Celebrating an Aussie Basketball Great

Brad Newley moves like any 37-year-old veteran still playing the highest level of basketball. While he may not possess quite as quick a step as he did when he first began his NBL career, he's developed a wily nous on both ends of the court that only comes with consistent exposure to the highest level of the game.

He played in his 299^th NBL game against local rivals South East Melbourne last night and, all being well, will hit the milestone of 300 league appearances against Illawarra on Sunday.

A player who graced European competition in Greece, Turkey, Spain and Lithuania in the prime of his career – those stints in some of the traditionally top basketball leagues in the world have been bookended by a pair of successful periods in the NBL.

Despite never playing in the NBA, an exceptional rookie season for the Townsville Crocodiles as a 19-year-old laid the bedrock for him to be drafted 54^th overall by the Houston Rockets in 2007. That NBL rookie season in 2005 though? Wow.

Averaging just under 16 points per game for a team that would go on to finish third on the ladder made him a near consensus pick for Rookie of the Year that season. On top of that honour Newley also collected NBL Sixth Man of the Year and All-Star Game MVP honours. Three high-profile awards - two of which were open to any player in the league to win - won by a 19-year-old fresh out of the AIS.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The 2005 All-Star game was a real one. Baby face <a href="https://twitter.com/BradNewley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BradNewley</a> ? dropped 35 taking flight on a regular basis in Townsville ?<br><br>Cameos include <a href="https://twitter.com/GlenSav12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GlenSav12</a>, Dave Thomas, Jason Smith and the commish, Rick Burton.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThrowbackThrowdown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThrowbackThrowdown</a> (s) <a href="https://t.co/feWljrWYZe">pic.twitter.com/feWljrWYZe</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1037522612199411712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Perth coach John Rillie has an extensive personal history with the Melbourne veteran, and while the first-year coach was starting to wind down his playing career with the Townsville Crocodiles in 2005, Newley was only just getting started.

“He was dynamite in the open court at his best,” Rillie said of his close friend and former teammate.

“He passes a bit more now than he did as a rookie … the NBL probably didn’t see him at his peak [but] the NBL gave him a great platform to be drafted to the NBA and have a great career in Europe and with the Boomers.

“I’ve been fortunate enough with ‘Newls’ [that] I’ve known him since he was a kid because both our fathers used to play against each other. We’ve got a phenomenal relationship.

“No matter where either of us have been in the world we’ve always stayed connected.

“I love seeing what he’s doing and it’s certainly a career we can all look back on when he’s retired and enjoy it … amazing career.”

After his three award-laden seasons at the Crocs, Newley embarked on his career across Europe. Since his return to the NBL with the Kings in 2016 he’s provided leadership and presence for both Sydney and Melbourne for over half a decade.

As Rillie said, the NBL provided him with an exceptional platform on which to perform for the Boomers. His medal cabinet weighs heavy with international honours – with his pair of Commonwealth Games gold medals surely taking pride of place alongside his FIBA Asia Cup gold, four FIBA Oceania Championship wins and 2011 Gaze Medal.

Newley was also a key member of the Boomers’ Olympic squads for Beijing 2008 and London 2012. He scored 10 points against the American ‘Redeem Team’ in the quarterfinals of the Beijing games.

Newley defends Team USA's Kobe Bryant at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Rillie is correct in saying the NBL didn’t necessarily see the best of Newley, but comparing his 2005 rookie season with other big names who have won the award makes you realise just how hotly he started in this league.

Players worth comparing to Newley, at least positionally, who went on to win Rookie of the Year after him include Joe Ingles, Jesse Wagstaff, Cam Gliddon and Bul Kuol.

Of all those legendary names in Australian and New Zealand hoops, plus a genuine rising star of the league in Kuol, not a single player averaged more points per game in their rookie season than Newley.

Only Gliddon averaged more steals than the soon-to-be 300-gamer, and only Gliddon and Ingles averaged more assists.

Whether it be the fact he did spend his prime years in Europe, his unassuming ‘get the job done’ style of play, or his willingness to take a backseat to his more vocal or flashy teammates, Newley likely doesn’t command the respect he deserves from a large pocket of Australian basketball fans - especially those of the younger persuasion.

Newley, though, was an integral part of adding to the foundations of Australian basketball through the promising stages of the early 2010's. If it weren't for the contributions made by players like him both on the NBL floor and in a Boomers uniform the game would not be where it is today.

He may not have the NBL titles or the NBA experience of some big names from his prime, but it's time to put more respect on Brad Newley's name - a man who has been a genuine star both on and off the court for Australian basketball for almost two decades.