting included captain Larry Sengstock and Ron Radliff, who had been with the team for eight and seven seasons, respectively, leaving to join the new Queensland expansion team, the Gold Coast Cougars and second-year guard Rodger Smith, joining them. John Dorge (to Geelong), Darren Perry (to Eastside), and Dan Clausen (to Adelaide) all headed elsewhere. Greg Giddings, Shane Edwards and import Winston Crite were not offered a contract to return, and Danny Morseu retired.

Loggins, who was used with mixed success in the off-guard spot the previous season, reverted to his more familiar and preferred small forward position. Moore and Sibley headed up a frontline that also included comeback player Chris McGraw and young Melbourne pair Paul Rees and Craig Adams, with locals Steve McLeod and Chris Clarkson making up the 12-man list. In a flash, the Bullets went from the oldest team in the league, a average age of 26.5 years, to probably the youngest at 23.1 years.

Together with new imports Derek Rucker (33.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 2.6 steals) and Andre Moore (26.9 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 1.3 steals), the Bullets improved to finish in third place after recording 18 wins and 8 losses. They would even reach the grand final once again, a rematch of the 1987 Grand Final, where they faced the Perth Wildcats. This time around the Bullets lost game one in Perth, 112–106, before levelling the series in Game two in front of the largest crowd the NBL had seen at the time. 13,221 fans filled the Brisbane Entertainment Centre to see the Bullets defeat Perth 106–90. This would stand the highest ever grand final crowd for a game played outside of Melbourne until game two of the 2012/13 Grand Final series between the Wildcat’s and New Zealand Breakers in Perth. The attendance record remains the eighth largest for a NBL Grand Final game. Game three was held in front of a near-equal crowd of (13,159), but this time, the Bullets would fall short, losing 86–109 as Perth won their first NBL championship. Additionally, Brian Kerle received the Coach of the Year award for the second time, while the Bullets would make history by having three players Derek Rucker (33.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.6 steals), Leroy Loggins (33.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.6 steals) and Andre Moore (33.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.6 steals) all named to the All-NBL First Team (something which has still never been replicated). Rucker, additionally, won the league’s MVP award, becoming the second Bullets player to do so.

Sibley finished the year by averaging 15.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.

1991
The 1991 season saw Sibley average 14.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists and play a key role in helping the Bullets to a tenth place finish in the regular season with a 13-13 record.

MELBOURNE TIGERS
1992
1992 began with the Tigers replacing forward David Colbert with former NBA guard Lanard Copeland, who paired with Andrew Gaze in the backcourt to become one of the most exciting backcourt duos in NBL history. Gaze (33.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.3 assists) would again lead the league in scoring, with Copeland (28.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists) NBA pedigree showing he was one of the best imports in the league.

Melbourne replaced the interior presence of Colbert with Robert Sibley (via Brisbane), which then resulted in Brisbane signing free agent Colbert in a talent swap for both team’s.

Sibley (11.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists) fitted into the frontcourt nicely, and talented young swingman Stephen Whitehead (13.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks) saw a boost in his numbers for the third straight season.

With the revamped roster, the Tigers became a much faster lineup, finishing the regular season in the third spot, their highest place finish ever (15-9).

Once into the postseason Melbourne would eliminate Perth (2-1) in the quarterfinals, and then the Sydney Kings (2-1) in the semifinals to reach the Grand Final series for the first time in franchise history. Facing off against crosstown rivals the South East Melbourne Magic, Gaze (26 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and the Tigers came out firing and comfortably defeated the Magic (116-98) in the first game of the series. That would be the last of the heroics, however, as the Magic would win the series’ next two games and claim the 1992 NBL championship (2-1).

1993 – THE TIGERS FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP
The Tigers’ season began with the huge signing of Mark Bradtke during the pre-season. His arrival made national news, with Bradtke having spent the off-seasonplaying in Spain and giving former team Adelaide a verbal agreement he would play for them if he returned in 1993. However, upon his return to Australia, Bradtke made it known he did not want to play the final year of his contract in Adelaide, amongst rumours the Melbourne Tigers were actively recruiting him. After negotiations between the two parties broke down, the 36ers gave permission for Bradtke to leave if a team would buy out his remaining contract. However, the NBL stepped in and vetoed the buyout, effectively letting Bradtke leave for Melbourne without the 36ers receiving any compensation. After the fact it became clear Bradtke had decided to move to Melbourne to be closer to then girlfriend (and future wife), pro-tennis player Nicole Provis.

Although the Tigers were coming off a grand final appearance, they began the season poorly and no one was pencilling them in for the championship at midseason. After shaking off their slow start (2-7) but finishing the remainder of the season strong (14-3), the Tigers finished the year in third place. Bradtke (17 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) became the missing puzzle piece to Melbourne’s historically weak frontline as Andrew Gaze (32.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.7 steals), Lanard Copeland (22.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.9 steals) led the team in scoring. Sibley appeared in 33 games and averaged 9.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks for the season.

During the quarterfinals, the Tigers would easily eliminate Illawarra (2-0), setting up a rematch of last year’s grand final, a semi finals showdown against South East Melbourne. Copeland (32 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals), Gaze (23 points 3 rebounds, and 8 assists) and Bradtke (21 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) combined for 76 points and in nail-biting two point win to open the series (108-106). In game two, Bradtke (28 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 steals) was the difference maker, proven unstoppable for the Magic as the Tigers closed out the series behind a 17 point win (89-72).

On the opposite side of the bracket, the Perth Wildcats (21-5) had finished on top of the ladder and made their way through to the Grand Final.

The series began with the Tigers playing at home and, by the second quarter, were controlling things with a 19 point lead. From there, Melbourne saw four key players fall into foul trouble, which included Robert Sibley (13 points and 4 rebounds) and Bradtke (4 points, 11 rebounds) fouling out. Bradtke struggled against Perth’s interior defenders and finished the game shooting one from nine from the field. Ricky Grace (23 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals) then fueled a late-game surge from Perth which closed the game by four points. In the closing minutes, Perth attempted to close the gap by repeatedly sending Melbourne to the line but with Gaze (41 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists) nailing ten from ten free throws in the final quarter, Melbourne see out the game as victors (117-113).

In a similar fashion to game one, Melbourne took out a early lead in game two (32-22), thanks to the dominance of Bradtke (24 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists). By halftime, however, the ‘Perth Wall’ of James Crawford (32 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks), Andrew Vlahov (23 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks), and Scott Fisher (16 points and 6 rebounds) had reined Bradtke things in and returned fire to lead by six at halftime (60-54).

Perth remained in control of the foul-prone Tigers, who struggled to score after losing both Gaze (22 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Dave Simmons (12 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists) to six fouls. Grace (23 points, 8 rebounds, and 13 assists) came close to recording a triple-double, many of those assists coming from feeding Crawford inside, who made 11 of his 15 shots.

A full house at the Perth Entertainment Centre (8,000 fans) witnessed the Wildcats’ victory (112-105), one that extended their consecutive home winning streak to 17. With game three to be played in Perth and the Tigers have never won on the Wildcats’ home floor, Perth entered the game as clear favourites.

The underdog Tigers, however, survived a strong Perth comeback that cut a 15-point lead to three before Gaze (22 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists) sunk a free throw to give Melbourne a two-point edge with four seconds left on the clock. A last-second shot from Vlahov (31 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) which rattled in and out of the ring, saw the Tigers become NBL champions for the very first time (104-102). Copeland (35 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists) led the team in scoring, while Bradtke (23 points, 19 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) dominated Perth inside after struggling with fouls in the first two games. In a surprising decision, however, Wildcats’ guard Ricky Grace was awarded the Grand Final MVP despite playing for the losing team.

The win saw Lindsay Gaze and his son Andrew complete a ten year journey to win Australia’s oldest basketball club its first national championship.

Surprisingly, the season Andrew Gaze led the Tigers to their first championship was the only season between 1991 and 1998 where he missed out on claiming the league’s MVP award. Instead, voters went with South East Melbourne Magic’s Robert Rose, but Gaze’s championship victory far outweighed any MVP result.

BRISBANE BULLETS
1994
In 1994, Sibley averaged 7.7 points and 6.5 rebounds, and helped guide the Bullets to a fourth place finish in the regular season (18-8).

1995
Having lost to Adelaide in the quarterfinals the previous season, the Bullets re-tooled their roster prior to 1995. The early exit saw Brisbane revamp their frontcourt, releasing veteran forward Shane Froling and imports Dave Colbert and Andre Moore. Although Leroy Loggins, Rodger Smith, Robert Sibley and Wayne Larkins were retained from last season, coach Bruce Palmer set out to recruit a younger roster he could develop over the next 2-3 seasons. He signed Andrew Goodwin and Mike Mitchell (both from rival team Gold Coast), and added import Chris Munk as their replacements.

John Rillie, who had just graduated from Gonzaga University, was a late addition to the team signed to backup Brisbane’s leading scorer Shane Heal.

Heal (22.9 points and 7.4 assists), Loggins (21.7 points and 7.5 rebounds), and Mitchell (20.9 points and 6.8 rebounds) would carry the team offensively, notching up 60+ points a game between them with Sibley also adding 6.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. Additionally, promising young talent John Rillie finished the season with 13.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game and was awarded the NBL Rookie of the Year award but the ‘new look’ Bullets didn’t fare much better than the old ones. Brisbane finished in fifth place with a record of 16-10 and would suffer elimination during the Quarterfinalsstage yet again, this time losing to North Melbourne (0–2).

1996
In 1996, the Brisbane Bullets re-loaded by adding veteran big man Mark Dalton (via Sydney) and signing star import Steve Woodberry from rival club Gold Coast. Woodberry, who as coming off a major injury, averaged 23 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists and was selected to the All-NBL second team.

Under new head coach David Ingram, the Bullets finished with a record of 14-12 and in eighth place. Sibley, who was coming to the end of his career would see limited playing opportunities with the Bullets, averaging 2.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists.

1997
In 1997, Sibley continued to see limited playing opportunities, averaging 1.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists, as Brisbane finished in sixth place finish during the regular season with a 15-15 record.

BRISBANE BULLETS
2003
Sibley would make a return to the Bullets, 5 years after his last appearance on the court during a injury plagued season where Brisbane managed only six wins for the season. He played in five games and averaged 0.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.4 assists.

Robert Sibley played fifteen seasons in the NBL. He averaged 8.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 371 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 41st in total blocks

Dan Boyce (820 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.