EJ Rowland
February 2, 2021
Russell Hinder
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 10/07/79
- Place of Birth: Sydney (NSW)
- Position: F/C
- Height (CM): 208
- Weight (KG): 110
- Junior Assoc: NSW - Hills District
- College: San Francisco (1998-2000) / Augusta (2000-2001)
- NBL DEBUT: 11/10/01
- AGE AT DEBUT: 22
- LAST NBL GAME: 22/03/14
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 34
- NBL History: West Sydney 2002-04 | Hunter 2005-06 | Sydney 2007-08 | Townsville 2009-14
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Russell Hinder was born in Sydney (NSW) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Hills District basketball program. Hinder received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 1997. He spent one year there and played for the program’s state league team.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Russell Hinder made his NBL debut with the West Sydney Razorbacks at 22 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.
Russell Hinder played 13 seasons in the NBL.
Hinder attended the University of San Francisco before transferring to Augusta State University in 2000.
Townsville Captain 2009-12.
2012/13
After falling short in the previous year’s semifinals, the Townsville Crocodiles entered the 2012/13 NBL season with Paul Woolpert back at the helm and a reshaped playing group. Veterans Luke Schenscher and Greg Vanderjagt were not retained, while imports Eddie Gill and Elvin Mims also departed. Townsville initially recruited American duo Jason Forte and Curtis Withers, but both were cut before the regular season began after disappointing outings at the NBL Pre-season Tournament in Melbourne. Crocs CEO Ian Smythe, known for his patient approach, made an early call, stating, “This time, we made the hard decision.”
With time running out, Townsville moved swiftly to bring in 2011 league MVP Gary Ervin just a week before their opening game. Former import Larry Abney was also re-signed, but he lasted only nine games before being released. Despite the changes, the Crocodiles endured a nightmare start to the campaign, dropping their first ten games to slump to the bottom of the standings at 0–10.
In a bid to reverse their fortunes, Townsville added former NBA hopeful Luke Nevill following his preseason stint with the Indiana Pacers. He joined the team in time for their Round 9 clash with Adelaide, contributing to Townsville’s first win of the season. Nevill’s presence helped spark a five-game winning streak, giving the Crocs a much-needed mid-season lift.
Ervin (16.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.1 steals) emerged as the team’s offensive focal point, while Nevill (13.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks) added scoring punch and defensive support in the paint. Todd Blanchfield continued his development, lifting his output from 7.2 points and 3.3 rebounds to 9.4 points and 4.1 boards per game. Peter Crawford remained a consistent performer with (12 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists), and co-captain Russell Hinder added valuable leadership and averaged (5.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) across the season.
Townsville rebounded with a 10–8 stretch after their winless start, but back-to-back defeats to close out the season left them narrowly outside the playoff picture. The Crocodiles finished with a 10–18 record, two games shy of a postseason berth. Gary Ervin’s contributions were recognised with a spot on the All-NBL Second Team.
—
2003/04
West Sydney entered the 2003/04 season with a bold new direction, opting not to re-sign import Willie Farley and veteran foundation duo Derek Rucker and Bruce Bolden. In doing so, the team made history by becoming the first in the modern NBL era to field a full lineup of Australian talent. With John Rillie returning after spending half of the previous season in Greece and Sam MacKinnon back from injury, this was also the first season the roster had a clear “runway” to build continuity and challenge for a title.
West Sydney opened the season in dominant fashion, with Simon Dwight (26 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Sam MacKinnon (24 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists) both delivering near triple-doubles in a home victory over Hunter (119-103).
The Razorbacks started the season 3-1 before suffering a three-game losing streak, including defeats to Sydney (83-97), where Matt Nielsen dominated with 29 points and 8 rebounds, Wollongong (81-90), and Victoria (101-106).
With a losing record (3-4) and the season at a crossroads, West Sydney responded with a dominant 10-game winning streak, which included revenge victories over Sydney (97-87), Wollongong (109-105), and Victoria (107-95).
During this stretch, John Rillie (20.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists) solidified himself as the team’s leading scorer, while Sam MacKinnon (17.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.4 blocks) and Simon Dwight (15 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3.7 blocks) formed one of the strongest local trios in NBL history.
Russell Hinder played a key role off the bench during this stretch, contributing energy, rebounding, and defensive intensity. His ability to stretch the floor and provide size behind Dwight made him a valuable piece of the rotation. Hinder (9.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists) stepped up in key moments, particularly in a hard-fought 100-87 victory against Perth, where he contributed timely buckets and strong interior defense.
In February, the team suffered a setback in a loss to Wollongong (110-99), where Scott McGregor sustained a season-ending injury. With McGregor sidelined, Hinder was thrust into the starting lineup, taking on an increased role for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, rookie Steven Markovic (8.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists) also saw a boost in playing time.
Despite the loss, the team maintained its strong form, finishing the regular season in third place (22-11) and breaking club records for most wins in a season, most home wins, and most road victories.
The Razorbacks carried their momentum into the postseason, defeating Cairns in the elimination final (110-88), with Trahair (31 points, 4 assists), MacKinnon (28 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks), and Dwight (11 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists, and 6 blocks) propelling the team into the semifinals.
West Sydney then swept Wollongong in the semifinals, winning Game 1 by 16 points (107-91) behind a strong performance from Rillie (25 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists), alongside Dwight (22 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and MacKinnon (12 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists). Mat Campbell (20 points) led the Hawks in scoring.
In Game 2, Rillie delivered his best performance of the season, erupting for 45 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 steals while shooting 17-of-26 from the field to lead the Razorbacks to victory (110-95) and a Grand Final berth.
For the first time in NBL history, the Grand Final was played as a best-of-five series, with the Razorbacks facing their toughest test against league MVP Matt Nielsen and the Sydney Kings, who had finished the season on top of the ladder (26-7).
Sydney secured a Game 1 victory (96-76), led by captain CJ Bruton’s hot shooting (35 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists on 9-of-16 shooting), while Dwight (23 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 blocks) led the way for West Sydney.
The Razorbacks responded in Game 2 with a commanding 87-72 victory, shutting down the Kings defensively while Rillie (18 points) and Trahair (17 points) led the team in scoring, evening the series.
In the pivotal Game 3, West Sydney took a 2-1 series lead after a dramatic 82-80 overtime win, putting them within one victory of the championship. Rillie (18 points) played a crucial role in keeping the team ahead, while Dwight (17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks) and MacKinnon (14 points, 17 rebounds, and 6 assists) also delivered key contributions. Hinder provided valuable minutes, stepping in for Dwight at times and holding his own defensively against the Kings’ bigs.
Despite a strong performance from Rillie (31 points), Sydney bounced back in Game 4 with an 82-77 victory, setting up a winner-takes-all showdown in Game 5—the first Game 5 in NBL Grand Final history.
In front of 9,609 fans at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, the Razorbacks fought hard, but the Kings’ defense managed to shut down their primary offensive weapon, limiting Rillie to 12 points and 10 rebounds. Trahair (20 points) and Dwight (18 points) played well, while Hinder battled inside against Sydney’s frontcourt, but ultimately, the team fell short (90-79). An explosive fourth-quarter performance from Ebi Ere (25 points) sealed the win, with Brett Wheeler (18 points, 11 rebounds) and Matt Nielsen (14 points, 12 rebounds) providing strong interior play. Nielsen earned Grand Final MVP honours, adding to his regular season MVP award.
Despite the disappointment of losing the Grand Final, the 2003/04 season marked one of the Razorbacks’ most successful campaigns. John Rillie and Sam MacKinnon were both named to the All-NBL First Team, while rookie Steven Markovic earned NBL Rookie of the Year honours. Hinder, in his first full season as a key contributor, proved his value as a versatile big, stepping up in the postseason and establishing himself as an important part of the team’s frontcourt rotation.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | 34 | Townsville | 10-18 (8) | 26 | 540.0 | 171 | 127 | 35 | 43 | 84 | 9 | 11 | 26 | 83 | 57 | 138 | 41% | 26 | 63 | 41% | 31 | 37 | 84% | 55% | 51% | |
| 2012-13 | 33 | Townsville | 10-18 (7) | 28 | 566.0 | 150 | 109 | 45 | 34 | 75 | 12 | 19 | 41 | 80 | 49 | 132 | 37% | 20 | 64 | 31% | 32 | 48 | 67% | 48% | 45% | 17 |
| 2010-11 | 31 | Townsville | 17-11 (2) | 29 | 754.0 | 233 | 164 | 47 | 41 | 123 | 18 | 20 | 55 | 73 | 76 | 176 | 43% | 30 | 73 | 41% | 51 | 62 | 82% | 57% | 52% | 26 |
| 2009-10 | 30 | Townsville | 16-12 (2) | 31 | 842.0 | 297 | 168 | 70 | 48 | 120 | 16 | 20 | 40 | 74 | 98 | 201 | 49% | 39 | 90 | 43% | 62 | 80 | 78% | 62% | 58% | 22 |
| 2008-09 | 29 | Townsville | 17-13 (6) | 34 | 1,160.0 | 329 | 214 | 96 | 70 | 144 | 24 | 30 | 70 | 130 | 114 | 284 | 40% | 45 | 133 | 34% | 56 | 83 | 67% | 51% | 48% | 20 |
| 2007-08 | 28 | Sydney | 27-3 (1) | 36 | 857.0 | 290 | 186 | 58 | 66 | 120 | 27 | 45 | 39 | 90 | 108 | 228 | 47% | 29 | 74 | 39% | 45 | 65 | 69% | 56% | 54% | 17 |
| 2006-07 | 27 | Sydney | 20-13 (4) | 36 | 907.0 | 320 | 197 | 76 | 74 | 123 | 22 | 42 | 56 | 81 | 114 | 260 | 44% | 63 | 137 | 46% | 71 | 99 | 72% | 52% | 56% | 19 |
| 2005-06 | 26 | Hunter | 13-19 (8) | 33 | 1,168.0 | 460 | 307 | 82 | 89 | 218 | 27 | 30 | 78 | 100 | 174 | 367 | 47% | 40 | 92 | 43% | 72 | 104 | 69% | 55% | 53% | 27 |
| 2004-05 | 25 | Hunter | 15-17 (8) | 33 | 1,080.0 | 309 | 315 | 80 | 111 | 204 | 41 | 25 | 75 | 81 | 121 | 268 | 45% | 7 | 23 | 30% | 60 | 83 | 72% | 50% | 46% | 18 |
| 2003-04 | 24 | West Sydney | 22-11 (3) | 40 | 933.0 | 389 | 234 | 55 | 97 | 137 | 24 | 21 | 50 | 117 | 139 | 273 | 51% | 10 | 25 | 40% | 101 | 130 | 78% | 58% | 53% | 26 |
| 2002-03 | 23 | West Sydney | 14-16 (7) | 10 | 162.0 | 54 | 49 | 11 | 15 | 34 | 4 | 8 | 23 | 32 | 23 | 54 | 43% | 1 | 3 | 33% | 7 | 10 | 70% | 46% | 44% | 14 |
| 2001-02 | 22 | West Sydney | 16-14 (5) | 13 | 61.0 | 30 | 23 | 4 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 28 | 46% | 0 | 3 | 0% | 4 | 6 | 67% | 49% | 46% | 9 | Totals | 349 | 9030 | 3032 | 2093 | 659 | 695 | 1398 | 224 | 277 | 557 | 952 | 1086 | 2409 | 45.1% | 310 | 780 | 39.7% | 592 | 807 | 73.4% | 55% | 52% | 27 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | 34 | Townsville | 10-18 (8) | 26 | 20.8 | 6.6 | 4.9 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 5.3 | 41% | 1.0 | 2.4 | 41% | 1.2 | 1.4 | 84% | 55% | 51% | |
| 2012-13 | 33 | Townsville | 10-18 (7) | 28 | 20.2 | 5.4 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 4.7 | 37% | 0.7 | 2.3 | 31% | 1.1 | 1.7 | 67% | 48% | 45% | 17 |
| 2010-11 | 31 | Townsville | 17-11 (2) | 29 | 26.0 | 8.0 | 5.7 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 4.2 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 6.1 | 43% | 1.0 | 2.5 | 41% | 1.8 | 2.1 | 82% | 57% | 52% | 26 |
| 2009-10 | 30 | Townsville | 16-12 (2) | 31 | 27.2 | 9.6 | 5.4 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 3.9 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 6.5 | 49% | 1.3 | 2.9 | 43% | 2.0 | 2.6 | 78% | 62% | 58% | 22 |
| 2008-09 | 29 | Townsville | 17-13 (6) | 34 | 34.1 | 9.7 | 6.3 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 4.2 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 8.4 | 40% | 1.3 | 3.9 | 34% | 1.6 | 2.4 | 67% | 51% | 48% | 20 |
| 2007-08 | 28 | Sydney | 27-3 (1) | 36 | 23.8 | 8.1 | 5.2 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 6.3 | 47% | 0.8 | 2.1 | 39% | 1.3 | 1.8 | 69% | 56% | 54% | 17 |
| 2006-07 | 27 | Sydney | 20-13 (4) | 36 | 25.2 | 8.9 | 5.5 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 7.2 | 44% | 1.8 | 3.8 | 46% | 2.0 | 2.8 | 72% | 52% | 56% | 19 |
| 2005-06 | 26 | Hunter | 13-19 (8) | 33 | 35.4 | 13.9 | 9.3 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 6.6 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 5.3 | 11.1 | 47% | 1.2 | 2.8 | 43% | 2.2 | 3.2 | 69% | 55% | 53% | 27 |
| 2004-05 | 25 | Hunter | 15-17 (8) | 33 | 32.7 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 6.2 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 3.7 | 8.1 | 45% | 0.2 | 0.7 | 30% | 1.8 | 2.5 | 72% | 50% | 46% | 18 |
| 2003-04 | 24 | West Sydney | 22-11 (3) | 40 | 23.3 | 9.7 | 5.9 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 6.8 | 51% | 0.3 | 0.6 | 40% | 2.5 | 3.3 | 78% | 58% | 53% | 26 |
| 2002-03 | 23 | West Sydney | 14-16 (7) | 10 | 16.2 | 5.4 | 4.9 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 5.4 | 43% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 33% | 0.7 | 1.0 | 70% | 46% | 44% | 14 |
| 2001-02 | 22 | West Sydney | 16-14 (5) | 13 | 4.7 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 46% | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0% | 0.3 | 0.5 | 67% | 49% | 46% | 9 | Total | 349 | 25.9 | 8.7 | 6.0 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 6.9 | 45.1% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 39.7% | 0.9 | 2.2 | 73.4% | 55% | 52% | 27 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 27 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Canberra (1997), Sydney (1998), Albury (2001), Bankstown (2003), Newcastle (2016)
Hinder joined AIS for the 1997 SEABL season, spending one year with the Canberra-based state league team while in the national development pathway.
Hinder joined Sydney for the 1998 Waratah League season, adding the provided Sydney state league stop before beginning his college career in the United States.
Albury added Hinder for the 2001 SEABL season, and the Bandits won the East Conference championship with a roster that included Allen McCowan, Matt Sheehan, Hinder, Nick Grylewicz and Nick Payne under coach Leigh Gooding.
Bankstown added Hinder for the 2003 Waratah League season, giving him another NSW state league stint in the same year the men’s championship was won by Sydney and the women’s championship was won by Bankstown.
Newcastle added Hinder for the 2016 Waratah League season, and he returned to the Hunters for their season opener against Norths Bears at Newcastle Basketball Stadium, where Newcastle lost 91–77.
He helped Newcastle beat Bankstown 66–59 at Broadmeadow in April 2016, a result that extended the Hunters’ winning run to five games during the Waratah League regular season.
Hinder produced 26 points and 13 rebounds for Newcastle in a June 2016 win over Hills, with the Hunters beating the Hornets by 11 as Justynn Hammond led all scorers with 27 points.
He added 20 points in Newcastle’s 33-point win over Manly in July 2016, with Josh Cohen scoring 21 and Hammond finishing with 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Hinder was unavailable for Newcastle’s Waratah League finals campaign because of family commitments in the United States, removing one of the Hunters’ leading scoring and rebounding options before their opening playoff game on 13 August.
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Hinder played for Australia in the 2005 Boris Stankovic Cup and was then selected for the national squad that competed at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan. The Boomers opened the tournament with a victory over Brazil (83–79), but then lost their next three games. Andrew Bogut (12.8 points and 6.2 rebounds) led the team in both scoring and rebounding, and helped Australia secure a dominant win over Qatar (93–46), which qualified them for the second round. However, their 2–3 record meant they faced the USA, who eliminated them with a comprehensive 113–73 win, ending Australias campaign tied for ninth place.
Hinder also earned a gold medal with the Boomers at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 27 | 5 | 23 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 66.7% | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | 2 | 50.0% | Total | 5 | 23 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 67% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 1 | 2 | 50% |
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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 27 | 5 | 4.6 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 66.7% | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0% | 0.2 | 0.4 | 50.0% | Total | 5 | 4.6 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 67% | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0% | 0.2 | 0.4 | 50% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- New Zealand - Otago (2005)
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