Paul Henare on the NZ Breakers’ Early Years, the Tall Blacks’ 2002 World Champs Run, and Japan’s Basketball Boom
December 13, 2024
Shawn Dennis
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 27/10/65
- Place of Birth: Melbourne (VIC)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 187
- Weight (KG): 80
- Junior Assoc: VIC - Swan Hill
- College: None
- NBL DEBUT: 26/04/86
- AGE AT DEBUT: 20
- LAST NBL GAME: 21/09/96
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 30
- NBL History: Newcastle 1986-89, 1992-96 | Hobart 1991
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Shawn Dennis was born in Melbourne (VIC) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Swan Hill basketball program. As a teenager his family moved to Wangaratta where he played football and basketballl for the town’s local clubs.
He decided to focus on basketball at 16 and shortly after began playing with Albury in the SEABL state league competition.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Shawn Dennis made his NBL debut with the Newcastle Falcons at 20 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.
6.9 assists, all career lows. Hawks legend Greg Hubbard also struggled to overcome a back injury which saw him average 6 points in 16 minutes per game (lowest minutes of career) and retire at the end of the season.
Hawks legend Greg Hubbard also struggled to overcome a back injury which saw him average 6 points in 16 minutes per game (lowest minutes of career) and retire at the end of the season.
6.9 assists, all career lows. Hawks legend Greg Hubbard also struggled to overcome a back injury which saw him average 6 points in 16 minutes per game (lowest minutes of career) and retire at the end of the season.
Hawks legend Greg Hubbard also struggled to overcome a back injury which saw him average 6 points in 16 minutes per game (lowest minutes of career) and retire at the end of the season.
Shawn Dennis played ten seasons in the NBL. He averaged 5.8 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 197 NBL games.
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 30 | Newcastle | 11-15 (9) | 1 | 3.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 100% | 0% | 2 |
| 1995 | 30 | Newcastle | 17-9 (8) | 29 | 226.0 | 90 | 15 | 16 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 22 | 27 | 31 | 95 | 33% | 19 | 47 | 40% | 9 | 12 | 75% | 45% | 43% | 11 |
| 1994 | 28 | Newcastle | 13-13 (8) | 17 | 124.0 | 57 | 6 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 22 | 49 | 45% | 11 | 31 | 35% | 2 | 4 | 50% | 56% | 56% | 11 |
| 1993 | 27 | Newcastle | 15-11 (5) | 12 | 76.0 | 27 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 25 | 40% | 4 | 11 | 36% | 3 | 4 | 75% | 50% | 48% | 6 |
| 1992 | 26 | Newcastle | 9-15 (12) | 23 | 256.0 | 96 | 19 | 31 | 6 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 19 | 44 | 33 | 97 | 34% | 19 | 55 | 35% | 11 | 13 | 85% | 47% | 44% | 11 |
| 1991 | 25 | Hobart | 8-18 (13) | 26 | 646.0 | 229 | 52 | 61 | 12 | 40 | 27 | 5 | 39 | 41 | 80 | 210 | 38% | 46 | 127 | 36% | 23 | 30 | 77% | 51% | 49% | 18 |
| 1989 | 23 | Newcastle | 6-18 (12) | 24 | 830.0 | 310 | 64 | 64 | 14 | 50 | 34 | 7 | 44 | 67 | 119 | 249 | 48% | 44 | 99 | 44% | 28 | 34 | 82% | 58% | 57% | 22 |
| 1988 | 22 | Newcastle | 13-11 (5) | 25 | 723.0 | 190 | 56 | 44 | 22 | 34 | 33 | 0 | 36 | 62 | 74 | 159 | 47% | 31 | 71 | 44% | 11 | 17 | 65% | 57% | 56% | 20 |
| 1987 | 22 | Newcastle | 6-20 (12) | 26 | 700.0 | 146 | 62 | 68 | 19 | 43 | 25 | 3 | 56 | 59 | 61 | 172 | 35% | 14 | 45 | 31% | 10 | 19 | 53% | 40% | 40% | 22 |
| 1986 | 21 | Newcastle | 10-16 (10) | 14 | 0.0 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 40% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 2 | 4 | 50% | 43% | 0% | 4 | Totals | 197 | 3584 | 1153 | 284 | 308 | 86 | 198 | 151 | 16 | 234 | 322 | 433 | 1062 | 40.8% | 188 | 487 | 38.6% | 99 | 137 | 72.3% | 51% | 50% | 22 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 30 | Newcastle | 11-15 (9) | 1 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 100% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 100% | 0% | 2 |
| 1995 | 30 | Newcastle | 17-9 (8) | 29 | 7.8 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 33% | 0.7 | 1.6 | 40% | 0.3 | 0.4 | 75% | 45% | 43% | 11 |
| 1994 | 28 | Newcastle | 13-13 (8) | 17 | 7.3 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 45% | 0.6 | 1.8 | 35% | 0.1 | 0.2 | 50% | 56% | 56% | 11 |
| 1993 | 27 | Newcastle | 15-11 (5) | 12 | 6.3 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 40% | 0.3 | 0.9 | 36% | 0.3 | 0.3 | 75% | 50% | 48% | 6 |
| 1992 | 26 | Newcastle | 9-15 (12) | 23 | 11.1 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 4.2 | 34% | 0.8 | 2.4 | 35% | 0.5 | 0.6 | 85% | 47% | 44% | 11 |
| 1991 | 25 | Hobart | 8-18 (13) | 26 | 24.8 | 8.8 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 8.1 | 38% | 1.8 | 4.9 | 36% | 0.9 | 1.2 | 77% | 51% | 49% | 18 |
| 1989 | 23 | Newcastle | 6-18 (12) | 24 | 34.6 | 12.9 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 5.0 | 10.4 | 48% | 1.8 | 4.1 | 44% | 1.2 | 1.4 | 82% | 58% | 57% | 22 |
| 1988 | 22 | Newcastle | 13-11 (5) | 25 | 28.9 | 7.6 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 6.4 | 47% | 1.2 | 2.8 | 44% | 0.4 | 0.7 | 65% | 57% | 56% | 20 |
| 1987 | 22 | Newcastle | 6-20 (12) | 26 | 26.9 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 6.6 | 35% | 0.5 | 1.7 | 31% | 0.4 | 0.7 | 53% | 40% | 40% | 22 |
| 1986 | 21 | Newcastle | 10-16 (10) | 14 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 40% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 50% | 43% | 0% | 4 | Total | 197 | 18.2 | 5.9 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 5.4 | 40.8% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 38.6% | 1.0 | 2.5 | 72.3% | 51% | 50% | 22 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 22 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Albury 1985
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 52% | 70% | 72% | 46% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 3 | ||||||
| Total | 433 | 1062 | 40.8% | 188 | 487 | 38.6% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 30 | Newcastle | 11-15 (9) | 1 | 3.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 100% | 0% | 2 |
| 1995 | 30 | Newcastle | 17-9 (8) | 29 | 226.0 | 90 | 15 | 16 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 22 | 27 | 31 | 95 | 33% | 19 | 47 | 40% | 9 | 12 | 75% | 45% | 43% | 11 |
| 1994 | 28 | Newcastle | 13-13 (8) | 17 | 124.0 | 57 | 6 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 22 | 49 | 45% | 11 | 31 | 35% | 2 | 4 | 50% | 56% | 56% | 11 |
| 1993 | 27 | Newcastle | 15-11 (5) | 12 | 76.0 | 27 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 25 | 40% | 4 | 11 | 36% | 3 | 4 | 75% | 50% | 48% | 6 |
| 1992 | 26 | Newcastle | 9-15 (12) | 23 | 256.0 | 96 | 19 | 31 | 6 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 19 | 44 | 33 | 97 | 34% | 19 | 55 | 35% | 11 | 13 | 85% | 47% | 44% | 11 |
| 1991 | 25 | Hobart | 8-18 (13) | 26 | 646.0 | 229 | 52 | 61 | 12 | 40 | 27 | 5 | 39 | 41 | 80 | 210 | 38% | 46 | 127 | 36% | 23 | 30 | 77% | 51% | 49% | 18 |
| 1989 | 23 | Newcastle | 6-18 (12) | 24 | 830.0 | 310 | 64 | 64 | 14 | 50 | 34 | 7 | 44 | 67 | 119 | 249 | 48% | 44 | 99 | 44% | 28 | 34 | 82% | 58% | 57% | 22 |
| 1988 | 22 | Newcastle | 13-11 (5) | 25 | 723.0 | 190 | 56 | 44 | 22 | 34 | 33 | 0 | 36 | 62 | 74 | 159 | 47% | 31 | 71 | 44% | 11 | 17 | 65% | 57% | 56% | 20 |
| 1987 | 22 | Newcastle | 6-20 (12) | 26 | 700.0 | 146 | 62 | 68 | 19 | 43 | 25 | 3 | 56 | 59 | 61 | 172 | 35% | 14 | 45 | 31% | 10 | 19 | 53% | 40% | 40% | 22 |
| 1986 | 21 | Newcastle | 10-16 (10) | 14 | 0.0 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 40% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 2 | 4 | 50% | 43% | 0% | 4 | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
COACHING HISTORY
In his last three playing seasons with the Falcons he also took on a role as an assistant-coach. As a result of the Falcons being in financial strife In 1997, coach Tom Wiseman was released in a cost-cutting measure and Dennis was elevated into the head coaching role. When he assumed the coaching position at the age of 30, he found himself in charge of players he'd shared the court with only two years earlier.
Dennis was almost a ‘one-man band’……doing his own video edits, taking players for individual sessions , besides team practice……If there was nobody available to fill the water bottles, he’d do that as well…… Inevitably, the Newcastle Falcons closed their doors in 1999 and he moved to the Wollongong Hawks as an assistant-coach
In 2003 he moved to New Zealand and coached the Hawke’s Bay Hawks for seven seasons, winning one title, and being voted the NZBL Coach of the Year.
He returned to the NBL as an assistant at the West Sydney Razorbacks, spent another season in New Zealand, this time coaching their national woman’s team, The Tall Ferns, before signing on as an assistant coach to good friend Rob Beveridge at the Perth Wildcats.
In 2013 he was named Head Coach of Townsville Crocodiles. In 2016 he was voted the NBL’s Coach of the Year. A month after he’d been re-appointed as Head Coach, the Crocs folded, closing their doors for good In April 2016,.
He was appointed Head Coach of Otsu-based Shiga Lakestars in 2017.
Shawn moved on to Nagoya and became their head coach in 2021. In 2022, he acted as an assistant to Rob Beveridge, who was acting as a stand in coach for Brian Goorjian whilst the NBL season was underway. He provided scouting for the Boomers’ FIBA World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Chinese Taipei.
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