Aussie Hoopla Nbl & Nba Podcast

This month the Perth Wildcats announced former Director of Scouting at Philadelphia 76ers Danny Mills would join the team as General Manager of Basketball Operations. Mills’ primary role will be to oversee the basketball department, with a particular focus on recruitment, talent identification and player pathway strategy and development. Mills was born and raised in Perth and played juniors for both Wanneroo Wolves and Willetton Tigers. He was an eight-time WA State Team representative, a Perth Wildcats training squad member in 2002-03 and played college basketball at Oregon Tech from 2004-07.   He joined the podcast to talk about his time with the 76ers during its "Trust the Process" era, thoughts on Ben Simmons and his future, plans for the Wildcats roster for this season and memories of his time as a player and being a lifelong Wildcats fan.   Topics include... How the role was offered to Danny and what a general manager of basketball does (2:00) Danny's experiences playing basketball

Coming off leading the Australian Boomers to their first medal Brian Goorjian joined the podcast to take us through not only his experiences coaching the group but his take on the men who spent countless hours in building a sport, building stadiums, coaching junior players which ultimately led to Australia's bronze medal-winning group. Topics include... Returning home to Australia (2:00) The Boomers medals are Australia's biggest win in global sports (7:00) The legends who paved the way for the Boomers success starting with Ken Watson (13:00) Adrian Hurley and his input to Australian basketball (20:00) How Lindsey Gaze is responsible for the stadiums the Boomers played in as junior players (13:00) Why the NBA and the G-League want more Aussie coaches (28:30) How Brian approached this Olympics as a coach differently to any other (36:00) How he varied his coaching to different players on the Boomers (41:00) Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Listen to o

Despite many vocal hoops tragics thinking Nick Kay shouldn't have made the Boomers squad he played a key role in the team, often taking on the toughest defensive assignments (listen to him talk about guarding Kevin Durant) and nailing a number of clutch three-point baskets when needed. Nick joins the show to talk about making history by winning the Boomers first Olympic medal, his experiences with the team, Boomers culture night, playing for Brian Goorjian, how close he came to playing for the JackJumpers and his plans for this season in Japan. Topics include... Nick's take on the team emotional after the Boomers bronze medal win (2:00) The Boomers culture and stories from the team's culture night prior to the Olympics (5:00) How the squad came together and added to the foundation built from the 2019 World Cup squad (7:30) A covid scare in Las Vegas puts the team's Olympic chances in jeopardy (9:30) Aron Baynes goes down and how it changed the squad (11:30) Facing the USA in the semi-fina

South East Melbourne Phoenix guard Cam Gliddon knows a thing or two about playing in bronze-medal games begin a part of the Boomers squad World Cup squad in 2019 who fell to Spain in the semi-finals before losing the bronze medal game to France. Gliddon joins the podcast to talk with Dan Boyce about the Boomers roster this year compared to 2019. How the team is different without Andrew Bogut and Aron Baynes, insights into the team's offensive and defensive structure under former coach Andrej Lemanis and how it compares to Brian Goorjian's squad and plenty more. Topics include... The Boomers lose to the USA after being up by 15 points in the first quarter and its emotional toll on players and fans alike (2:00) Was this the last chance the core group of Mills, Ingles, Delly, Baynes had of achieving a gold medal together (7:00) The mental impact of losing the semi-finals prior to playing in the bronze medal game (10:00) The Boomers end of game body language after the USA loss and how it will

Former Wildcats star Trevor Torrence was a part of Perth's first NBL championships (1990-91) and he joins us on the show to discuss his playing career and how he has transitioned to working with corporations and elite sporting teams in the area of emotional intelligence (EI) with Genos International. Ben Palmer, the CEO of Genos International also joins the discussion to shares insights into the success Genos International has had working with the Phoenix Suns in the NBA and how the Suns credit the Australian developed program as an integral part of this 2021 success and NBA Finals appearance. Torrance played in 11 NBL seasons with Perth and Gold Coast. He played in 305 NBL games and averaged 9 points and 3 rebounds per game. Topics include... Emotional Intelligence (EI), what it is and how it helped the Phoenix Suns reach the NBA Finals (2:00) The Boomers culture and the EI strengths it is built around (9:30) How basketball in the 1990s was void of emotional intelligence and how it would

Gary Ervin joins Dan Boyce on another episode of Aussie Hoopla to walk through his basketball journey and share memories of his time playing in the NBL. Ervin was the NBL's Most Valuable Player for the 2010–11 NBL season after racking up 20.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game playing for the Wollongong Hawks. Ervin also spent time with the Townsville Crocodiles and Adelaide 36ers. Ervin played 112 games in the NBL over four seasons and averaged 16.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Topics include... Gary Ervin on what he's been up to since leaving Australia (2:00) New York basketball and the night Ervin scored 30 points in 3 minutes (3:30) Playing in the Jordan Classic with LeBron James and Chris Paul  (7:00) College basketball with Mississippi State and Arkansas (9:30) The NBA Draft experience (16:00) The G-League and fighting for an NBA spot (19:00) Finding his way to Australia and the Wollongong Hawks (22:00) Why he loves Australia and his comparing his other experienc

Andre Moore joins the show to talk about his NBA and NBL career as well as what's happening on the Australian Basketball scene today. Moore was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in the 2nd round of the 1987 NBA Draft. In 10 games with the Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks, he averaged 2.4 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Moore then embarked on a career in Australia when he signed with the Brisbane Bullets in 1990 and led them to that year's NBL Grand Final before losing to the Perth Wildcats. His teammates on Brisbane included fellow Americans Derek Rucker and Leroy Loggins. Moore's outstanding play saw him selected to the 1990 All-NBL Team after he averaged 26.9 points, 12.6 rebounds, and two blocks per game while shooting 61.1% from the field. After playing for the Bullets, Moore spent time with the Hobart Devils (1995) and Cairns Taipans (1999-01). Topics include... Andre Moore launches his first signature sneaker 20 years after retiring from the NBL (2:00) Working in juvenile dete

Jeff Van Groningen, the current GM of Basketball for the Adelaide 36ers has been involved with the National Basketball League since 1994. Having spent with the Geelong Supercats, Melbourne Tigers, Brisbane Bullets, Sydney Kings and Adelaide he joins host Dan Boyce to talk about the highs and lows faced by the Adelaide 36ers this season before diving into the NBA interest around potential top-10 pick Josh Giddey. Van Groningen shares what questions NBA scouts are asking about Giddey as their scout potential draft picks for this years NBA draft and how he has seen Giddey develop as a player this season. Jeff also tackles the abuse Ben Simmons has received in both traditional and social media, whether it's fair and the consequences it could have. Topics include... Recruiting a roster amidst a pandemic. What were the obstacles and nuances to putting together the 36ers team in 2021 (2:00) What concerns and questions were players asking when they were deciding where to play in 2021 (8:00) The decis

Aaron Grabau played 405 games with the Cairns Taipans, was the only player to be a part of both the team's inaugural roster in 1999 and the teams first NBL Finals appearance (2011). He became a Taipans legend and to date is the only player to have his jersey retired by the club (twice, which you'll hear about on the show) and he joins Dan Boyce on this episode to go discuss his career as well as the first 15 years of the Cairns Taipans in the NBL. Grabau takes us those first few years of the franchise where winning was a surprise benefit, to the success achieved under coaches Alan Black and Aaron Fearne. We revisit the Taipans visit to the 2011 NBL Finals where they finish one game short of becoming NBL champions and get his take on some of the greatest Taipans players of all time. Grabau's resume also includes five state league championships, three ABA National Championships, two ABA National Championship MVP awards, all with the Cairns Marlins. Grabau finished his career as the Taipans all-t

Head Coach of the New Zealand National Men's basketball team, the Tall Blacks, joins Dan Boyce on this episode to talk about his time in the NBL, Steven Adams chances of joining the squad in the future, how New Zealand basketballers aspire to play in the NBL and coaching plans for the Tall Blacks future. Pero Cameron was a part of the inaugural New Zealand Breakers squad who entered the NBL in 2003 and went on to play five seasons in Australia. He was also a part of the inaugural Gold Coast Blaze team in 2007. He played 130 NBL games and averaged 9 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists and was one of the greatest "screen setters" in NBL history and a consummate professional. His greatest success came whilst playing in the NZNBL where he is a 9-time NZNBL champion (1995-1997, 1999-2002, 2008, 2009) and for his efforts playing for the New Zealand national team, known as the Tall Blacks. Pero was the captain of the New Zealand Team that defeated Australia in the Oceania championships in 2001 and achie

Melbourne United rookie Jack White had just begun a fantastic rookie season when he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury against the Cairns Taipans in April. Jack now faces 12 months of rehabilitation to get back onto the court and in uniform for United. We spoke to Jack about his take on his own rookie season prior to the injury, get an update on his injury and rehab as well as take look at why he chose to sign with United for his debut season as a professional, memories of playing at Duke University with NBA stars like Zion Williamson, Jayson Tatum and Cam Reddish and what teams he think will find themselves in the NBL Finals this year and what Melbourne needs to do to get there. Topics include... An update on Jack's Achilles injury post surgery? (2:00) What is causing the increase in injuries in the NBL this season? (5:00) Jack’s take on his season before so far (9:00) Jack’s role with Melbourne United and how it’s different to his role at Duke University (12:00) Wrapping up colleg

Mark Leader joined the Devonport Warriors NBL team in 1983 after graduating from Western Oregon University.  A 6 month holiday in Australia that turned into a 12-year NBL playing career that included championships in 1989 and 1994 with the North Melbourne Giants. Leader, who is the only Giants player to be a part of the two title runs, he also captained the squad from 1993 to 1995. After his career Leader turned his hand to coaching, first with the Giants NBL program as an assistant under Brett Brown and then as head coach of the Ballarat Miners and Geelong Supercats in the state league where he won national championships at both clubs. Mark joins Dan Boyce on the podcast to discuss Tasmanian Hoops in the 1980s, Geelong Supercats returning to the NBL and his championship seasons in 1989 and 1994. Life after basketball... how Mark has spent his time since retiring in 1995 (2:00) How Mark was recruited to Australia from Oregon, USA (4:30) The Devonport Warriors NBL team which existed from 1983-

Dejan Vasiljevic played his junior basketball with the Melbourne Tigers program before accepting a scholarship to attend Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence and shortly after the University of Miami. Vasiljevic graduated in 2020 band declared for the NBA Draft but with COVID-19 cancelling any opportunity for NBA teams to see players work out prior to the draft his stock plummeted. Dejan returned home to Australia and after considering a number of European offers decided to play his first professional season in the NBL with the Sydney Kings. He is currently averaging 17 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists after 18 games and alongside former teammate at the Melbourne Tigers, Josh Giddey is a top candidate for the NBL's Rookie of the Year award. Dejan joined Dan Boyce on the podcast to break down his journey so far and his transitioning his game to the NBL. Dejan's family heritage and how his family had to flee war-torn Serbia (2:00) Junior basketball memories playing for the Melbourne Tige

Earlier this month the Adelaide 36ers signed former San Antonio Spurs swingman Brandon Paul as a replacement for Donald Sloan. He's set to debut with the 36ers after spending two weeks in quarantine and he joined us on the Aussie Hoopla podcast to share stories of playing overseas, his time with the Spurs and plans for his time in Australia and the Adelaide 36ers. Brandon's quarantine routine (2:00) Thoughts on the Adelaide 36ers (8:00) What he thinks he can bring to the 36ers line-up (9:00) Growing up in Illinois and attending the University of Illinois (11:00) Lessons learnt from his basketball mentor and 3-time NBA champion Dickey Simpkins (14:00) Memories from playing at the University of Illinois (16:00) The impact his family had on his basketball journey (18:00) Going undrafted in the 2013 NBA draft and his experiences playing in Europe (19:00) The role Brett Brown played in bringing Brandon to Australia (24:00) Tim Duncan, Gregg Popovich and Patty Mills stories from playing with the Sp

Luke Nevill grew up playing basketball for the Stirling Senators in Western Australia. After struggling to get noticed by elite coaches in Australia he moved to the United States to play high school basketball with Kell High School in Marietta, Georgia. It didn't take long to be noticed by the University of Utah and accepted a scholarship in 2004. He decided to redshirt his first year as a Utah Ute and developed his skills during training sessions against fellow big man Andrew Bogut. With NBA interest growing around Nevill he decided to return to college for his senior season, leading the Utes to the NCAA Tournament. At the conclusion of the season, he was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 16.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.7 blocks per game. Nevill went undrafted and after participating in a training camp invitation from the Cleveland Cavaliers he became one of the first Australian's to go on to play in the NBA D-L

Doc Adkins is largely unknown to most current NBL fans but is truly an unsung hero of the league and responsible for much of the NBL's success since it was started in 1979. He helped recruit players such as Cal Bruton, Leroy Loggins, James Crawford, Steve Carfino, Ricky Grace, Derek Rucker, Chuck Harmison and many other NBL Hall Of Famers who would go on to develop the league to the standard it is today. He is a true pioneer of Australian basketball and worthy of being included in the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame. On this podcast, he joins Dan Boyce to talk about his involvement in the early years of the NBL. Topics include; How Dr Dave Adkins became involved in Australian Basketball (2:00) Bringing Cal Bruton to Australia (13:00) How did Dave "sell" the NBL to import players in the 70s and 80s (16:00) How was recruiting import players different in the 70s and 80s compared to the 90s when basketball was exploding in Australia (30:00) Dave's relationship with Toronto Raptors head coach N

Adam Caporn is the current head coach of Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence and an assistant coach with the Australian Boomers. Caporn was Australia's first player recruited to Saint Mary's College of California which lead to an influx of Aussie talent through the doors of Saint Mary's that included NBL and NBA stars like Daniel Kickert, Patrick Mills, Matthew Dellavedova and Jock Landale all play for the Gaels. Caporn returned to Australia after two seasons in California to play three seasons with the Wollongong Hawks (2003-06) and three seasons with the Perth Wildcats (2006-09). After retiring at only 27 years of age he returned to Saint Mary's as an assistant to head coach Randy Bennett, who had recruited him to the Gaels a decade earlier. The opportunity to become the head coach at Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence arose in 2014 and Caporn returned home. He has since also become an assistant coach with the Australian Men's National team. Topics include; The merry-go-rou

Luke Schenscher went from playing domestic basketball in Canberra to become the first high school student to play for the Australian Boomers in three years. His rapid development earnt him a scholarship to Georgia Tech University and then played two NBA seasons, one with the Chicago Bulls and the other with the Portland Trailblazers. Unable to secure a long-term NBA deal he returned to Australia where he would play 211 NBL games over 8 seasons with the Adelaide 36ers, Perth Wildcats and the Townsville Crocodiles. He was the starting centre on the 2010 Perth Wildcats championship team and named to the All-NBL second team in 2009 and 2011. Topics include; His retirement from basketball and becoming a teacher (2:00) Growing up on a farm in Hope Forest, SA before gaining the attention of the AIS (12:30) Developing his body and game through the AIS (14:30) Becoming the first high school student to make the Boomers squad (19:00) Heading to Georgia Tech University (20:30) Reaching the NCAA champ

The Adelaide 36ers signed former EuroLeague star Tony Crocker as their second import and final roster signing for the 2020-21 NBL season. The Oklahoma native carved out an impressive college career, playing alongside Blake Griffin at Oklahoma University, reaching the NCAA Elite Eight in 2009. Tony's decade-long pro-career has included significant stints in the Basketball Super League in Turkey and the EuroLeague. The 33-year-old forward most recently played with Pinar Karsiyaka in the Turkish Super League and the Basketball Champions League and having won a number of slam dunk competitions during his time in Europe he is expected to excite the Adelaide fans with his above the ring playing style. Tony averaged 10.5 points during the COVID shortened season for Pinar Karsiyaka. Prior to that he had played alongside Russian basketball legend Alexy Schved at Khimki Moscow, finishing runners-up to CSKA Moscow. Topics include; How the coronavirus impacted Tony Crocker's basketball journey (2:0

With the recent passing of Stormin' Norman Taylor, Aussie Hoopla host Dan Boyce and Norman's Illawarra teammate Greg Hubbard remember the player and the man who was the most effective scoring in NBL history. Taylor holds the Illawarra club record for most points in a game with 54, against new Hawks coach Brian Goorjian's Eastside Spectres in 1990. He finished with three MVP awards, scoring 1855 in just 67 games, as well as an average of 27.69 points at the phenomenal shooting percentage of 65, plus 10.57 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Topics include; Thoughts on the Hawks removing Illawarra from its team name (2:00) Thoughts and feelings on hearing of the passing of Norman Taylor this week (9:00) His debut in 1987 and winning the NBL Rookie of the Year (11:00) Memories of playing at "The Snake Pit" (14:30) 1988 - A dismal season for the Hawks... What happened? (17:30) Remembering Stormin' Norman Taylor, his career highlights and impact on the Illawarra community (21:00) Th