BIO: Stephen Weigh was born in Mount Isa (QLD) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Mt Isa basketball program.

Stephen Weigh won the Basketball Australia’s Junior Male Player of the Year in 2005 after leading his U18 Queensland North team to a gold medal in
2004. He was subsequently named Basketball Queensland’s Player of the Year for 2004. He went on to be a part of the Gold Medal winning
U20 Queensland team in 2005 and won the Bob Staunton Award for the Most Outstanding Male Player at that tournament. Weigh received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2005. He spent two years year there and played for the program’s state league team (2005, 2006).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Stephen Weigh made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 21 years of age. He scored three points in his first game.

Weigh started his NBL career in 2008 after a strong stint at the Australian Institute of Sport and two years at the University of Utah. Weigh joined the shortly after the appointment of Conner Henry as head coach following Scott Fisher’s departure. Henry, a former college teammate of Fisher, had served as assistant coach since 2006 and was tasked with continuing Perth’s competitive legacy. The team retained core players Shawn Redhage, Alex Loughton, Peter Crawford, and Paul Rogers, while Ben Knight, Chris Goulding, and rookie Stephen Weigh joined the roster. Redhage’s naturalisation as an Australian meant the Wildcats could sign two new imports, athletic forward Isiah Victor (via Sydney) and Darnell Hinson (via West Sydney), who both delivered strong debuts in the league the prior season.

Weigh became a regular rotation player this season, appearing in 30 games and averaging 5.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists. Perth entered the season battling numerous injuries, with Caporn, Robbins, and Crawford managing knee issues, and starting centre Rogers placed on the de-activated list due to a lingering knee complaint. The Wildcats capitalised on the extra roster spot, securing former Boomers point guard Luke Kendall, who became an essential reserve player while Robbins managed just three games due to injury. At midseason, Rogers returned, forcing Perth to release Kendall, who soon joined Melbourne to replace the injured Sam MacKinnon.

Perth mirrored the previous season’s efforts, excelling at home (11-4) but struggling on the road (6-9), finishing fourth with a 17-13 record. Redhage led the team with averages of 19.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, earning an All-NBL Second Team selection, while Hinson (13.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists), Loughton (13 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists), and Victor (12.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists) all played key roles. The Wildcats faced Townsville in the Elimination Finals but were ousted (96-103), ending their playoff run. Weigh did not appear in any playoff games but gained valuable experience in his debut season.

2009/10
Following the 2008/09 season, Perth narrowly avoided financial collapse by raising a million dollars in sponsorship to ensure the club’s future, which aligned with their efforts to support NBL reforms during a precarious time for the league. After securing the team’s stability, Perth hired Rob Beveridge as head coach to lead a new-look Wildcats roster, which retained Redhage, Weigh, and Robbins. Key additions included Damian Martin (via Sydney), Drew Williamson (via Townsville), Luke Schenscher (via Adelaide), Martin Cattalini (via Cairns), rookie Jesse Wagstaff, and import Kevin Lisch. Paul Rogers, in his final NBL season, relinquished the captaincy to Redhage but saw his season cut short after just two games due to an elbow and triceps injury that ultimately ended his career. Former NBA player Galen Young joined the roster as his replacement.

Weigh contributed significantly in an expanded role, averaging 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists as the Wildcats finished the regular season first (17-11) and advanced to face the Gold Coast Blaze in the semifinals. Lisch (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the team to an 81-68 Game 1 victory, followed by 18 points in Game 2 as Perth clinched the series (82-78). Weigh also chipped in 9 points in the second game of the series, sending the team into the NBL Grand Final to face the Wollongong Hawks.

In the three-game Grand Final series, Perth claimed game one comfortably with a 75–64 win at home despite Weigh playing poorly, failing to score in 21 minutes of playing time. The series then moved to Wollongong for game two, where the Hawks returned the favour, defeating Perth 75–63 and setting up a deciding Game 3. Weigh scored 10 points in the second game in a nice return to form. Back on their home court Perth comfortably defeated Wollongong in the decider, 96–72, with Weigh adding 13 points and 7 rebounds, and his Wildcats teammate Kevin Lisch was named Finals MVP after averaging 18 points and 4 rebounds over the three game series.

2010/11
The Wildcats faced roster changes as Paul Rogers and Martin Cattalini retired. Perth brought in young talent, including Ater Majok, Greg Hire, Cameron Tovey, Jeremiah Trueman, and Matthew Knight, who chose Perth over multiple European and NBL offers due to his familiarity with Beveridge and Martin from their time with the Sydney Spirit. Perth managed to retain Lisch despite substantial offers from European clubs. Weigh continued to solidify his role, playing in 31 games and averaging 11.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. However, injuries derailed the team’s championship aspirations, with Knight suffering a calf tear that sidelined him for two months, and Jesse Wagstaff facing ankle ligament issues. In December, the Wildcats signed Majok (7.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks) as an injury replacement for Wagstaff and Knight, but he was released after eight games due to behavioural issues. Former NBA player Andre Brown (9.3 points, 6.7 rebounds) joined as another injury replacement.

Perth’s season took a further blow when Redhage sustained a severe hip injury, feared to be career-ending, after a collision against Adelaide. With Redhage out, the Wildcats struggled, dropping four consecutive games and winning only two of their last eight matches. Lisch led the team with 13.5 points, while Martin averaged 8.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, claiming his first NBL Defensive Player of the Year award. Perth finished fourth (16-12) but lost to New Zealand in the semifinals despite Lisch’s 29-point effort in Game 1. Martin earned a historic All-NBL First Team selection while averaging under nine points, underscoring his defensive prowess. Weigh continued to contribute, providing scoring and energy on both ends of the court.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2011/12
Weigh joined the Adelaide 36ers in 2011/12, as the team sought to revamp its roster. Adelaide struggled once again, finishing in last place with an 8-20 record and enduring another eight-game losing streak. Weigh averaged 11.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, and delivered one of the season’s most notable performances, scoring 29 points and grabbing 7 rebounds against New Zealand. He shot a remarkable 11/12 from the field, including 7/7 from beyond the arc, as he led the 36ers to an upset win over the eventual NBL champions. Despite his individual success, Adelaide’s struggles led to Clarke’s departure as head coach, with Joey Wright brought in for the following season.

2012/13
Weigh remained with Adelaide as the team re-signed a core of former Gold Coast Blaze players after the club folded, including Adam Gibson, Anthony Petrie, and Jason Cadee, along with Perth’s promising young forward Weigh. The 36ers finished with an 8-20 record, struggling with injuries and inconsistent performances. Despite the team’s difficulties, Weigh averaged 10.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, providing steady production and valuable experience to a rebuilding Adelaide squad. Daniel Johnson (16.2 points, 8.1 rebounds) established himself as the team’s star, while Mitchell Creek (5.8 points, 2.6 rebounds) emerged as a fan favourite before suffering a season-ending injury. This season saw the departure of coach Marty Clarke, with NBL championship-winning coach Joey Wright named as his successor.

After two seasons with the 36ers, Weigh returned to his home state of Queensland to play with the Cairns Taipans.

CAIRNS TAIPANS
2013/14
Joining the Cairns Taipans for the 2013/14 season, Weigh averaged 8.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, helping guide the Taipans to a fifth-place finish (12-16). Despite missing the playoffs, Weigh’s reliable shooting and defensive presence solidified his role in Cairns’ system as he continued to build his career in the NBL.

2014/15
Cairns achieved a historic feat in 2014/15 by becoming the first regional team since Geelong in 1984 to finish the regular season in first place (21-7). The Taipans benefited from consistent contributions across their roster, as head coach Aaron Fearne utilised the same starting five—Wilbekin, Gliddon, Weigh, Loughton, and Burston—for all 28 games. Weigh averaged 8.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists, while Wilbekin led the team in scoring (15.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists), also earning the club MVP award. In the semifinals, the Taipans defeated Perth, progressing to the Grand Final against New Zealand. Cairns lost the opening game (86-71) and fell in Game 2 (83-81) after a buzzer-beater from Ekene Ibekwe, missing out on their first NBL championship.

2015/16
In 2015/16, Weigh averaged 7.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists over the season as he continued to be a steady contributor in the Taipans rotation. Cairns, however, struggled to find consistent success, finishing the season in sixth place with a 12-16 record. Weigh’s experience and perimeter shooting helped maintain his presence as a key member of the team despite the team’s challenges throughout the year.

2016/17
Weigh’s role remained vital in the Taipans lineup during the 2016/17 season, as he averaged 5.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.7 assists. His steady performances contributed to Cairns securing a second-place finish with a 15-13 record, positioning them well for a postseason run. Although his scoring numbers dipped slightly, Weigh’s ability to space the floor and defend remained essential to the Taipans’ success in the regular season.

2017/18
In the 2017/18 season, Weigh continued to play a crucial role for Cairns, posting averages of 5.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. Despite his contributions, the Taipans struggled with consistency and finished in sixth place with an 11-17 record. Weigh’s experience and leadership were valuable assets in a challenging season, as he provided stability and depth to the roster, wrapping up another solid season with the Taipans.

Stephen Weigh played ten seasons across three NBL teams. This included the Perth Wildcats, Adelaide 36ers and Cairns Taipans. He averaged 8.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 276 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (814 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.