NBL Tribunal Needs Overhaul After a Decade of Inconsistencies
September 16, 2024
Tony Mitchell
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 7/08/89
- Place of Birth: Swainsboro, Georgia (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 198
- Weight (KG): 104
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Alabama (2009–2012)
- NBL DEBUT: 20/01/17
- AGE AT DEBUT: 27
- LAST NBL GAME: 20/02/17
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 27
- NBL History: Cairns 2017
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Tony Mitchell was born in Swainsboro, Georgia (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Tony Mitchell made his NBL debut with the Cairns Taipans at 27 years of age. He scored seven points in his first game.
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 Mark Worthington, Alex Loughton, Stephen Weigh and Damon Heuir returned. Nathan Jawai (via Perth) returned to his hometown club, Jarrad Weeks (via Illawarra) joined the backcourt and imports Travis Trice (via Westchester), Fuquan Edwin (via Ironi Nes Ziona) and Nnanna Egwu (via Erie) were added. Mitchell McCarron (via Palencia) completed the main local roster after one season in Spain.
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, with Cairns sitting 9-11 and fighting for a playoff position. Tony Mitchell (via Hapoel Eilat) was signed the following day for the remainder of the season as Edwin’s direct import replacement. With NBL rules requiring a player to be registered for at least seven regular-season games to qualify for the playoffs and Cairns having eight remaining, it was the final point of the season where the Taipans could add an import and have him eligible for the postseason. Fearne said, “We obviously need some scoring punch, and that’s what we’re hoping he’ll give us.”
Mitchell (8.6 points across 10 games) played every game available after joining Cairns, appearing in all eight remaining regular-season games and both semifinals while making six starts. He did not miss a game through injury or illness during his short stint with the Taipans.
Mitchell (7 points and 1 rebound) made his NBL debut only hours after his signing was announced, playing eight minutes off the bench against Perth at Perth Arena on January 20. McCarron (13 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) and Jawai (13 points and 7 rebounds) helped Cairns take a two-point lead into the final seconds, but Bryce Cotton (27 points and 5 assists) levelled the scores at the foul line with 2.2 seconds remaining before Perth escaped with an 84-78 overtime victory. The loss left Cairns 9-12.
His first double-figure scoring game came against Brisbane at the Cairns Convention Centre on January 29, where Mitchell (12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) provided several highlight dunks as Cairns defeated the Bullets 97-83. Trice (27 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Worthington (14 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) helped Cairns collect its third consecutive victory, while Jeremy Kendle (24 points) led Brisbane. The victory moved the Taipans to 12-12 and into the top four.
Mitchell’s best game came against Perth at the Cairns Convention Centre on February 5, where Mitchell (20 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals) made seven field goals and produced his highest-scoring game of the season as Cairns defeated the Wildcats 85-77. Jawai (22 points and 9 rebounds) and McCarron (8 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) provided the main support, while Cotton (26 points and 5 assists) was Perth’s best. The victory moved Cairns to 13-13 and kept its playoff push alive.
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. Jawai (10.1 points and 4.3 rebounds across 29 games) provided the interior scoring, while 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 and received the Members’ Choice MVP award. McCarron (7.2 points and 3.8 rebounds across 29 games) earned Cairns’ Best Defensive Player and Commitment to Community awards, while Loughton (6.6 points across 26 games), Weeks (6.3 points across 30 games), Weigh (5.4 points across 29 games) and Egwu (5.1 points and 3.7 rebounds across 30 games) provided the other major contributions. Egwu received the Coaches’ Award and Heuir (3 points across 18 games) was named Players’ Player. After falling to 9-12 in Mitchell’s first game, Cairns won six of its final seven regular-season games.
Cairns completed its regular season in Adelaide on February 11, where Mitchell (4 points and 1 rebound) started as the Taipans defeated the league-leading 36ers 98-89. Trice (18 points and 3 rebounds) and Gliddon (16 points and 5 assists) led Cairns, while Jerome Randle (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) was Adelaide’s best, with the victory completing a 15-13 regular season and securing second place and home-court advantage for the semifinals.
Cairns opened its semifinal series against defending champion Perth at the Cairns Convention Centre, where Mitchell (4 points and 3 rebounds) played nine minutes 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, where Mitchell (17 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal) produced his second-highest scoring game of the season in 21 minutes off the bench as Cairns attempted to keep its season alive. Trice (22 points and 5 assists) led the Taipans, while Prather (24 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Jesse Wagstaff (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals) carried Perth to a 74-66 victory and completed the 2-0 semifinal sweep, while Worthington (3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) played his 335th and final NBL game. After the final siren, Mitchell took the ball from Cotton and threw it at referee Vaughan Mayberry, striking him in the hip.
Mitchell was subsequently found guilty of striking a referee and initially received a full 28-game NBL season suspension, which would have kept him out until February 23, 2018. After an appeal, the full tribunal reduced the penalty to a 10-game suspension on March 5 after considering submissions that had not been presented at the original hearing and a written apology from Mitchell. “I am embarrassed by my actions and understand that my conduct towards the official, Mr. Vaughan Mayberry, was unacceptable,” he wrote, adding, “There is no excuse for my behavior.” His agreement with Cairns had been for the remainder of the season and the Taipans did not retain him, with Mitchell (to Indios de Mayagüez) later joining the Puerto Rican club.
Tony Mitchell played one season in the NBL. He averaged 8.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 10 NBL games.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-17 | 27 | Cairns | 15-13 (2) | 10 | 159 | 86 | 24 | 9 | 7 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 29 | 32 | 79 | 41% | 8 | 33 | 24% | 24 | 46 | 52% | 43% | 46% | 20 | Totals | 10 | 159 | 86 | 24 | 9 | 7 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 29 | 32 | 79 | 40.5% | 8 | 33 | 24.2% | 24 | 46 | 52.2% | 0.433293027 | 0.4556962025 | 20 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-17 | 27 | Cairns | 15-13 (2) | 10 | 15.9 | 8.6 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 7.9 | 41% | 0.8 | 3.3 | 24% | 2.4 | 4.6 | 52% | 43% | 46% | 20 | Total | 10 | 15.9 | 8.6 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 7.9 | 40.5% | 0.04050632911 | 24.2% | 0.8 | 3.3 | 52.2% | 0.433293027 | 0.4556962025 | 20 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 20 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
Tony Mitchell was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with pick #37 in the 2013 NBA Draft.
Mitchell played 3 games in the NBA. He averaged 2 points, 0.3 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game over his NBA career.
NBA TRANSACTIONS:
- March 4, 2014: Signed a 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
-
October 12, 2017: Signed a contract with the Miami Heat
October 14, 2017: Waived by the Miami Heat.
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 62% | 53% | 56% | 48% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 32 | 79 | 40.5% | 8 | 33 | 24.2% |
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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | 24 | Milwaukee | SF | 3 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 60% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 60% | 60% |
| 2013-14 | 24 | Milwaukee | SF | 3 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 60% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 60% | 60% | Total | 3 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 60% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 |
NBA PER GAME 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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | 24 | Milwaukee | SF | 3 | 0 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 60% | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 60% | 60% | Total | 3 | 0 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 60% | 0.3 | 0% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Philippines - Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters (2013) | China - Jilin Northeast Tigers (2013–2014), Hebei Xianglan (2016) | Italy - Dolomiti Energia Trento (2014–2015), Dinamo Sassari (2016) | Russia - Krasny Oktyabr (2015) | Spain - Estudiantes (2015) | Lebanon - Beirut Club (2023–2024, 2025–2026) | Libya - Al Ahly Benghazi (2024) | Egypt - Al Ahly Cairo (2024) | Argentina - Unión de Santa Fe (2024) | Bahrain - Al-Muharraq (2024–2025)
Mitchell joined Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters for the 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup season, marking his first professional stint outside the United States in the Philippines.
Mitchell joined the Jilin Northeast Tigers for the 2013–14 Chinese Basketball Association season in China, and he left the club in December 2013 after appearing in 11 games.
Mitchell joined Dolomiti Energia Trento for the 2014–15 Italian Serie A season in Italy, and across 34 league games he averaged 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game while earning Italian League regular season MVP honours.
Mitchell joined Krasny Oktyabr for the 2015–16 season in Russia, playing in the VTB United League and EuroCup, and he departed on 3 November 2015 after averaging 21.4 points per game during his time with the club.
Mitchell joined Estudiantes for the 2015–16 Liga ACB season in Spain, and he left on 28 December 2015 after appearing in six games.
Mitchell joined Dinamo Sassari for the remainder of the 2015–16 Italian Serie A season, and he parted ways with the club on 2 May 2016.
Mitchell joined Hebei Xianglan for the 2016 Chinese NBL season in China, signing on 31 May 2016.
Mitchell joined Beirut Club for the 2023–24 Lebanese Basketball League season in Lebanon, signing on 8 August 2023.
Mitchell joined Al Ahly Benghazi in Libya on 10 January 2024 before joining Al Ahly Cairo on 27 February 2024 for the Basketball Africa League campaign, and he made his BAL debut on 19 April 2024 with 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists in a 99–76 win over City Oilers.
Mitchell joined Unión de Santa Fe for the 2024–25 Liga Nacional de Básquetbol season in Argentina on 2 October 2024, and he left the club on 7 November 2024.
Mitchell re-joined Al-Muharraq for the 2024–25 Bahraini Premier League season on 21 November 2024.
Mitchell returned to Beirut Club for the 2025–26 Lebanese Basketball League season, signing on 11 September 2025.
COLLEGE
Mitchell played college basketball at Alabama during the 2009-10 season and remained with the Crimson Tide through the 2011-12 campaign under head coach Anthony Grant.
As a freshman in 2009-10, Mitchell played in 30 games and made 18 starts, while missing two contests due to mononucleosis.
He averaged 9.2 points per game on 48.7% shooting and 5.9 rebounds per game, and against SEC competition he averaged 8.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
Mitchell’s 2009-10 season included three double-doubles, highlighted by 10 points and 12 rebounds against Kentucky in the SEC Tournament, and he posted 23 points in his second collegiate game against Jackson State on 10-of-14 shooting in 24 minutes.
He finished his freshman year third on the team in steals with 40, was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, and was recognized as Alabama’s Most Outstanding Freshman.
In 2010-11, Mitchell earned second-team All-SEC honors (coaches and media) after averaging 15.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, and he also led the team with 63 dunks while producing four double-doubles across the season.
A key stretch came in mid-February when he averaged 20.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in wins at LSU and over Arkansas, leading to SEC Player of the Week honors on February 21, 2011, and that Arkansas game included a career-high 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting with nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals.
Mitchell’s 2010-11 postseason included 16 points in an SEC Tournament win over Georgia, 23 points in the NIT second round against New Mexico, and a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds in the NIT final against Colorado.
During the summer following his sophomore year, he was one of 22 collegiate players selected to try out for the USA Basketball World University Games and was one of the 14 finalists to make the next-to-last cut for the team.
In 2011-12, Mitchell was named Puerto Rico Tip-Off MVP after averaging 19.0 points and 9.7 rebounds across three games, and he delivered a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the title game while finishing one point shy of a career high with 26 points against Wichita State.
His 2011-12 season included a run of double-doubles and near double-doubles, including 17 points and 11 rebounds against Maryland, 17 points and 10 rebounds against UNF, and 12 points with nine rebounds while matching a career high with four assists in another early-season outing.
Mitchell’s junior year ended early after he was suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team on February 6, 2012, did not return to the team for the remainder of the season, and later requested and was granted his release from Alabama on April 6, 2012.
Across his Alabama career, Mitchell appeared in 89 games and averaged 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, while also earning SEC All-Freshman Team honors (2010) and second-team All-SEC recognition (2011).
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