Retiring star reflects on memorable career

Brad Newley’s professional basketball career has spanned the course of two decades, and while he spent some of his peak years playing outside the NBL, the two-time Olympian says he’s proud of the players he’s called friends and foes across his journey.

Newley was named the NBL’s Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year and All-Star Game MVP in the 2004-05 campaign, which is a season that was made famous as the final year in which Andrew Gaze graced the NBL.

The teams in that All-Star game read like a who’s who of that era in the NBL. Newley, Brett Maher, Darnell Mee, Jason Smith. Phil Smyth and Brian Goorjian were the two coaches.

This season Newley has played against the likes of 17-year-old Rocco Zikarsky, who was born after the now veteran had already played his second season in the NBL with Townsville.

“I’ve covered a few different generations I guess, coming up against someone like Gazey who was a star of the 90s and early 2000s and I was able to start my career then, and with Chris (Goulding) now who’s one of the best shooters of our generation. To play with and against those two guys has been pretty special for me,” Newley said.

“Guys like Andrew Bogut, I’ve been part of his journey, John Rillie towards the end of his journey, he was a great player, just really good Australian players over the years, just seeing them progress. I was fortunate enough to play against Josh Giddey who’s now a star in the NBA, and guys like Jack White – just seeing their development.

“You can name a million guys and I’m proud of them all and I’m glad I played a small part in their careers, and they helped me along the way as well.”

Newley’s retirement announcement means that NBL24 will be his final opportunity to win a title.

For a player whose career has taken him to the top level of the game all over the world, an NBL title has eluded him throughout his over 300 games in Australia’s top domestic competition.

“It would be awesome, I’ll be doing all I can in making everyone’s happy and cheerful on and off the floor ... who knows, there could be a minute here or there,” he said of Melbourne’s impending Finals campaign.

“I’ve got to be ready all the time. It’s exciting, in the Playoffs I’ve come up short a few times so it would be good to take the next step this year.”

Melbourne head coach Dean Vickerman was quick to praise Newley’s career.

Brad Newley guarding Kobe Bryant at the 2012 Olympics.

“You realise the impact he’s had and the path he’s helped set for players to go to Europe, he’s a guy who got drafted, and then to be able to come back to Australia and close out his career here has been a wonderful time, and that started in the NBL, which is important as well,” Vickerman said.

“He’s a great storyteller and I look forward to hearing more stories about his career. I sent him a picture of him and Kobe (Bryant) playing against each other at a World Cup and asking questions about what was going on there and why he was looking grumpy at Kobe.

“He’s had an amazing career and we’d like to send him out on a really positive note.”

The final round of Melbourne’s NBL24 season will kick off against the Cairns Taipans on Friday, February 16 at 7:30pm AEDT, live on ESPN via Kayo.