Aussie Hoopla NBL & NBA Podcast

Support Aussie Hoopla:

We are doing everything we can to keep these podcasts going, but the costs to produce, host, and track down guests are adding up.

If you enjoy the show and want to help keep it alive, you can support us in two ways:

Buy a T shirt or Buy Me A Coffee

Every contribution goes directly toward keeping aussiehoopla.com online and the podcast running.

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Four-time NBL champion and 1994 Grand Final MVP Paul Rees joins the podcast to reflect on his 17-year career with the Brisbane Bullets, North Melbourne Giants and Adelaide 36ers, as well as representing Australia at the 1994 World Championship.

Host Dan Boyce chats with Rees about North Melbourne's financial struggles, playing under Brett Brown, David Stiff's arrival during his final season with the Giants, and the NBL's controversial move from winter to summer basketball. Rees also discusses Adelaide's back-to-back championships, Kevin Brooks and the salary cap, his infamous run-in with Brian Goorjian, the drama surrounding the 2001 36ers and the controversial Damon Lowery finish in Wollongong.

Topics include:

• Starting his NBL career with the Brisbane Bullets
• Joining the North Melbourne Giants
• North Melbourne's financial problems and how close the club came to collapse
• Playing for Brett Brown and alongside Darryl McDonald
• Winning the 1994 NBL championship and Grand Final MVP
• Representing Australia at the 1994 World Championship
• David Stiff's arrival and Rees' injury-hit final season with North Melbourne
• Joining the Adelaide 36ers and playing under Phil Smyth
• Upsetting Brian Goorjian's South East Melbourne Magic in the 1998 Grand Final
• The NBL moving from winter to summer and what it meant for player salaries
• Winning back-to-back championships with Adelaide
• His infamous collision with Brian Goorjian during the 1999 Grand Final
• Kevin Brooks leaving Adelaide and the NBL salary cap controversy
• The 36ers' failed attempt at a three-peat
• Kevin Brooks and Scott Ninnis clashing at training
• Problems inside the 2001 Adelaide 36ers locker room
• The Damon Lowery free throws and controversial 2001 semi-final loss to Wollongong
• Winning his fourth NBL championship in 2002
• Leaving Adelaide, returning to Brisbane and eventually rejoining the 36ers

All of this and a whole lot more...

Support Aussie Hoopla:

We are doing everything we can to keep these podcasts going, but the costs to produce, host, and track down guests are adding up.

If you enjoy the show and want to help keep it alive, you can support us in two ways:

Buy a T shirt or Buy Me A Coffee

Every contribution goes directly toward keeping aussiehoopla.com online and the podcast running.

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Former Sydney Kings and Canberra Cannons import Mario Donaldson joins the podcast to look back on the highs and lows of his time in the NBL, the memorable 1994 NBL Dunk Contest, and the success he enjoyed playing professionally around the world.

Host Dan Boyce chats with Donaldson about joining Sydney in 1994, playing alongside Leon Trimmingham, his memories of one of the NBL's most memorable dunk contests, and the ups and downs of his seasons with both the Kings and Canberra Cannons.

Donaldson also reflects on the success he enjoyed outside Australia, his experiences playing across a number of overseas leagues, and the shooting ability that still sees him ranked seventh all-time in NBL three-point percentage among players with more than 100 attempts.

Topics include:

• His basketball journey before arriving in Australia
• Joining the Sydney Kings in 1994
• The 1994 NBL Dunk Contest
• Playing alongside Leon Trimmingham in Sydney
• The high points of his season with the Kings
• The tougher moments during his time in Sydney
• Leaving Sydney after one season
• Returning to Australia with the Canberra Cannons
• The highs and lows of his time in Canberra
• His success playing professionally overseas
• His three-point shooting and place among the NBL's all-time best shooters
• Looking back on his professional basketball career

All of this and a whole lot more...

Support Aussie Hoopla:

We are doing everything we can to keep these podcasts going, but the costs to produce, host, and track down guests are adding up.

If you enjoy the show and want to help keep it alive, you can support us in two ways:

Buy a T shirt or Buy Me A Coffee

Every contribution goes directly toward keeping aussiehoopla.com online and the podcast running.

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Former NBL champion and Australian Boomer Mitch McCarron joins the podcast to discuss retiring from professional basketball at just 32, what went wrong during his three seasons with the Adelaide 36ers and the frustration of repeatedly representing Australia through qualifying windows but narrowly missing selection for an Olympics or World Cup.

Host Dan Boyce chats with McCarron about leaving Cairns for Melbourne United, why Dean Vickerman's system brought out the best basketball of his career, winning the 2021 NBL championship and the defensive criticism he faced playing point guard at 6'3.

McCarron also opens up on why he left a championship-winning Melbourne team to sign a three-year deal with Adelaide, why three talented 36ers rosters continually failed to reach the postseason, the Craig Randall situation, CJ Bruton's departure and whether Adelaide ultimately asked him to be a type of point guard that didn't suit his game.

The conversation also covers Aaron Fearne's underrated Taipans teams, Cairns' 2017 playoff run, his final season playing through knee problems with the New Zealand Breakers, playing alongside Parker Jackson-Cartwright, missing the 2019 World Cup and Tokyo Olympics and captaining Australia to Asia Cup gold.

Topics include:

• Retiring from the NBL at just 32 and the injuries behind the decision
• Why he continues playing NBL1 basketball despite retiring professionally
• Aaron Fearne's system and why Cairns consistently exceeded expectations
• What stopped the Taipans from going further during their 2017 playoff run
• Leaving Cairns as his value around the NBL continued to rise
• Why Dean Vickerman and Melbourne United brought out the best version of Mitch McCarron
• Winning the 2021 NBL championship and earning All-NBL Second Team honours
• The criticism around whether United needed to hide him defensively against quicker point guards
• Why he walked away from a championship team to sign with Adelaide
• What went wrong during three straight seasons without finals basketball at the 36ers
• The Craig Randall situation and the problems inside Adelaide during CJ Bruton's tenure
• Whether the 36ers asked McCarron to become the wrong type of point guard
• The frustration of captaining talented Adelaide teams that continually fell short
• Joining the New Zealand Breakers and playing alongside Parker Jackson-Cartwright
• Playing through serious knee problems during his final NBL season
• Missing the 2019 World Cup and Tokyo Olympic teams despite becoming a regular Boomer
• The frustration of playing FIBA qualifying windows but missing the major tournaments
• Captaining Australia to Asia Cup gold
• Comparing the systems he played in at Cairns, Melbourne, Adelaide and New Zealand
• What the perfect offence for peak Mitch McCarron would actually look like

All of this and a whole lot more...

Support Aussie Hoopla:

We are doing everything we can to keep these podcasts going, but the costs to produce, host, and track down guests are adding up.

If you enjoy the show and want to help keep it alive, you can support us in two ways:

Buy a T shirt or Buy Me A Coffee

Every contribution goes directly toward keeping aussiehoopla.com online and the podcast running.

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Two-time NBL champion and five-time NBL Best Defensive Player Darnell Mee returns to the podcast to revisit Adelaide's back-to-back championships, the heartbreaking end to the 2001 season and why that loss ultimately led him to leave the 36ers.

Host Dan Boyce chats with Mee about watching his son Micale build his own basketball career in Australia, representing Adelaide at the McDonald's Championship, becoming teammates with Damon Lowery after their infamous 2001 playoff meeting, and the extraordinary sacrifices made by players to help save the Cairns Taipans. Darnell also breaks down how he approached defending some of the greatest players in NBL history.

Topics include:

• His current work as a teacher and basketball coach at Cleveland High School
• Watching his son Micale build his own basketball career in Australia
• Western Kentucky's 1992–93 team joining him in the school's Athletic Hall of Fame
• Representing Adelaide at the 1999 McDonald's Championship in Milan
• His time with Kinder Bologna and playing professionally in France and Germany
• How Adelaide figured out Brian Goorjian's South East Melbourne Magic and Victoria Titans teams
• The team chemistry and off-court bonding behind Adelaide's back-to-back championships
• The championship Adelaide believed it should have won in 1999–2000
• When the chemistry of the championship 36ers began to disappear
• The internal tension surrounding Adelaide's 2000–01 season
• His missed free throw and the heartbreaking end to Adelaide's 2001 playoff run
• What happened inside the silent Adelaide changeroom after the loss
• Why the 2001 defeat convinced him to leave Adelaide and return to Europe
• Becoming teammates with Damon Lowery at the Wollongong Hawks
• The Taipans entering voluntary administration and players accepting major salary cuts
• How the Cairns community helped prevent the club from disappearing
• How he approached defending Andrew Gaze, Ricky Grace, Daryl McDonald, Shane Heal and other NBL legends
• Whether he would consider returning to Australia in a coaching role

All of this and a whole lot more...

Support Aussie Hoopla:

We are doing everything we can to keep these podcasts going, but the costs to produce, host, and track down guests are adding up.

If you enjoy the show and want to help keep it alive, you can support us in two ways:

Buy a T shirt or Buy Me A Coffee

Every contribution goes directly toward keeping aussiehoopla.com online and the podcast running.

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Two-time NBL champion Matt Garrison joins the podcast to reflect on winning back-to-back championships with two different teams, helping the Wollongong Hawks claim their first NBL title in 2001 before joining the Adelaide 36ers and winning it all again in 2002.

Host Dan Boyce chats with Garrison about arriving in Wollongong as a mid-season import, accepting an unusual role coming off the bench, the Hawks' controversial 2001 semi-final win over Adelaide and the championship run that followed. Garrison also discusses leaving Wollongong for Cairns, being released by the Taipans after only 10 games, joining the very Adelaide team he had eliminated the previous season and becoming the first player in NBL history to win consecutive championships with different clubs.

The episode also covers his college career, playing professionally around the world, his opportunity with the Los Angeles Clippers, returning to Wollongong and his later success playing and coaching in Japan.

Topics include:

• What Matt Garrison is doing today
• Growing up in Montana and his college basketball career
• Beginning his professional career overseas
• Arriving in Australia as a mid-season replacement for Wollongong
• Scoring 24 points in his first NBL game
• Going from a high-scoring import to coming off the bench for the Hawks
• Playing alongside Glen Saville, Mat Campbell, Melvin Thomas and Damon Lowery
• The controversial Damon Lowery foul that sent Wollongong to the 2001 Grand Final
• Winning Wollongong's first NBL championship
• Why he left the Hawks for Cairns after winning the title
• Being released by the Taipans after only 10 games
• How quickly Adelaide came calling after his Cairns exit
• Joining the same 36ers players he had controversially eliminated the previous season
• Playing for Brendan Joyce compared with Phil Smyth
• Playing alongside Brett Maher and Willie Farley
• Winning the 2002 NBL championship with Adelaide
• Becoming the first player to win consecutive NBL titles with different clubs
• Which championship meant more: Wollongong or Adelaide
• Returning to Wollongong for the 2002/03 season
• His final NBL season and career-high 29-point game
• Earning an opportunity with the Los Angeles Clippers
• Playing in Lebanon and Japan after leaving the NBL
• Winning back-to-back three-point contests in Japan
• Returning to Japan as a head coach and winning Coach of the Year
• Highlights and hurdles from his basketball career

All of this and a whole lot more...

Support Aussie Hoopla:

We are doing everything we can to keep these podcasts going, but the costs to produce, host, and track down guests are adding up.

If you enjoy the show and want to help keep it alive, you can support us in two ways:

Buy a T shirt or Buy Me A Coffee

Every contribution goes directly toward keeping aussiehoopla.com online and the podcast running.

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Perth Wildcats head coach John Rillie joins the podcast to discuss the pressure of coaching one of the NBL's most successful clubs, the expectations that come with the Red Army, and what he has been building since taking over in 2022.

Host Dan Boyce chats with Rillie about Perth's recent semi-final exits, the scrutiny around the club, Bryce Cotton's departure, the growth of players like Ben Henshall and Elijah Pepper, and how the Wildcats are shaping their next championship contender.

Topics include:

• Taking over the Perth Wildcats after the finals streak ended
• The pressure of coaching Perth
• Fan criticism and the 2023 backlash
• The Trevor Gleeson era and modern NBL expectations
• Bryce Cotton's final season and departure
• The Mason Jones situation and roster fit
• Developing Ben Henshall, Elijah Pepper and Alexandre Sarr
• How Perth's style has evolved under Rillie
• Reviewing last season and the Wildcats' defensive jump
• What Perth still needs to become a Championship Series team

All of this and a whole lot more...

Support Aussie Hoopla:

We are doing everything we can to keep these podcasts going, but the costs to produce, host, and track down guests are adding up.

If you enjoy the show and want to help keep it alive, you can support us in two ways:

Buy a T shirt or Buy Me A Coffee

Every contribution goes directly toward keeping aussiehoopla.com online and the podcast running.

----------

Former 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.

Host Dan Boyce chats with Roberts about playing under Brian Goorjian, becoming a key interior presence for Sydney, the shoulder injury suffered during the 2005 All-Star dunk contest, and his later return to the NBL with Townsville alongside Corey Williams and Trevor Gleeson.

Topics include:

• Where has Rolan been since we last saw him in the NBL (2:00)
• Sydney's 2005 championship run (8:30)
• Playing college basketball with Southern Illinois (8:00)
• Starting his professional career overseas (14:00)
• Arriving in Australia with the Sydney Kings (20:00)
• Playing for Brian Goorjian (27:00)
• The shoulder injury from the dunk contest that ended his season (34:00)
• Returning to the NBL with Townsville in 2009 (39:00)
• Being dumbfounded Trevor Gleeson would win NBL titles and how diffucult it was to play with Corey 'Homicide' Williams (43:00)
• His career in France, Portugal and across Europe (50:00)

All of this and a whole lot more...

We are doing everything we can to keep these podcasts going, but the costs to produce, host, and track down guests are adding up.

If you enjoy the show and want to help keep it alive, you can support us in two ways:

Buy a T shirt or Buy Me A Coffee

Every contribution goes directly toward keeping aussiehoopla.com online and the podcast running.

----------

Former 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.

Host Dan Boyce chats with Hodge about his incredible all-around performances, earning All-NBL Third Team honours, and what it was like adjusting to the Australian game mid-season. The episode also dives into his time playing alongside key 36ers teammates, his perspective on the league, and the circumstances around his time in Adelaide and beyond.

Topics include:

• His coaching journey (2:00)
• New York basketball (8:00)
• Entering the NBA draft (16:00)
• Time in the NBA (22:00)
• Being shot (39:00)
• Arriving in Adelaide (44:00)
• Phil Smyth's surprise firing (53:00)
• Money issues with the 36ers (59:00)
• Stepping on Brett Mahers name (1:03:00)
• His career after leaving Melbourne (1:06:00)
• Highlights and hurdles from his career (1:10:00)

All of this and a whole lot more...

Support Aussie Hoopla:

We are doing everything we can to keep these podcasts going, but the costs to produce, host, and track down guests are adding up.

If you enjoy the show and want to help keep it alive, you can support us in two ways:

Buy a T shirt or Buy Me A Coffee

Every contribution goes directly toward keeping aussiehoopla.com online and the podcast running.

----------

Current head coach of the Akita Northern Happinets, Mick Downer joins the podcast to discuss the differences between coaching in Japan and the NBL, his stints with Perth, Cairns, Brisbane and Adelaide over the past 25 years, and his time with the Australian Boomers program.

Host Dan Boyce chats with Downer about what he learnt stepping into the head coaching role in a non-English speaking country, as well as providing updates on NBL talent in Japan like Keanu Pinder, Yanni Wetzell, Trey Kell, Vic Law, DJ Newbill and plenty more.

Topics include:

• Thoughts on the NBL Finals (4:00)
• Stepping into his first professional head coaching role in Japan (6:00)
• Learnings from coaches like Aaron Fearne, Andrej Lemanis and CJ Bruton (14:00)
• Helping create the 'Tagging System' for offensive rebounding and how it work (17:00)
• Differences between the Japanese league and the NBL (27:00)
• Why more Australians are heading to Japan, and whether that should concern the NBL (41:00)
• Mick's coaching future and plans (48:00)

All of this and a whole lot more...

Originally recorded in 2018 — this episode has been remastered and re-released following the passing of Australian basketball legend Ken Cole.

Ken Cole, a championship-winning coach of the Adelaide 36ers and architect of the iconic 1986 "Invincibles" season (24–2), left a lasting impact on basketball in Australia — as a coach, leader, and later President of the Sixers.

In this interview, Ken reflects on his return to the Adelaide 36ers, his battle with multiple myeloma, and shares unforgettable stories from the early days of the NBL — from the birth of the game in Australia to the evolution of imports, trash talking, and player development.

This episode also captures Ken's thoughts at the time on the Adelaide 36ers roster, the Mitch Creek NBA situation, and what it takes to build a winning culture.

This remastered version features improved audio quality.

Vale Ken Cole.

In this episode:

• Why Ken returned to the Adelaide 36ers (2:00)

• Battling cancer and mindset for survival (9:30)

• Thoughts on the 2018 Adelaide 36ers roster (19:30)

• The 1986 championship "Invincibles" season (36:00)

• Basketball in Australia in the 60s & 70s (54:00)

• The origins of trash talking in Australia (1:43:00)

• Classic NBL stories from the early days (1:47:00)

• Imports in the NBL — should they be limited? (1:54:00)

• Mitch Creek & the Brooklyn Nets situation (2:01:00)

• Funding grassroots basketball development (2:06:00)

• Eddie Palubinskas stories (2:14:00)