Luc Longley marks 26 years since becoming first Australian to play in NBA, praises Ben Simmons

BASKETBALL pioneer Luc Longley says Ben Simmons is already the most impactful player Australia has ever produced as he marks the 26th anniversary of the day he became the first Aussie to set foot on an NBA court.

Luc Longley won three NBA championships with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

AS Ben Simmons was setting career highs for Philadelphia today, he probably wasn’t thinking about the man who blazed the trail for Aussie basketballers in the NBA.

But Lucien James Longley — better known as Luc — was quietly celebrating the anniversary of one of the most significant moments in Aussie basketball history — his NBA debut.

It was 26 years ago to the day he stepped out for the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Dallas Mavericks after they made him the seventh pick in the 1991 draft, becoming the first Australian to play in the NBA.

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Luc Longley won three NBA championships with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

He failed to score, missing both his shots in four minutes of playing time, but the first step was made in a career that would take him to a trio of NBA titles with the Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and the Chicago Bulls, paving the way for the influx of Australians currently invading the league.

“Twenty-six years is a long time, I do remember being very aware that it was the first time an Australian had stepped on the court and a lot was being made of that at the time and I remember being very proud of that,” Longley told SEN Afternoons.

“I remember being excited and probably a little bit overwhelmed as well.

“There was no internet, it was really just a couple of photojournalists over there.

“Crocodile Dundee was around that time, so that was their stereotype at the time, but I did a lot of educating of the guys, I ended up playing AFL video tapes to the guys.”

Back in the day: Luc Longley during his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Longley during the halcyon days with the Bulls’ 1996 Larry O’Brien Trophy.

While Longley blazed the trail for the likes of Andrew Bogut, Patty Mills and Joe Ingles, he says Simmons — who drained 31 points and reeled in 18 boards in Philly’s win over Washington today — has taken things to another level.

“He just does so many things well, he’s so composed, he’s got a lot of work to do yet, to back all that up and you’ve got to see if his body’s resilient, but I don’t think anyone’s being too courageous by saying he’s going to be the best Australian ever,” he says of the star 76ers rookie.

“He’s already quite possibly the most impactful Australian ever, I think he’s already established that.

“I don’t think Bogut ever dominated a game the way he is, I certainly didn’t, or Patty or Joe or (Aron) Baynes or any of those guys.

“He’s just the full package.”

Longley hopes Philly coach Brett Brown’s Aussie connection can help get Ben Simmons in a Boomers jersey.

Longley, an assistant coach with the Boomers, said quiet fears Simmons could opt to play for Team USA were unfounded and the Aussies were in negotiations to get him to play at the 2019 World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“He’s played for Australia before — once you nominate for a country, that’s it, he can’t change his mind now and go play for the Americans or anything like that, which is good, not that he would,” Longley said.

“He’s got a lot of pressure on him and a lot of expectation. I was in Philly late last year, I went and met with him and he’s keen, but at that point he hadn’t played a single game and (there were) a lot of unknowns for him.

“I know that Benny’s keen and we’re keen and I’m sure that the 76ers with (former NBL coach) Brett Brown at the helm are going to do everything they can to facilitate it.

“I’d be very surprised if he didn’t play Olympics, I’m hopeful that he’ll play in the World Cup in 2019, but maybe I’m being optimistic there.”

Longley in action for the Boomers in 2000.

Carrying the Sydney 2000 Olympic torch. Picture: Kerry Berrington

Longley recalled some amusing anecdotes from his time with the Bulls, including using aliases at hotels like Gary McDonald’s satirical character Norman Gunston or legendary Carlton defender Bruce Doull.

“We had situations where we were having to go into hotels through the kitchen and use aliases,” he said.

“If we couldn’t go in through the kitchen, we’d send one of the young rookies in with Michael’s jacket and hat on and pull the jacket up over his head and the media would chase him in thinking it was Michael and then we’d go the other way.

That doesn’t look like Luc Longley... Garry McDonald as Norman Gunston.

Was Luc a Blues’ fan? Longley’s hotel alias, Carlton champion Bruce Doull.

“We had such a big following, the whole team, we would rock up at two o’clock in the morning to a hotel in Philadelphia and there’d be 4-500 people just trying to get a look at us.”

Poor Toni Kukoc was a star on the court, but wasn’t known for his toughness.

“Our practices were tougher than a lot of our games at that stage, we were blowing teams out in the first half and then icing down by the middle of the third quarter,” Longley said.

“But our practices were violent and intense, Scottie would match up with Michael, or Dennis sometimes with me or sometimes, just for a giggle, we’d put him on Toni kukoc and watch him monster Toni for a while.”

Longley in action for the Chicago Bulls in 1996.

A couple of Australia’s greatest ever — Luc Longley and Andrew Gaze — check out some photos during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.