NICKNAME/S: Hammer

BIO: Shane Heal was born in Melbourne (VIC), He attended Upper Yarra Secondary College and began playing basketball as a junior with the Nunawading basketball association. Heal received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 1987. He spent one year there and played for the program’s state league team.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Shane Heal made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 17 years of age. He scored 14 points in his first game.

After winning the 1987 championship, Brisbane lost James Carr and Paul Webb from the end of the bench, with head coach Brian Kerle retaining Leroy Loggins, Emery Atkinson, Larry Sengstock, Ron Radliff, Darren Perry, Robert Sibley, John Dorge and Danny Morseu before adding rookies Shane Heal (via AIS) and Simon Kerle.

Brisbane opened the season on February 13 with a 149–85 home win over Geelong at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, with the 17-year-old guard scoring 14 points in his NBL debut as the defending champions started their chase for a third title in four years.

Heal (15.0 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists) quickly became the breakout story of Brisbane’s season, playing 27 minutes per game and giving the Bullets instant offence off the bench behind Darren Perry. His best scoring game came on April 8, where Heal (22 points) helped Brisbane defeat Newcastle 124–107 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, working behind Loggins (26 points) while Jerry Everett (33 points) and Michael Johnson (29 points) led the Falcons.

On May 28, Heal (21 points) gave Brisbane another lift as the Bullets defeated Melbourne 112–108 at home, backing Loggins (36 points) while Alvis Rogers (32 points), Andrew Gaze (32 points) and James Bullock (27 points) kept the Tigers close.

On July 2, Heal (20 points) was one of Brisbane’s better scorers in a critical 97–105 home loss to Canberra, a result that left the Bullets tied with North Melbourne at 18–6 and eventually pushed them into third place on for-and-against.

Loggins (24.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.4 steals) continued to lead by example, earning his seventh straight All-NBL First Team selection and finishing as the league’s most accurate free-throw shooter at 85.6%.

Atkinson (16.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks) provided presence on both ends of the floor, while Radliff (12.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.2 steals), Sengstock (11.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists) and Dorge (7.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks) kept Brisbane deep enough to finish third with a 18–6 record.

Heal’s performance across the season earned him the NBL Rookie of the Year award as Brisbane entered the playoffs from third spot and was forced into a sudden-death quarterfinal against sixth-seeded Perth at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Loggins (31 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 5 steals) led Brisbane in the elimination final, with Sengstock (17 points and 10 rebounds), Atkinson (12 points and 8 rebounds) and Dorge (6 points and 3 rebounds) adding support, while former Bullet Calvin Bruton (31 points and 4 assists) and James Crawford (26 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 blocks) led Perth.

Brisbane made just 2-of-16 from three-point range and Perth shot 52% from the field, with Radliff (7 points) going 3-of-12 and Heal (6 points) struggling in his first playoff appearance, going 2-of-11 from the floor as Brisbane fell 98–113 to Perth.

GEELONG SUPERCATS
1989
After finishing winless in 1988, Geelong moved on from imports Sam Foggin and Leonard Mitchell, with David Leslie, Ricky Skinderis and Sandy Caldwell also gone from the rotation, while Ray Shirley, Bruce Hope and Craig Fitzsimmons returned from the previous season’s group. Backed by a group of local businessmen who saved the club from folding, Geelong rebranded from the Cats to the Supercats and named Barry Barnes head coach after he had been replaced by Brian Goorjian at Eastside Melbourne.

Barnes added Shane Heal (via Brisbane), Jim Bateman (via Illawarra), Daren Rowe and Aubrey Sherrod, with Heal joining Geelong after winning NBL Rookie of the Year with Brisbane in 1988. Once the season got underway, Heal (14.2 points, 5.5 assists, and 1.4 steals) was handed the keys to the offence, starting at point guard and leading Geelong in assists during his second NBL season.

Heal recorded a number of elite performances this season. On May 6, Heal (22 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) produced one of his strongest games of the season, but Geelong fell 116–125 to Adelaide at Apollo Entertainment Centre. On July 22, Heal (21 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists) helped Geelong defeat Westside 125–111 at The Arena, giving the Supercats one of their five wins during the rebuild season. On August 19, Heal (14 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) helped Geelong defeat his former club Brisbane 91–87, with Sherrod (22 points and 5 steals) leading the scoring and Rowe (10 rebounds) giving the Supercats presence on the glass. On September 6, Heal (22 points, 1 rebound, and 4 assists) matched his season high in a 104–112 home loss to Eastside Melbourne, with Kent Lockhart (39 points), Arne Duncan (28 points) and Dean Uthoff (22 points) leading the Spectres.

Rowe (23.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.4 steals, and 1.5 blocks) and Sherrod (22.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.0 steals) carried Geelong offensively, while Bateman (17.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists), Shirley (10.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals), Bruce Hultgren (7.4 points and 4.0 rebounds), Hope (6.1 points) and Andrew Parkinson (4.4 points) rounded out the main rotation.

Geelong finished 13th with a 5–19 record and missed the playoffs, but the season was a clear step forward from the winless year before. Geelong closed its season on September 9 with a 103–132 home loss to North Melbourne, with Heal (30 points and 5 assists) hitting 6-of-12 from three, while Bateman (14 rebounds) and Rowe (9 rebounds) led Geelong on the glass.

1991
Following three consecutive seasons with only 16 combined wins, the 1991 Geelong Supercats entered the NBL season as underdogs after athletic import forward Daren Rowe departed and rising swingman Andrew Parkinson exited (to Southern Melbourne), while Bobby Locke, Vince Hinchen, Shane Heal, John Dorge and Jim Bateman returned to head coach Barry Barnes’ main group.

A refreshed team culture, savvy offseason recruiting, and a financial boost from a dedicated local ownership group, including four major stakeholders and around 30 shareholders, set the foundation for one of the most memorable seasons in club history, with Barnes adding defensive ace Terry Dozier and rookie Leigh Cleary to the bench unit.

Geelong’s campaign started slowly with three losses to North Melbourne (109–112), Eastside Spectres (100–119), and Perth (105–110), before a morale-boosting 126–106 road win over Brisbane sparked a major form reversal that saw the Supercats win 16 of their final 22 games.

Heal (23.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.4 steals) became the engine behind Geelong’s up-tempo offence in his third NBL season, playing more than 33 minutes per game and using his fearless shot selection, long-range accuracy, and growing leadership to cement himself as one of the league’s elite guards.

On May 3, Heal (13 assists) directed the offence as Geelong overwhelmed Wollongong 145–104 at The Arena, an early sign that the new starting unit had enough scoring around him to punish teams when the ball moved.

His best scoring game of the regular season came on July 19 at the Derwent Entertainment Centre, where Heal (33 points) kept Geelong close against Hobart before the Supercats fell 107–111, with Locke (28 points) and Dozier (22 points) in support while Wayne McDaniel (34 points) led the Devils.

Two days later, Geelong bounced back with a 133–111 road win over Melbourne, with Dorge (29 points), Heal (24 points and 7 assists), and Dozier (18 points and 13 rebounds) answering Andrew Gaze (37 points) and David Colbert (29 points).

On August 11, Heal (23 points) helped Geelong beat North Melbourne 121–113 at The Arena, with Locke (41 points), Hinchen (20 points), and Dozier (19 points and 11 rebounds) giving the Supercats the kind of statement win that reinforced their playoff credentials.

Geelong stormed to a 17–9 record and tied Eastside for second place, but the two clubs split their head-to-head games and Eastside claimed the higher seed on point differential by a single point (+1), pushing the Supercats into third place and into the playoffs for the first time since 1984.

Heal formed a potent perimeter trio with veteran Locke (25.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 3.0 steals) and Hinchen (24.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.4 steals), creating matchup problems for opposing defences while Dozier (22.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 steals) brought toughness on both ends.

Dorge (14.3 points, 13.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 4.3 blocks) anchored the interior and led the NBL in blocked shots, while Dozier claimed NBL Best Defensive Player honours and Locke led the NBL in steals.

All five starters averaged over 33 minutes per game, with Bateman (7.5 points and 5.1 rebounds) providing consistent minutes off the bench while Bruce Hultgren, Cleary, Mark Griffin, and Shane Crothers gave the team enough depth to stay competitive against the league’s elite.

Geelong opened the Elimination Finals at The Arena with a 139–119 statement win over North Melbourne, as Heal (36 points, 11 assists, and 3 steals) drilled nine three-pointers in one of the best playoff performances of his career, while Hinchen (31 points and 7 assists), Dorge (23 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 blocks), Locke (24 points and 7 assists), and Dozier (17 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists) overwhelmed the Giants, who were led by Scott Fisher (44 points) and Paul Maley (27 points and 9 rebounds).

Game two moved to North Melbourne, where the Giants responded at home and evened the series with a 136–116 win behind Fisher (42 points) and Darren Reidy (26 points), despite Hinchen (37 points) and Heal (27 points) leading Geelong.

Back at The Arena for Game 3, Geelong gave it everything but fell short 113–125 despite Locke (31 points and 6 assists), Heal (27 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists), Hinchen (23 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists), Dozier (19 points and 11 rebounds), and Dorge (12 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks), while Reidy (32 points and 8 rebounds), Fisher (30 points and 14 rebounds), Maley (24 points and 12 rebounds), and Mark Leader (21 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Giants.

1991
Following three consecutive seasons with only 16 combined wins, the 1991 Geelong Supercats entered the NBL season as underdogs. But a refreshed team culture, savvy offseason recruiting, and a financial boost from a dedicated local ownership group—including four major stakeholders and around 30 shareholders—set the foundation for one of the most memorable seasons in club history. The Supercats stormed to a 17–9 record, finishing third on the ladder and reaching the playoffs for the first time since 1984.

The team underwent significant roster changes before the season tipped off. Athletic import forward Daren Rowe departed and was replaced by defensive ace Terry Dozier, who would go on to claim NBL Best Defensive Player honours. Rising swingman Andrew Parkinson also left for Southern Melbourne, giving rookie Leigh Cleary an opportunity to join the bench unit.

Led by head coach Barry Barnes, Geelong’s campaign started slowly with three losses to North Melbourne (109–112), Eastside Spectres (100–119), and Perth (105–110). But things shifted quickly after a morale-boosting 126–106 win over Brisbane, which sparked a major form reversal. The Supercats went on to win 16 of their final 22 games—more than their previous three seasons combined—and surged into the finals picture.

Much of that success can be credited to the outstanding play of Geelong’s starting unit, particularly young point guard Shane Heal. In just his third NBL season, Heal averaged 23.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 7.8 assists while playing 33+ minutes per game. With his fearless shot selection, long-range accuracy, and growing leadership, Heal cemented himself as one of the league’s elite guards and the engine behind Geelong’s up-tempo offense.

Heal formed a potent perimeter trio with veteran Bobby Locke (25.7 points, 6.4 assists, 3.0 steals) and Vince Hinchen (24.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists), creating matchup nightmares for opposing defenses. Meanwhile, Dozier (22.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.7 steals) brought toughness on both ends, and center John Dorge anchored the interior with 14.3 points, 13.7 rebounds, and an NBL-best 4.3 blocks per game.

Supporting the starting five was veteran Jim Bateman (7.5 points, 5.1 rebounds), who provided consistent minutes off the bench. The rotation also included Bruce Hultgren, Leigh Cleary, Mark Griffin, and Shane Crothers, giving the team enough depth to stay competitive against the league’s elite.

Geelong’s 17–9 record tied them with Eastside for second place, but the Supercats were pushed to third due to the league’s tiebreaker rule. The two clubs split their head-to-head games, but Eastside claimed the higher seed on point differential by a single point (+1).

In the Elimination Finals, the Supercats hosted North Melbourne in Game 1 and lit up The Arena in a 139–119 statement win. Shane Heal was unstoppable, finishing with 36 points, 11 assists, and nine three-pointers in one of the best playoff performances of his career. Hinchen chipped in 31 points, while Dozier added 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Game 2 saw North Melbourne respond at home, evening the series with a 136–116 win. Back in Geelong for the deciding Game 3, the Supercats gave it everything but fell short, 125–113. Heal scored 27 points, Locke added 31, and Hinchen poured in 23, but the Giants were simply too strong behind Paul Maley (24 points, 12 rebounds) and Scott Fisher (30 points on 14-of-20 shooting).

BRISBANE BULLETS
1992
After missing the playoffs in 1991, Brisbane lost Derek Rucker, Robert Sibley (to Melbourne), Cameron Dickinson and Brendan Joyce, while Leroy Loggins, Andre Moore, Paul Rees and Greg Fox returned to Brian Kerle’s main group.

Kerle brought Shane Heal back (via Geelong) after three seasons with the Supercats and added import Adrian Branch, Simon Kerle, Luke Gribble and rookie Blair Smith, giving Brisbane a reworked backcourt around Loggins and Moore.

Heal (20.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.5 steals) immediately became Brisbane’s main playmaker, finishing fourth in the NBL in assists and giving the Bullets a high-volume perimeter scorer beside Branch and Loggins.

On April 25, Heal (26 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals) backed Branch (40 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) and Moore (22 points and 13 rebounds) in a 123–125 home loss to Melbourne, showing how quickly Brisbane’s new offence could pile up points even when it could not close out a contender.

On May 9, Heal (27 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals) was again strong in a 104–111 home loss to Gold Coast, but the Rollers rode Andre LaFleur (44 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) to the road win.

His best game came on May 16, where Heal (34 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals) led Brisbane to a 121–113 home win over Newcastle, with Branch (27 points) adding support while Al Green (30 points) and Paul Kuiper (24 points) led the Falcons.

On September 5, Heal (18 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals) helped Brisbane beat Sydney 113–110, with Loggins (32 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) and Branch (27 points and 9 rebounds) outduelling Dwayne McClain (31 points) in a result that kept the Bullets in the finals chase.

Brisbane closed the regular season with a 115–108 road win over Perth on September 26, as Heal (26 points and 7 assists) and Loggins (27 points) helped the Bullets finish 12–12, tied with Perth but pushed to seventh after the Wildcats won the head-to-head for-and-against by four points.

Branch (28.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.6 steals) immediately became Brisbane’s leading scorer, while Loggins (23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.9 steals) remained the club’s captain and earned All-NBL Second Team honours.

Moore (20.3 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks) gave Brisbane another interior force, while Kerle (11.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists) and Rees (4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds) rounded out the main contributors.

The seventh-seeded Bullets opened the quarterfinals at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, where the second-seeded Kings took game one 100–91 and put Brisbane on the brink of elimination.

Game two moved to Brisbane, where Branch (36 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists) gave the Bullets a huge game, but Sydney completed the sweep with a 130–123 win.

1993
After Brisbane’s 1992 quarterfinal exit, Adrian Branch (to Geelong), Simon Kerle (to South East Melbourne), Paul Rees (to North Melbourne) and Greg Fox (to Gold Coast) exited the main group, while Leroy Loggins, Andre Moore, Shane Heal, Luke Gribble, Blair Smith and Lyndon Brieffies returned.

In 1993, Brisbane replaced long-time coach Brian Kerle with former Coach of the Year (1988) and 1989 championship-winning coach Bruce Palmer, who added David Colbert (via Melbourne), Shane Froling (via Hobart), Rodger Smith (via Gold Coast), Nigel Purchase (via Melbourne) and Nigel Bergham.

Brisbane opened the season at Boondall with a 96–97 loss to Wollongong, where the returning guard contributed 6 assists and hit 4 three-pointers before the Hawks stole the road win.

Heal (17.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.9 steals) settled into Brisbane’s starting backcourt after his first full season back from Geelong, finishing fourth in the NBL in assists and giving Palmer another perimeter scorer alongside Loggins and Colbert.

On April 30, Heal (33 points) delivered one of his best games of the season as Brisbane defeated Hobart 122–109 at the Derwent Entertainment Centre, with Moore (26 points) adding interior punch while Wayne McDaniel (34 points) led the Devils.

On September 4, Heal (33 points) backed Colbert (37 points) as Brisbane edged Canberra 109–106 at the AIS Arena, with Rodney Monroe (28 points) and Lachlan Armfield (25 points) keeping the Cannons close.

Brisbane closed the regular season with a tough road double, first falling 115–118 to Geelong at The Arena despite Colbert (39 points), Heal (23 points and 9 assists) and Moore (19 points), while Adrian Branch (35 points) and Michael Morrison (34 points) led the Supercats.

The next night, Brisbane fell 102–105 to Perth at the Perth Entertainment Centre despite Colbert (23 points and 13 rebounds), Moore (21 points and 14 rebounds) and Heal (21 points), leaving the Bullets at 16–10 for fourth place after Melbourne won the head-to-head tiebreaker for third.

Loggins (23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.7 steals) again led Brisbane in scoring, earned All-NBL First Team honours and the club MVP award, while Colbert (22.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks) led the league in free-throw percentage at 93.3%.

Moore (21.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.9 blocks) anchored the middle, led the NBL in blocks and earned All-NBL Third Team honours, while Froling (7.8 points and 3.8 rebounds) and Smith (7.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.9 steals) rounded out Palmer’s main rotation.

Brisbane opened the quarterfinals at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre with a 125–99 win over the Falcons, as Heal (29 points and 7 three-pointers), Colbert (28 points), Loggins (19 points) and Smith (7 assists) drove the Bullets, while Terry Dozier (33 points) and Al Green (17 points) led Newcastle.

Game two moved to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, where Brisbane completed the sweep with a 122–118 win over Newcastle and moved into the semifinals against first-placed Perth.

The semifinal series opened in Brisbane, where the Bullets beat Perth 101–97 to take a 1–0 lead, but the Wildcats responded at the Perth Entertainment Centre with a 120–107 win in game two.

Perth then ended Brisbane’s season in the deciding game, defeating the Bullets 119–80 at the Perth Entertainment Centre.

1994
In 1994, Heal averaged 25.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 6.4 assists as the Bullets finished with a record of 18-8 and in Fourth place during the regular season.

Throwback to the last time an NBL player scored over 59 points in a game 🤩

In 1994, Shane Heal dropped 61 points for the Brisbane Bullets against the Townsville Suns at just 24-years-old 😮

Heritage Round starts this Thursday night 🍿 pic.twitter.com/9UFKs0rayI

— NBL (@NBL) December 4, 2024

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 back-up Heal.

Heal (22.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 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 Heal also adding 22.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 7.4 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).

SYDNEY KINGS
1996
Sydney went through a period of major change prior to the 1996 season. From 1989 to 1995, the Kings had been coached by Bob Turner and had established themselves as a powerhouse franchise, particularly off the court. Corporate sponsorship through global juggernauts like Coca-Cola and Reebok had assisted in the enormous growth of the brand, resulting in numerous sell-outs at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

But in 1995, the Kings struggled on the floor and failed to make the playoffs. And for a club that every year expected to not only make the playoffs but contend for a championship, that wasn’t good enough.

Bob Turner was replaced as coach by Alan Black, who had taken the Illawarra Hawks to the playoffs in 1993, 1994 and 1995 and was named NBL Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1995. Two foundation members of the Sydney Kings – Mark Dalton and Damian Keogh – were released from the club, as were a number of other players from the unsuccessful 1995 squad.

Black brought Hawks MVP Melvin Thomas along with him to the Kings and signed former Charlotte Hornets guard Tony Bennett as the team’s two imports. 25-year-old Stephen Whitehead (via Melbourne) joined the team, looking for more playing opportunities after serving a ‘apprenticeship’ behind stars Andrew Gaze and Lanard Copeland. But the key addition this year was owner Mike Wrublewski convincing Australia’s Boomers guard Shane Heal to move to Sydney and become the face of the franchise and captain of the team. Wrublewski even had the Kings swap their traditional purple and gold uniforms in favour of a black pin-striped design as a way to signify a new direction for Sydney in the hopes of re-energising a fan base.

Some addition by subtraction saw the Kings release Bennett during the pre-season and replace him with the high-flying excitement machine, Isaac ‘Ice’ Burton, out of Arizona State University. Burton (24.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.1 steals) and Heal (23.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists) formed a deadly combination in the backcourt. Up front, Melvin Thomas (20.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.9 blocks) and Bruce Bolden (16.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks) were a unstoppable tandem, with both men adding toughness, rebounding and a deadly ability to knock down the midrange jumper.

Right from the start, they got the old Kingdome rocking, with Heal dropping 20 points in the fourth quarter of a unforgettable comeback win in the season opener at home against the North Melbourne Giants.

That set the scene for a incredible first two months, with Sydney jumping to a 11-3 record, winning their first eight games at home and leading the NBL standings. In one amazing stretch, the Kings won nine straight games, averaging 120.4 points per game over that span.

Those wins included a blowout win over the Gold Coast (131-112), which saw Shane Heal (35 points and 7 assists) and Melvin Thomas (26 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocked shots) putting up big numbers. A nail biter over Perthat home (122-121), where three players scored at least 20 points, and Thomas finished just two assists shy of a triple-double, and win over NSW rival Illawarra (128-106), where Isaac Burton (32 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists) dominated both ends of the court.

Unfortunately, a mid-season injury to Heal slowed the team down, but when Shane returned, he led the Kings to wins in four of their last five games, taking them to a fifth-place 16-10 record and a playoff appearance.

Sydney (16-10) faced off against Canberra (16-10) in the Quarter-finals, behind import duo Robert Rose and Darnell Mee. On the back of a season-high scoring night, Stephen Whitehead (24 points and 5 rebounds) surprised everyone in game one, winning by 24 points in the opening game (113-89). The Cannons would get a huge boost from their supporting cast in game two, with Jamie Pearlman (29 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists), David Close (25 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Ray Borner (21 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals) as well as Mee (29 points, 7 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks) all scoring over 20 points. Rose (11 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists) finished just shy of a triple-double with Canberra defeating Sydney by 47 points (146-99). The deciding game saw the stars of the series come out firing, with Canberra’s Rose (23 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Mee (20 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists) going head-to-head with Sydney’s Heal (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Burton (25 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 steals) but it was the team’s supporting casts the made the difference. Outside of Heal and Bruton, the Kings managed to score a mere 43 points, while the Cannons remaining roster tallied 58 points, with Borner (18 points and 7 rebounds), Blakemore (17 points and 6 rebounds), and Pearlman (17 points and 3 assists) all having big games. Canberra closed out the series with the win (101-89) and headed into a semi final against Melbourne.

While the Kings were unable to progress past the first round of the playoffs, it was still a season to remember.. Sydney averaged 108.8 points per game in the regular season – the most points scored per game in a regular season in franchise history – and also set team records that have never been broken for regular season field goal percentage (51.6%) and three-point percentage (41.2%).

Burton led the entire league in three-point percentage, was third in the NBL in steals and would go on to become the first Sydney King to win NBL Defensive Player of the Year. Heal would finish among the league’s best when he earned selection in the All-NBL Second Team.

After their 1996 elimination, the Kings would not make the NBL playoffs again until 2001, when they made it to the first round before being eliminated by the Townsville Crocodiles.

1998
After a single season in the NBA, Heal returned to the Kings in 1998. With two years remaining on his NBA deal, Heal left Minnesota, citing the lack of playing time behind Stephon Marbury, disliking the cold weather and suffering a calf injury the week before the opening round, which would require him to earn his way back into the rotation and returned to Australia.

Since Heal’s departure in 1996, the team had undergone a number of changes. Bill Tomlinson replaced coach Alan Black, imports Melvin Thomas and Isaac Burton were replaced by Matt Nover, a former NCAA Final Four centre better known as ‘Ricky Roe’ from the movie Blue Chips and a 19-year-old forward named Stephen Jackson, who became the youngest import signing in NBL history.

Jackson had been the leading scorer in the 1996 McDonald’s All-American Game on a team that included future NBA All-Stars Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O’Neal and Richard Hamilton. He’d been headed to the University of Arizona but was ruled academically ineligible, throwing him into the ’97 NBA Draft (while the Wildcat’s won the NCAA title without him), where Phoenix selected him in the second round. He failed to make the Suns roster and, instead, chose to play his first year as a pro in Australia.

The Kings had built themselves around a young core of Aussie talent, which included Aaron Trahair, Matthew Nielsen, Stephen Whitehead and Scott McGregor.

Nover (7.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 0.9 assists) and Jackson (6.0 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 1 assist) got off to rocky starts, combing for a total of 36 points across the team’s first three games. Jackson, who would later average 20+ points per game across numerous seasons in the NBA, had become the first import in NBL history to go scoreless in his debut game. Nonetheless, the Kings were rolling, with wins over Canberra, Newcastle and Melbourne firing them to a undefeated start.

In Round 3, the team travelled to Adelaide looking to keep their steak alive when, late in the third quarter, disaster struck for Jackson. Attempting to block 36ers’ star Kevin Brooks, Jackson landed awkwardly, broke his foot and would miss the remainder of the season.

In round 6, even with Aaron Trahair dropping 40 points on 13 of 16 shooting, the Kings lost to Wollongong (99-108) and shortly after released Nover. Former King Dave Simmons, who had been released by Newcastle, and former Sacramento King’s big man Evers Burns were signed as import replacements.

After six games, Simmons (6.5 points and 6.3 rebounds) was released as the Kings made room to sign former North Carolina State point guard Kelsey Weems and allow Shane Heal and Aaron Trahair to play more minutes at shooting guard.

Through the multiple import changes and roster juggling, the Kings dropped ten of their next twelve games, missed the playoffs and finished in the tenth spot (12-18). Heal (20.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists) would lead the team in scoring while rising star Nielsen continued to improve, boosting his numbers from 9.9 points and 4.9 rebounds in 27 minutes per game to 16.4 points and 8.3 rebounds in 34 minutes per game. During their short NBL stints, Weems (20.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.5 steals) filled the stat sheet during his 12 games, while Burns (16.5 points and 9.4 rebounds) on the other hand, wasn’t quite the player he was in the NBA. Jackson went on to play 858 NBA games, winning a championship with San Antonio in 2003.

2000/01
After missing the playoffs in 1999/00, Sydney moved on from Kendrick Johnson, Kevin Brooks, Aaron Trahair, Scott McGregor, Darren Smith, Andrew Kram, Acie Earl, Steve Woodberry, Drew Barry and Ben Castle, while Matthew Nielsen, Ben Melmeth, Derek Moore and Michael Kingma returned to Brett Brown’s main group.

Brown brought Shane Heal back after two seasons with Near East in Greece and after his Sydney 2000 Olympic campaign, with Frank Drmic (via Victoria), import James Smith, Terry Johnson, Luke Carnegie, David Loboja and Brendan Grugan joining the roster.

Sydney opened the season on October 23 with a 104–98 road win over Canberra at the AIS Arena, giving the reworked group a first-up result after two years outside the playoffs.

Heal (24.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists) led the Kings’ offence again, carrying the backcourt during a lacklustre season where Sydney limped home to a fifth place finish with a 17–11 record.

Nielsen (20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.2 blocks) emerged as one of the league’s top big men, while Melmeth (16.0 points and 7.1 rebounds), Drmic (14.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals), Smith (11.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.3 steals), Moore (10.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks), and Johnson (8.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.8 steals) rounded out Brown’s main contributors.

The Kings’ import spot changed throughout the season, with Ernest Nzigamasabo seeing limited court time before being released, Lamont Strothers being signed but injured before playing a game, Dedric Willoughby (9 points and 5 assists across 1 game) lasting one game before a knee injury, and Randolph Childress (14.5 points and 3.3 assists) arriving late to provide extra scoring and playmaking depth.

On November 11, Heal (23 points and 7 assists) helped Sydney defeat West Sydney 113–101 at the Sydney Super Dome, with Melmeth (23 points) and Drmic (22 points) giving the Kings balance while Rashad Tucker (29 points) and Jason Singleton (28 points) led the Razorbacks.

On November 18, Heal (31 points and 6 rebounds) matched Lanard Copeland (31 points) as Sydney defeated Melbourne 129–119 on the road, giving Brown’s group one of its strongest early-season wins.

His best game came on February 10, where Heal (51 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists) shot the lights out as Sydney defeated eventual champion Wollongong 132–104 at the Sydney Super Dome.

On February 17, Heal (25 points and 4 rebounds) helped Sydney beat Brisbane 112–106, with Nielsen (18 points and 13 rebounds), Smith (17 points and 7 rebounds), and Moore (16 points and 12 rebounds) giving the Kings enough support to hold off the Bullets.

Sydney closed the regular season with a heavy 107–138 loss to Townsville on March 30 before responding the next night with a 146–97 home win over Canberra, leaving the Kings fifth with a 17–11 record and back in the playoffs for the first time since 1996.

Heal and Nielsen were both named to the All-NBL Second Team, giving Sydney two league-level stars as they entered a qualifying finals series against Townsville.

The qualifying finals opened at the Sydney Super Dome, where Sydney played a near-perfect series opener and defeated Townsville 127–109 to take a 1–0 lead.

Game two moved to the Townsville Entertainment Centre, where the Crocodiles levelled the series with a 121–113 win as Robert Rose (16 rebounds and 5 assists), Bradley Davidson (6 assists), Mike Kelly (6 assists), and Pat Reidy (5 assists) helped Townsville survive, while Heal (6 assists) and Melmeth (8 rebounds) were among Sydney’s leaders.

Back in Townsville for game three, Rose (32 points and 8 assists) delivered the decisive performance, with Andrew Goodwin (19 points and 11 rebounds), Reidy (19 points and 5 rebounds), Kelly (18 points and 4 rebounds), Damon Hinton (16 points), and Davidson (13 points and 8 rebounds) giving the Crocodiles enough support, while Nielsen (28 points) and Heal (25 points and 8 assists) led Sydney before Townsville eliminated the Kings 122–114.

2001/02
After being eliminated by Townsville in the 2000/01 qualifying finals, Sydney moved on from Randolph Childress, Dedric Willoughby, Ernest Nzigamasabo, David Loboja and Brendan Grugan, while Shane Heal, Matthew Nielsen, Ben Melmeth, Frank Drmic, James Smith, Derek Moore, Michael Kingma, Terry Johnson and Luke Carnegie returned to Brett Brown’s main group.

Brown added rookie Travis Lane, Stephen Whitehead and B.J. Carter, while Isaac Burton returned mid-season to recreate part of Sydney’s 1996 playoff backcourt and add another scorer to a group that again relied heavily on its perimeter shot-making.

Sydney opened the season on October 25 at the AIS Arena with a 98–108 loss to Canberra, despite 33 points from their returning captain as the Kings started the year with the same inconsistency that would follow them through the season.

Heal (24.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 7.5 assists) carried Sydney’s offence through a lacklustre season, leading the NBL in assists and finishing among the league’s top scorers as the Kings struggled to stay above .500.

His best all-round game came on November 1, where Heal (40 points, 3 rebounds, 12 assists, and 2 steals) hit 15-of-27 from the field and 9-of-12 from three as Sydney defeated Cairns 138–88, setting what remained the Kings’ largest winning margin until 2026.

Nielsen (19.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks) remained one of Sydney’s strongest frontcourt pieces, while Burton (20.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.5 steals) gave the Kings a mid-season spark after his return.

Drmic (17.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 steals) and Melmeth (15.6 points and 11.0 rebounds) gave Brown more scoring and rebounding, with Melmeth finishing second in the NBL in rebounds.

Smith (10.4 points and 3.5 rebounds), Moore (7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds), Lane (6.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals), and Whitehead (5.2 points) rounded out the main rotation, while Lane was named NBL Rookie of the Year and Heal earned All-NBL Third Team honours.

Sydney’s final stretch showed how close the Kings were to the playoff line without ever finding enough consistency to break through. On March 7 at the Sydney SuperDome, Heal (44 points) produced his best scoring game of the season, but Brisbane edged Sydney 113–110 behind Randy Rutherford (38 points), Damien Ryan (22 points), and Wade Helliwell (21 points), despite Melmeth (24 points) giving the Kings support.

Sydney finished the regular season on March 15 with a 124–122 overtime win over Perth at the Sydney SuperDome, with Nielsen (36 points), Heal (10 assists and 2 steals), and Burton (4 assists) helping the Kings close the year, while Rob Feaster (31 points) led Perth, leaving the Kings eighth with a 14–16 record and outside the playoffs.

2002/03
In 2002/03, Heal averaged 20 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 7.5 assists, playing a key role in the King’s rotation, helping the team finish reach a first place finish in the regular season with a 22-8 record.

SOUTH DRAGONS
2008/09
In 2006/07 Heal averaged 19.8 points and 2.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, and helped guide the Dragons to a seventh-place finish during the regular season with a 15-18 record.

2007/08
After stepping into the dual role of player-coach midway through the previous season, Shane Heal entered the 2007/08 campaign looking to establish a new identity for the South Dragons and build on their promising debut year. Keen to put his stamp on the roster, Heal oversaw several key personnel changes during the offseason—parting ways with imports Rosell Ellis and Kavossy Franklin, as well as veteran Frank Drmic. In their place came experienced scorers Cortez Groves (via Wollongong), big man Nick Horvath (via Adelaide), and point guard Luke Martin (via Cairns).

With momentum from a playoff berth in their inaugural season, expectations were high. But the optimism quickly faded as the Dragons stumbled out of the gate, dropping their first six games. That stretch included agonising near-misses—a one-point heartbreaker against Brisbane and a three-point loss to cross-town rivals Melbourne—that hinted at the team’s lack of cohesion despite flashes of potential.

Through the early rounds, Nick Horvath (12.8 points, 6.0 rebounds) delivered steady production, but with no clear timeline on when his New Zealand citizenship would be granted—and the team sitting at the bottom of the standings—Shane Heal made the difficult decision to deactivate Horvath. In his place, the Dragons signed American forward Bakari Hendrix as their new import.

Hendrix’s arrival ignited the team’s best stretch of the season. In his debut, the Dragons finally secured their first win of the year—a 102–90 victory over the New Zealand Breakers. He followed that performance with 19 points and 7 rebounds in a shootout win against Wollongong, poured in 34 points in a narrow loss to Townsville, and then added 24 points and 7 boards in a return win over the Crocodiles. The Dragons posted a 4–3 record during Hendrix’s first seven games, providing a much-needed boost.

During this same stretch, Matthew Burston (11.9 points and 7.0 rebounds) also found his stride, bouncing back from a string of injury-interrupted seasons to nearly triple his production from the previous year.

However, the momentum didn’t last. The Dragons collapsed down the stretch, losing their final 14 games as poor form, mounting pressure, and internal instability took hold. In January, assistant coach Michelle Timms departed the club, and by early February—with the team at 4-22—Heal was relieved of his duties as player-coach. Assistant Guy Molloy stepped in to lead the team through the final weeks of the season.

Hendrix (18.9 points and 6.8 rebounds) finished as the team’s leading scorer, while Cortez Groves (18.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 steals) anchored the backcourt. Heal contributed 15.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists across 19 games before his exit. Second-year standout Joe Ingles (15.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.2 steals) continued to shine with a strong all-around campaign.

Ultimately, the Dragons’ season unraveled under the weight of inconsistency and instability. They finished last in the NBL with a 5–25 record, including a league-worst 1–14 mark on the road. While Heal’s coaching stint ended prematurely, his on-court performance and leadership remained one of the few constants in a year filled with upheaval.

GOLD COAST BLAZE
2008/09
Heal averaged 15.9 points and 3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists during a lacklustre season where the Blaze limped home to a tenth place finish with a 8-22 record.