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
Heading into the 2012/13 NBL season, the Adelaide 36ers aimed to rejuvenate their roster around a core of promising Australian players. Taking advantage of the Gold Coast Blaze’s demise, Adelaide signed Adam Gibson, Anthony Petrie, and Jason Cadee to multi-year deals. The club also brought back centre Luke Schenscher (via Townsville) for a second stint, while key local contributors Daniel Johnson, Mitch Creek, Nathan Crosswell, and Stephen Weigh remained on board. As part of a revised strategy, Adelaide opted to sign just one import, recruiting state league standout CJ Massingale. Departing the team were Adam Ballinger (to Melbourne), Everard Bartlett (to Perth), and imports Chris Warren and Diamon Simpson, while veterans Darren Ng, Nathan Herbert, and Wade Helliwell announced their retirements.

The season began with promise, as Adelaide opened with a commanding 84–61 win over Melbourne. By Round 7, the 36ers had climbed to third place on the ladder with a 4–3 record following a gritty 69–65 victory on the road against Perth. From there, however, the team faltered.

Daniel Johnson (16.2 points and 8.1 rebounds) cemented his status as the team’s centrepiece, leading Adelaide in scoring and finishing as the NBL’s leading rebounder. His durability and consistent output across all 28 games earned widespread recognition as he continued to develop into one of the league’s elite frontcourt talents. Yet, despite Johnson’s production, the 36ers went on a downward spiral, dropping 17 of their final 21 games to close the season with a disappointing 8–20 record. The campaign featured another eight-game losing streak—matching the skid from the previous year.

A significant setback came in December when fan favourite Mitch Creek (5.8 points and 2.6 rebounds) suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in a game against Townsville on December 15, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. Creek’s energy, athleticism, and growing role in the lineup made his absence particularly damaging.

Massingale (4.1 points) was cut midway through the season after struggling to adjust to the pace and physicality of the NBL. His replacement, American guard Scott Christopherson (2.9 points and 2.0 rebounds), joined the 36ers following a stint with Belarusian club Tsmoki-Minsk. Despite initial promise, Christopherson failed to find rhythm or a consistent role under coach Marty Clarke, and by season’s end was widely criticised, with long-time writer Boti Nagy calling him the worst import in club history.

The team closed the season with four straight losses, locking in another last-place finish with the same 8–20 record as the year prior. In the aftermath, Clarke was not reappointed, and Adelaide acted swiftly to name former NBL title-winning coach Joey Wright as the club’s new head coach.

Despite the team’s overall struggles, Johnson was named to the All-NBL Second Team, while Gibson (11.6 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.6 rebounds) earned All-NBL Third Team honours for his steady leadership. Petrie (11.4 points and 5.8 rebounds), Weigh (10.6 points and 5.9 rebounds), and Schenscher (9 points and 6.1 rebounds) were solid in the frontcourt rotation, and Cadee (7.5 points and 2.5 assists) provided spark from the perimeter alongside veteran Crosswell (3.1 points and 1.7 assists).

This season saw the departure of coach Marty Clarke, with NBL championship-winning coach Joey Wright named as his successor. Following the season, Stephen Weigh departed the club and returned to Queensland, signing 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
Cairns entered 2016/17 after finishing sixth with a 12-16 record and missing the playoffs the previous season, with Aaron Fearne reshaping the roster around captain Cameron Gliddon. Markel Starks (to Cremona), Torrey Craig (to Brisbane), Shaun Bruce (to Brisbane), Cameron Tragardh (released), Matt Burston (not re-signed) and Jack White (to Duke) departed, while Stephen Weigh, Mark Worthington, Alex Loughton and Damon Heuir returned. Nathan Jawai (via Perth) returned to his hometown club, Jarrad Weeks (via Illawarra) joined the backcourt and Travis Trice (via Westchester), Fuquan Edwin (via Ironi Nes Ziona), Nnanna Egwu (via Erie) and Mitchell McCarron (via Palencia) were added.

Cairns opened the season at Perth Arena on October 8 without the returning forward, who remained sidelined through injury after missing much of the preseason, as Perth defeated the Taipans 84-74 in overtime. Gliddon (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Egwu (14 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block) led Cairns, while Jaron Johnson (26 points and 5 rebounds) led Perth. With several players returning from limited preparation, “It’s up to me to work them in, not just throw them in,” Fearne said.

Weigh (5.4 points across 29 games) returned against Sydney the following week and appeared in Cairns’ final 27 regular-season games and both semifinals, making one start and coming from the bench in his other 28 appearances. He did not miss another game through injury or illness after the opener, and although his scoring numbers declined from the previous season, his perimeter shooting and defence remained part of Fearne’s rotation.

One of his best games came against Melbourne at Hisense Arena on January 14, where Weigh (13 points and 3 rebounds) made 4-of-6 shots, including three of five three-pointers, in 13 minutes off the bench, but United defeated Cairns 92-85. Worthington (15 points and 5 rebounds) and Trice (14 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) led the other Taipans, while Casper Ware (31 points and 2 steals) led Melbourne.

His best game came two days later against Perth at the Cairns Convention Centre, where Weigh (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist) hit four three-pointers, including three in the fourth quarter, as Cairns defeated the Wildcats 80-78. Two of his fourth-quarter three-pointers came during an 8-0 run and the performance gave him double figures for the third consecutive game as the Taipans kept their season alive. Weeks (16 points) and Trice (9 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) provided support, while Bryce Cotton (20 points and 2 steals) led Perth.

With Cairns sitting 9-11, Edwin (8.1 points and 3.5 rebounds across 20 games) (to Prishtina) was released on January 19 for personal reasons after returning to the United States. Tony Mitchell (8.6 points across 10 games) (via Hapoel Eilat) signed the following day as his replacement with eight regular-season games remaining, making him eligible for the postseason. “We obviously need some scoring punch, and that’s what we’re hoping he’ll give us,” Fearne said. Worthington (9.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists across 28 games) announced on January 22 that he would retire at the end of the season.

Weigh’s other major scoring performance came in Adelaide on February 11, where Weigh (14 points and 3 rebounds) made 6-of-11 shots and two three-pointers in 12:58 off the bench as Cairns defeated the league-leading 36ers 98-89. Trice (18 points) and Gliddon (16 points and 5 assists) led the backcourt around him, while Jerome Randle (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) was Adelaide’s best. The victory was Cairns’ sixth from its final seven regular-season games and completed a 15-13 season, securing second place and home-court advantage for the semifinals.

Trice (14.6 points, 3.5 assists, and 1.2 steals across 26 games) led Cairns in scoring and won the Taipans’ Most Valuable Player award, while Gliddon (10.6 points, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 steals across 30 games) remained a key two-way presence as captain and Jawai (10.1 points and 4.3 rebounds across 29 games) provided the interior scoring. McCarron (7.2 points and 3.8 rebounds across 29 games), Loughton (6.6 points across 26 games), Weeks (6.3 points across 30 games) and Egwu (5.1 points and 3.7 rebounds across 30 games) provided the other major contributions. Worthington received the Members’ Choice MVP, Egwu received the Coaches Award, Heuir (3 points across 18 games) was named Players’ Player and McCarron received Best Defensive Player and Commitment to Community.

Cairns opened its semifinal series against defending champion Perth at the Cairns Convention Centre on February 17, where Weigh (4 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist) played 12:57 off the bench as the Wildcats defeated the Taipans 91-69. Trice (15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) and Worthington (11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Cairns, while Cotton (34 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) and Casey Prather (22 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals) powered Perth to a 1-0 series lead.

Game two moved to Perth Arena on February 20, where Weigh (2 points) played 4:36 off the bench as Cairns attempted to keep its season alive. Trice (22 points and 5 assists) and Mitchell (17 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal) led the Taipans, while Prather (24 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Jesse Wagstaff (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals) led Perth to a 74-66 victory and completed the 2-0 semifinal sweep. Worthington (3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) played his 335th and final NBL game.

2017/18
Cairns entered the 2017/18 season under head coach Aaron Fearne following a second-place 15-13 finish and a 2-0 semifinal loss to Perth the previous year, with Cameron Gliddon remaining captain. Travis Trice (to Brisbane), Mark Worthington (retired) and Fuquan Edwin (to Kauhajoki) departed, while Dayshon “Scoochie” Smith (via Dayton), Michael Carrera (via Marinos de Anzoátegui) and Kuany Kuany (via Chaminade) joined the roster. Carrera suffered a medial meniscus tear in his right knee during a preseason game against Perth on September 23 and underwent surgery, ruling him out for four to six weeks, with Jerry Evans Jr (via Sandringham) signed to a short-term contract as his injury replacement.

Cairns opened the season at home against Illawarra on October 6, where Weigh (6 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) started and played 22 minutes as the Taipans escaped with an 88-87 win. Loughton (19 points and 3 rebounds) scored 16 points in the second half and made the game-winning free throw with 0.8 seconds remaining, while Jawai (12 points and 4 rebounds) also contributed before injuring his left foot and AJ Ogilvy (22 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Illawarra. Scans later revealed a partial ligament tear in Jawai’s foot which required surgery and ruled him out for 12 weeks.

Weigh (5.7 points across 18 games) started Cairns’ first eight games, but a foot problem which had already ruled him out for six weeks during the 2017 QBL season continued to trouble him throughout his final NBL campaign. The injury flared again during the season and resulted in Weigh being in and out of the Taipans’ lineup, limiting him to 18 of Cairns’ 28 games. By January, Fearne said, “Stevie’s foot is not great and we are in the position of if we have to use him, we will.”

Weigh’s best game of the season came two days after the opener against New Zealand in Auckland, where he made eight of 13 shots and finished with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal as Cairns defeated the Breakers 82-71 and opened the season 2-0. Smith (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists) led the Taipans in scoring and Gliddon (12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals) provided further support, while Thomas Abercrombie (23 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks) led New Zealand.

Weigh produced another strong performance against Melbourne on November 9, finishing with 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists off the bench as Cairns defeated United 92-69, completing a 45-point turnaround from its 22-point loss to Melbourne a week earlier. Gliddon (20 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) led Cairns, while Casper Ware (12 points and 4 assists) was among Melbourne’s best. Carrera (2 points) suffered an ankle injury during the first quarter which ultimately ended his time with the Taipans.

Carrera (14.2 points and 3.6 rebounds across 5 games) had returned from knee surgery against Perth on October 22, with Evans dropping out of Cairns’ active import rotation for the next six games after playing the opening four games as Carrera’s temporary replacement. Carrera’s ankle injury brought Evans Jr (7.5 points and 4.6 rebounds across 22 games) back into the squad against Illawarra on November 18 before the injury failed to recover as hoped and Cairns ended Carrera’s contract on December 14, leaving Evans in the full-time import position for the remainder of the season. Jawai (5.4 points across 7 games) missed the next 19 games following surgery on his injured foot, with Chris Patton (via Kilsyth) signed as his separate injury replacement. Patton (1.7 points across 13 games) provided frontcourt cover until Jawai returned against New Zealand on January 7 and was later released (to Melbourne).

Weigh’s third major performance came against Brisbane on November 12, where he finished with 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal in 27 minutes off the bench as Cairns was defeated 82-74. Gliddon (15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) and Weeks (14 points) led the Taipans, while former Cairns import Travis Trice (17 points and 8 assists) led Brisbane.

With his foot continuing to cause problems, Weigh announced on February 1 that he would retire at the end of the season, bringing his 10-season NBL career with Perth, Adelaide and Cairns to a close. The final season had been severely restricted by the foot injury, with Weigh saying of his development during his time in the league, “My thoughts and actions have shifted from what I’m doing personally, to the group and how the individuals are travelling.”

Gliddon (12.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals across 28 games) and Loughton (12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds across 28 games) led Cairns offensively, with McCarron (11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals across 28 games), Smith (10 points across 28 games), Weeks (8.3 points across 28 games), Evans Jr and Egwu (5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds across 28 games) providing the other main contributions. Gliddon and McCarron shared Cairns’ Most Valuable Player award, while Loughton collected the Members’ Choice MVP, Coaches Award and Players’ Player awards, McCarron was named Best Defensive Player and Jawai received the Commitment to Community award.

The season was also Fearne’s last with Cairns, with the club choosing not to renew his contract following a 19-year association with the Taipans, including nine seasons as head coach. Fearne said the club had decided “that it is time for a new voice to carry the club forward into a new era.”

Weigh (2 points, 1 assist, and 1 steal) played eight minutes in the final game of his NBL career against Perth at Perth Arena on February 18, returning to the city where he had won the 2010 NBL championship. Gliddon (12 points, 3 assists, and 1 steal) and Evans Jr (12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) led Cairns, while Bryce Cotton (24 points and 6 assists) powered Perth to an 89-61 win as the Taipans finished sixth with an 11-17 record and missed the playoffs.

Stephen Weigh played ten seasons across three NBL teams. This included the Perth Wildcats, Adelaide 36ers and Cairns Taipans. He averaged 8.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 277 NBL games.