Brad Newley announces retirement at end of NBL season after decorated basketball career

As his decorated basketball career comes to an end, Brad Newley reflects with MICHAEL RANDALL on his time as a Boomer, NBL near-misses and the NBA meme that won’t go away.

Universally loved dual Olympian Brad Newley has confirmed this NBL season will be his last, which adds another layer of urgency to the championship quest of top-of-the-table Melbourne United.

Yet to lift a major title across a sublime two-decade basketball career, just five more wins stand between a fairytale send-off for the 38-year-old as he hopes to “dance in the confetti” for the first time.

It’s the one big piece of unfinished business that has driven the Adelaide-born Boomers gun, who book-ended the reality of achieving an NBA draft dream, green-and-gold glory and a European journey with NBL stints at three clubs.

In typical Newley fashion, the United everyman wanted to “get it out of the way”, so on Monday, he informed teammates of his decision before the club’s final-round double.

“I was probably always going to finish up this year but I’d only really told my wife (Brigid), the kids and my mum and dad, although CG (teammate and friend Chris Goulding) would have had an inkling,” Newley said.

“I didn’t cry (when I told the players). There was a little bit of humour but probably more serious, with a lot of thank yous.

“I’m grateful for the (one-year) deal this season and how United and Deano (coach Dean Vickerman) have been really good with me.”

Brad Newley in the early stages of his NBL career after signing for Townsville.

Newley’s worry he will be a distraction from United’s ultimate goal is misguided.

He will be more an inspiration when the club honours the NBL 325-gamer during clashes against Cairns (Friday) and Illawarra (Sunday).

United will then shift focus to post-season preparations with an eye on the play-in tournament, which will determine their semi-final opponent.

THE BITTER PILL

Newley burst onto the Aussie basketball scene in 2003 as a bouncy youngster out of the Australian Institute of Sport who, alongside Andrew Bogut, powered Australia to U19 World Championships gold and then claimed MVP honours at the 2004 Basketball Australia U20 National Championships.

That caught the eye of beloved Aussie mentor Ian Stacker who recruited him to Townsville. It was the beginning of a basketball journey that took him through Greece, Turkey, Lithuania, Spain and the Canary Islands before coming full circle back to the NBL in Sydney.

Newley has been close to silverware several times, with semi-final appearances in two of his first three years with the Crocodiles and as a beaten finalist in two EuroCups and a Spanish Cup.

Oh, and there’s the matter of the Covid-affected 2020 NBL grand final between the Kings and Perth, which still grates.

The NBL controversially awarded the Wildcats, who were up 2-1 in the series, the title with two games remaining after the Kings collectively decided the risks of travelling to Perth during the pandemic were too great.

Newley missed out on a title in Sydney when the 2020 finals were abandoned.

The decision left Newley still searching and sparked a cross-continent war of words that rejuvenated the rivalry between the two clubs.

“It’s been pretty hard to move on,” he said.

“That was my last chance (to win a title) in my prime.

“After four hard years in Sydney, we had finally got ourselves to a championship series and it fell apart at the end under some pretty crazy circumstances.”

Following Newley’s move to Melbourne in 2021, United finished top of the table but suffered a shock semi-final series loss to expansion club Tasmania — as the Kings went on to claim back-to-back titles.

“Seeing Sydney go on to win the next two, it was pretty hard, but it’s no fault of anyone’s, they happened to be the best team,” Newley said.

“We lost to Tasmania and I thought that might have been my career, then, so I’m grateful to United and Deano for giving me two more years.”

‘DON’T BE A D---HEAD’: THE END, CRYSTALLISED

Newley’s a competitive beast whose edge has been a key to his success and longevity.

He’s been conscious to finish the “right way” and provide an example for his younger teammates.

That doesn’t mean there hasn’t been the rare moment when he’s had to wrestle with reality of Father Time.

It came to a head during a mid-season practice at Hoops City, where the veteran was visibly and audibly frustrated when Vickerman looked to youth to cover a mini injury crisis. But there wasn’t a single person in that gym who couldn’t empathise with the proud competitor.

“It’s a little bit hard to talk about but, yeah, I was trying to have a crack, trying to get in the line-up and probably overdoing it,” Newley said.

“Things had started to hit home and it brought out some emotion in me.

“Chris called me out. He said ‘stop being a d---head, we haven’t got long left in this, let’s make sure it’s a good time’.

Newley’s pending retirement only adds fuel to United’s title push. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

“He was right. I was rattled but we spent the afternoon together and the next morning I met with Deano and we resolved to finish up the right way and me not being a grizzly old bloke.”

Emotions surfaced again for a different reason before a recent game in his hometown of Adelaide when the stands were littered with friends and family.

“Deano asked me what I thought about the game beforehand and I just choked up, I couldn’t get the words out,” Newley said.

“We played the game and my wife got quite emotional afterward because she was the only one who really knew this would be my last trip to play at home.

“One of those moments that you share with your family.”

BOOM TIME AND THE NBA MEME THAT JUST WON’T DIE

Speak with Newley and he’ll quickly transition between discussing the difficult and the joyous, the twinkle in his eye part of the charm that allows him to connect equally as well with a 17-year-old development player, a 34-year-old veteran or a 40-someting storyteller.

He takes particular pride from having represented the Boomers squads in Beijing and London.

“They’re the best memories of my life. I guess I’ll officially retire from the Boomers as well, while we’re here,” he joked.

“Growing up, my dream was to play for Australia and I was so lucky, I achieved that by the time I was 20.

“I say to Goorj (Boomers coach Brian Goorjian) ‘I’m always around’.

“I came into (the Boomers squad) in 2004 and was there through that period of rebuilding and guys figuring out who we were in the world.

“I’m proud of being a part of those early years and helping put the building blocks in place (for the team that broke through for bronze at the Tokyo Olympics).”

Newley was on top of the world when the Houston Rockets made him the 54th pick in the 2007 NBA draft.

Brad Newley dunks for the Townsville Crocs.

Two Summer League stints followed but never materialised into a concrete shot at the big league.

However, doors opened all over the globe.

None of the draft-rights players are expected to play in the NBA, and essentially Knicks pocket $1.1M to jump on today's trade call with the Cavaliers-Lakers in the Rajon Rondo deal. https://t.co/244ZasxFzk

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 3, 2022

“I was in Boomers camp after the draft and I was getting European offers and guys like Glen Saville, Matt Neilsen, Sam Mackinnon, David Andersen and CJ Bruton helped me make a decision where to play,” he said.

“Being part of the junior World Cup team and then getting drafted … Bogues’ dominance put an eye on Australian basketball again and I was just fortunate enough I was able to swoop in.”

In 2017, a decade after he had been drafted, Newley’s name popped up in a trade between Houston and LA.

Then, five years on in 2022, his draft rights were again swapped with New York — he’s never set foot on an NBA floor, but he’s clearly still a hot commodity.

“After that trade, I got a box full of Knicks gear,’’ he said.

“That was pretty funny.

“All I’m after now is a courtside seat to a Knicks game.”

Basketballer Brad Newley with parents Janelle and Arthur and girlfriend Brigid Bowley watching the NBA draft at home in Adelaide.

FAMILY NEWLEY’S ROCK

Dad Arthur and mum Janelle were both hoopers so, naturally, Newley and sister Mia followed them into the sport.

“Dad was president of Forestville Eagles and I was always around there, and mum was my first coach and she’s as competitive as me — we still get into arguments,” he said.

“Brigid was a professional and she chose to stop her career to support me and allow me to have the career that I’ve had, and we have two beautiful little kids, Beth (10) and Charlie (6).

“She’s gone out and done a teaching degree and I’m really proud. She deals with six-year-olds at work and then comes home and deals with a six-year-old, a 10-year-old and a 38-year-old kid at night.”

Brad Newley and his dad Arthur after he was drafted to the NBA.

Newley’s longevity has allowed the kids to watch the latter stages of his career.

“They have been along with the journey and seen me play the last few years of my career — even if they have to look on YouTube to see the dunks I used to be able to do,” he said.

“The funny thing now is I’m starting to coach my daughter and, on the weekend, I had a 2pm game against New Zealand at John Cain Arena but before that I was on the score bench for a 9.30am game at GESAC (Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre)

“She went on to score four points, which I was very proud of.”

Newley is hoping to stay in basketball when his playing days are over.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Newleys have made their home in Melbourne and Brad wants to stay in sport — preferably hoops.

It’s a good thing United is keen, too. Club and player are working together to find a role that will help him make the transition.

“United have been really good about it all and I’d also like to do some commentary or media stuff — I like talking and I like talking basketball,” Newley said.

“Working in the school system, too. Not necessarily coaching but in the development space, working with kids as a mentor.”

Firstly, there’s that little matter of unfinished business to address.

BRAD NEWLEY FACT FILE

Age: 38

Height: 199cm

NBA draft: Round 2, pick No.55, 2007

Club: Melbourne United

NBL games: 325

Career high: 46 points

Olympics: Beijing (2008), London (2012)

World Cup: Spain (2014)

Originally published as Brad Newley announces retirement at end of NBL season after decorated basketball career