Legends past and present: Gold Coast’s all-time greatest basketball team revealed
For over three decades the Gold Coast has been a regional hub for some of Australia’s top professional basketballers. Now some of the figureheads of the sport in the city have named the greatest of all time. Discover them here
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For over three decades the Gold Coast has been a regional hub for some of Australia’s top professional basketballers.
1991 was the club’s first year on the NBL scene, then under the banner of Gold Coast Cougars before rebranding as the Rollers in 1992.
It may have disbanded in 1996, along with the Geelong Supercats and Hobart Devils, but the Rollers are far from off the mark when it comes to producing talent.
Current NBL stars Jack McVeigh (Tasmanian Jack Jumpers) and Todd Blanchfield (Illawarra Hawks) are proof of what the comes out of the Coast.
Combining the past and present, Gold Coast Rollers life member and resident expert Noel Browne, and former Rollers NBL head coach David Claxton as well as other figureheads have named their all-time greatest Gold Coast basketball teams.
Bring out those old team photos, because these squads feature names from the 80s to now.
Noel Browne’s team
1 (PG) John Grantham – Southport State High School, Brisbane Bullets 1982. Grantham played one season in the NBL. He averaged 1.6 points, 0.4 rebounds, and 0.2 assists in 9 NBL games.
2 (SG) Brendan Le Gassick – Merrimac State School, Gold Coast Cougars/ Rollers 1991-93 and Townsville Suns NBL 1994. He averaged 3.4 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 63 NBL games.
3 (SF) Rodger Smith – Keebra Park State High School, played over 200 NBL games for the Brisbane Bullets 1989, 1994-99, 2001 and Gold Coast Cougars/ Rollers 1990-93. His career highs included 23 points, 12 assists, 14 steals and six blocks.
4 (PF) John Szigeti – Palm Beach Currumbin State High School, Gold Coast Cougars/ Rollers 1991-95 and Brisbane Bullets 1997-98, 2001. He averaged 5.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 193 NBL games.
5 (C) Tim Behrendorff – Trinity Lutheran College, Cairns Taipans 2005, New Zealand Breakers 2006-2008 and Wollongong Hawks 2009-11. He averaged 3.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.3 assists in 191 NBL games.
Second Team
1 Greg Fox – Southport State High School
2 Brett Hutchens – Miami State High School
3 Chris Magick – Merrimac State School
4 Jack McVeigh – The Southport School
5 Robin Behrendorff – Trinity Lutheran College
Third team
1 Adam Darragh – Southport State High School
2 Darren Le Gassick – Southport State High School
3 Flynn Cameron – Hillcrest Chrisian College
4 Jason Acoin – Kings Christian College
5 Ross Sundergold – Miami State High School
Others
Toby Zambrema
Shane Gleeson
Shaun Tilby
Tobias Cameron
Wayne Smith
Jalen Crocker
Preston Le Gassick
Levy Franklin
David Claxton’s team
1. Greg Fox – Southport State High School, Brisbane Bullets 1989-92 and Gold Coast Rollers 1993. He averaged 4.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 119 NBL games.
2. Flynn Cameron – Miami State High School, Melbourne United NBL 2023 with a three-year contract signed. He has averaged 3.4 points, 1 assist and 2.6 rebounds per game this season.
3. Jack McVeigh – The Southport School. Adelaide 36ers 2018-2020 and Tasmanian JackJumpers 2021-2023. He has averaged 9.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists since entering the league in 2018.
4 (PF) John Szigeti – Palm Beach Currumbin State High School, Gold Coast Cougars/ Rollers 1991-95 and Brisbane Bullets 1997-98, 2001. He averaged 5.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 193 NBL games.
5 (C) Tim Behrendorff – Trinity Lutheran College, Cairns Taipans 2005, New Zealand Breakers 2006-2008 and Wollongong Hawks 2009-11. He averaged 3.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.3 assists in 191 NBL games.
Second team
1 Roger Smith
2 Adam Darragh
3 Brendan Le Gassick
4 Toby Zaremba
5 Frank Goldfinch.
Others
John Grantham
Neil Goldfinch
Callum Dalton
Neil Goldfinch.
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