Greenvale sports legend receives Basketball Victoria’s Diamond 50 Year Service Award

WHEN Greenvale’s Brian Mott began playing basketball a dribble between the legs hadn’t been heard of.

Brian Mott has received Basketball Victoria’s Diamond 50 Year Service Award. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

WHEN Brian Mott began playing basketball a dribble between the legs hadn’t been heard of.

The Greenvale basketball stalwart is a legend on and off the court at the Craigieburn Basketball Association (CBA).

He recently received Basketball Victoria’s Diamond 50 Year Service Award.

Mott, 66, said he was “humbled and honoured” to have received the recognition.

He took up the sport at the age of seven in the Bendigo YMCA program before moving to Fawkner as teenager and taking up a coaching role in the local league.

“Basketball was a very minor sport in those days,” Mott said. “I didn’t know much about it. But I loved what the game had to offer.

“There are lot of different skills you pick up and I found the creative side of basketball really attractive.

“When I first started playing people didn’t dribble the ball between their legs.”

Mott’s love of the game would go on to span more than five decades as a player, coach, administrator, referee and mentor.

He joined the CBA in the late 1970s and helped to develop and grow the newly formed competition.

The CBA has been a family affair for Mott with his brother the founding president, his wife the founding secretary, his two children being past players and his grandson currently plays.

“Basketball has been a passion of mine for almost my entire life and I have enjoyed every minute of it,” he said.

Mott is a 2018 Leader Local Sports Star Services to Sport nominee. CLICK HERE to nominate someone in your community.

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