BIO: Kreklow was born in Neenah, Wisconsin, Wayne is the son of Wayne Sr. (d.2018) and Joanne. He is one of six Kreklow children.
His father coached and taught for 42 years. Kreklow played on the 1975 state championship basketball team at Neenah High School. Kreklow scored 23 points in Neenah’s state quarterfinal loss in 1974. Kreklow led the 1975 Wisconsin State High School Basketball Tournament in scoring with 69 points, including 19 in Neenah’s 64–55 victory over Milwaukee Marshall in the WIAA Class A final.
Wayne Kreklow made his NBL debut with the Sydney Supersonics at 28 years of age. He scored seven points in his first game.
Wayne Kreklow played one season in the NBL. He averaged 18.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 15 NBL games.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 28 | Sydney | 9-17 (11) | 15 | 0.0 | 276 | 47 | 59 | 16 | 31 | 59 | 0 | 66 | 49 | 121 | 228 | 53% | 12 | 29 | 41% | 22 | 30 | 73% | 57% | 56% | 32 | Totals | 15 | 0 | 276 | 47 | 59 | 16 | 31 | 59 | 0 | 66 | 49 | 121 | 228 | 53.1% | 12 | 29 | 41.4% | 22 | 30 | 73.3% | 57% | 56% | 32 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 28 | Sydney | 9-17 (11) | 15 | 0.0 | 18.4 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 4.4 | 3.3 | 8.1 | 15.2 | 53% | 0.8 | 1.9 | 41% | 1.5 | 2.0 | 73% | 57% | 56% | 32 | Total | 15 | 0.0 | 18.4 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 4.4 | 3.3 | 8.1 | 15.2 | 53.1% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 41.4% | 0.8 | 1.9 | 73.3% | 57% | 56% | 32 |
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 32 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
|---|
Wayne Kreklow was drafted by the Boston Celtics with pick #53 in the 1979 NBA Draft.
Kreklow played 25 games in the NBA. He averaged 1.2 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game over his NBA career.
NBA TRANSACTIONS:
- July 24, 1978: Sent to the Boston Celtics (as a future 1979 3rd round draft pick) as compensation for the Indiana Pacers signing Kevin Stacom as a veteran free agent.
-
June 25, 1979: Drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 3rd round (53rd pick) of the 1979 NBA Draft.
-
January 21, 1981: Waived by the Boston Celtics.
-
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 91% | 94% | 100% | 0% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 32 | 11 | 4 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 121 | 228 | 53.1% | 12 | 29 | 41.4% |
| 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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980-81 | 24 | Boston | SG | 25 | 0 | 100 | 30 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 20 | 11 | 47 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 29% | 25% | Total | 25 | 0 | 100 | 30 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 20 | 11 | 47 | 23% | 1 | 4 | 25% | 7 | 10 | 70% |
| 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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980-81 | 24 | Boston | SG | 25 | 0 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 23% | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 29% | 25% | Total | 25 | 0 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 23% | 0.0 | 0.2 | 25% | 0.3 | 0.4 | 70% |
Kreklow played college basketball at Drake, As a freshman in 1975–76 he joined the Bulldogs in the Missouri Valley Conference under head coach Bob Ortegel and played 27 games while averaging 23.7 minutes, 8.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game, while shooting 40.9 percent from the field and 68.3 percent at the foul line as Drake finished 8–19 overall and 3–9 in league play for seventh place in the MVC.
He wore No. 15 at Drake and came to the program from Neenah High School after also drawing recruiting interest from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Marquette.
As a sophomore in 1976–77, Kreklow again played 27 games and raised his production to 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game in 28.6 minutes, while shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 80.6 percent from the free throw line for a Drake team that went 10–17 overall and 5–7 in MVC play to finish fifth.
During that 1976–77 season he averaged 5.1 made field goals on 10.1 attempts per game, 0.9 made free throws on 1.1 attempts per game, 0.7 steals, 0.1 blocks, 1.9 turnovers, and 3.4 fouls per game.
As a junior in 1977–78, Kreklow started all 28 games and averaged 32.2 minutes, 15.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.1 blocks, 2.4 turnovers, and 3.4 fouls per game, while shooting 52.6 percent from the field and 79.2 percent from the foul line for a Drake team that finished 6–22 overall and 2–14 in MVC play under Bob Ortegel.
He totaled 425 points, 89 rebounds, 72 assists, 31 steals, 2 blocks, 163 field goals, and 99 free throws in 1977–78, and that season earned second-team All-MVC honours.
As a senior in 1978–79, Kreklow started all 27 games and delivered the best season of his college career with averages of 34.7 minutes, 19.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game, while shooting 52.0 percent from the field and 85.7 percent from the line as Drake improved to 15–12 overall and 8–8 in the MVC.
His 1978–79 totals were 526 points, 127 rebounds, 83 assists, 41 steals, 2 blocks, 224 field goals, and 78 free throws, and he earned first-team All-MVC selection, all-district honours, and Associated Press honorable mention All-America recognition that season.
One of his biggest single-game performances came on December 16, 1978 against Memphis State, when he scored 43 points and went 19 for 22 from the field and 5 for 6 at the foul line, which stood among the best scoring games in Drake history.
Kreklow set Drake’s single-season free throw percentage record at .857 in 1978–79 by going 78 for 91 from the line.
Across his four seasons at Drake, he played in 109 straight games and finished with 1,471 career points, which placed him among the top scorers in school history, along with a 13.5 points-per-game average, 614 made field goals, 1,229 field goal attempts, a 50.0 percent career field goal percentage, 79.1 percent free throw shooting, and 278 assists.
His career scoring climbed steadily from 8.0 points per game as a freshman to 11.2 as a sophomore, 15.2 as a junior, and 19.5 as a senior, and he closed his Drake career as a two-time team captain, a two-time all-conference selection, an All-American honouree, and a member of the school’s All-Century team.
- NBA champion (1981)
Whilst we try to source as much information as we can for every player who has ever played in the NBL some information on a player profile may be missing. If you have additional information on a player you'd like us to add to a profile, please send it to us using the enquiry form below.
Submissions are then sent to info@aussiehoopla.com
In 1984, the NBL introduced the three-point line, forever altering the geometry of Australian basketball. Since then, the league has seen traditional snipers, stretch bigs and volume scorers completely revolutionise how offenses operate and defenses scramble. But as the modern game places a premium on spacing and perimeter shooting, a critical question arises: Who are the most efficient and devastating shooters in the 40-year history of the NBL? To cut through the noise, we have to look beyond raw percentages. By combining historical spreadsheet data…
READ MOREPerth Wildcats head coach John Rillie joins the podcast to discuss the pressure that comes with coaching one of the NBL’s most successful clubs, the challenge of moving forward after Bryce Cotton’s departure, and what Perth needs to build its next championship contender. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Rillie about taking over the Wildcats after the club missed the finals for the first time since 1986, the expectations of the Red Army, and how Perth’s three…
READ MOREFormer Sydney Kings and Townsville Crocodiles big man Rolan Roberts joins the podcast to reflect on his time in Australia, including joining the Kings mid-season and helping them complete their historic 2005 NBL three-peat. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Roberts about playing under Brian Goorjian, becoming a key interior presence for Sydney, and being part of the Kings team that became the first in NBL history to win three straight championships. The episode also dives into…
READ MOREAt some point over the next 12 months, the Boomers are going to have to make a decision that Australian basketball has managed to avoid for almost two decades. Who exactly is this team built around now? Since 2010, that answer was simple. It was Patty Mills’ team. Mills has been the primary scorer for the Boomers for nearly two decades and few Australian victories have been recorded without a major scoring performance from Patty. But as the Boomers move toward the 2027 FIBA World…
READ MOREA player arriving in the NBL with NBA experience always creates interest. Fans get excited when their team signs a former NBA player, commentators mention it during broadcasts, and every article about that player usually links their NBL performance back to their NBA résumé. Sometimes, we see a big-time college prospect use the NBL as a springboard to the NBA and never return. Other times, established NBA veterans come to Australia looking for a fresh opportunity. And in many cases, local talent develops in the…
READ MOREOver the years, Aussie Hoopla has taken a deep dive into the full list of players who have competed in both the NBL and the NBA. You can see the full list of NBL players who have played in the NBA here: Names from every decade since the 1980s have featured, including NBL legends like Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Lanard Copeland and Rob Rose, alongside a long list of imports who used the NBL as a stepping stone to the world’s biggest stage. But with…
READ MOREFormer Adelaide 36ers star Julius Hodge joins the podcast to reflect on one of the most dominant short stints in NBL history, his journey from the NBA to Australia, and the impact he made during the 2007/08 season. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Hodge about his incredible all-around performances, triple-doubles, and what it was like adjusting to the Australian game mid-season. The episode also dives into his time playing in the NBA and overseas, his perspective…
READ MOREBelow is an up-to-date roster for each NBL team and a list of rumours and potential signings derived from discussions with NBL staff and media. Players listed as contracted come from information supplied by the National Basketball League. * = Denotes import player ** = Naturalised Australian DP = a member of the team's development roster SRP = the previously named Asian player exception denoting an Asian player who qualifies as a local in the NBL. MP = Marquee players listed as known Click here…
READ MORE