Shane Heal reflects on his life in basketball, best moments, big changes and a love of Yahtzee

Shane Heal has been synonymous with Australian basketball for 30 years, the Boomers great reflects on his lifetime in the game after uncovering perhaps his first interview. His answers have changed a bit over the years.

Shane Heal reflects on a lifetime in basketball.

Aussie basketball legend Shane Heal never backed down on the court and has never been short of an opinion off it as he transitioned into the Fox Sports NBL commentary box.

Famous for on court battles with Team USA and his prodigious but unique slinging shooting style, Heal is a household name in the Aussie basketball world.

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But what was the former NBA player and NBL champion like as a 20-year-old?

Legendary NBL referee Mal Cooper dug up a hilarious 1991 interview with the fresh-faced then-Geelong Supercat from the iconic ‘Swish’ basketball magazine.

We asked the man they call the Hammer about it.

Shane Heal working for Fox Sports at a NBL game. Picture: Dylan Coker

FROM THE MAG IN 1991

Since his arrival at Geelong three years ago, star Supercat Shane Heal has established himself as arguably the best Australian point guard in the business.

An explosive type with deadly range, Heal earned his nickname “The Hammer” from drilling the basket from way downtown.

At the same time, he has been responsible for the Supercats’ return to prominence in the NBL after a disastrous losing stretch in 1988.

Heal is confident, aggressive and clearly calls the shots as Geelong’s on-court quarterback.

He shows maturity that has some Supercats fans touting him as a future Geelong captain.

Heal was awarded the league’s Rookie of the Year Award in 1988, the Most Improved Player Award and Good Hands last year and has slotted into the Australian Boomers team without too much trouble.

With a burning desire to play at next year’s Olympics (he actually wants to be a triple Olympian), Heal is set for a big career in the NBL.

Packing to move and found this copy of NBL Swish mag from 1991 is this the real Hammer?? What you say ⁦@ShaneHeal⁩ ??⁦FYI ⁦@NBL⁩ ⁦@JohnCasey2880⁩ ⁦@nathanstrempel⁩ ⁦@BradRosen5⁩ ⁦@_DwayneRussell⁩ pic.twitter.com/91zVf7vO3f

— Mal Cooper (@Hollywood5550) November 16, 2018

Shan Heale and his wife Jenny after their wedding in 1994.

Full name: Shane Douglas Heal

Nickname: ‘Hammer’

Birth date/place: September 6, 1970. Box Hill, Melbourne

Position: Point guard

Are you married? No

Now: I’ve been married to Jenny for 24 years and we’ve got three kids, Shyla, Ashleigh and Jamie.

During the day I: Play Nintendo and Yahtzee

Now: I don’t play Nintendo or Yahtzee. I think that was the last time I did. I’m coaching, doing the media stuff and spending time with family. I can’t even remember my favourite Nintendo game but I remember I loved Yahtzee. Every time there was a Yahtzee, we got to poke the other person and they turned into punches, they were that hard. Lucky there were no concussion tests back then.

Most points ever scored in a game: 89

Now: That was in a junior competition at Nunawading and I’ve never beaten that. The highest I had in the NBL was 61 (for Brisbane against Townsville in 1994).

Shane Heal and Gary Payton get to know one another at the 1996 Olympic Games.

Best moment of my playing career: Geelong making the playoffs in 1991

Now: That was huge at the time, but obviously winning a championship and playing in the final four for Australia at the Olympics in 1996 and 2000 (the Aussies lost in the bronze medal game to Lithuania at both tournaments). The NBA was never a goal or a dream or anything because it just wasn’t a reality when I was growing up. Winning championships and playing for Australia was what it was all about for me.

Worst moment of my career: Losing to Perth in the finals in 1988 and being drug tested

Now: That was the worst. You lose in the finals and then you’re there for hours getting drug tested. But, by far the two worst things for us was losing the bronze medal games against Lithuania in both ’96 and 2000. It was probably one of the saddest and most emotional things, even though we were happy to get so far. In 1996 we were against (then-NBA stars) (Arvydas) Sabonis and (Sarunas) Marciulionis and we got so close, but in 2000 we had our best team ever, but we got flogged in the bronze game.

The best basketball advice anyone gave me was: If you shoot, you are not throwing it away

Now: The game’s changed so much. I used to come down and be sitting on the break and throwing up threes and it used to be frowned upon. People would say ‘that’s a bad shot, it’s undisciplined’, but my theory was if I get open, I should be shooting every time, because I shoot thousands of them every week, I know I’ll make it. Now, it’s the way everyone plays.

Shane Heal drives past Phil Smyth in 1993.

The worst basketball advice anyone gave me was: Don’t shoot

Now: I didn’t listen …

Favourite non-basketball teams I follow: Woori Yallock Football Club

Now: I’m a massive Geelong fan but I played for Seville and a lot of my mates played for Woori Yallock, so I would have said it for them. My grandparents grew up in Geelong, so they all barracked for Geelong, so we had no choice. Michael Turner and David Clarke on the Duffle coat.

My best friend in basketball: Parky, Simon Kerle and my brother

Now: My best mates probably aren’t really in basketball. (former Sydney King and fellow Fox announcer) Steve Carfino is somebody that I’m really close with, I hang out with him the most, he’s my man. Shane Froling (20-year NBL journeyman and father of current Adelaide 36ers big man Harry Froling) in Townsville and (ex-Melbourne Tigers defensive beast) Warwick Giddey in Melbourne are guys I catch up with.

My favourite childhood basketball memory is: When the NSW State Team stuck bananas in our bus exhausts and then we beat them by 30 points

Now: I still remember that. Going to the national championships with Vic Metro - everyone hated us and they still do. I go to championships now with my kids and everyone hates Vic Metro. They wrote all over our bus too, so we gave them a flogging on the court.

Sydney Kings captain Shane Heal and coach Brian Goorjian show off NBL championship trophy. Picture: Stephen Cooper

My favourite midnight snack is: Ice cream

Now: Still like the ice cream … gotta go low fat these days, though.

In my spare time, I enjoy: my girlfriend

Now: She’s now my wife of 24 years

I spend money foolishly on: Food and Playboy

Now: I read that and had a little chuckle.

If I could spend a day with any historical figure, I’d choose: Tony ‘Scarface’ Montana

Now: We liked those underworld kind of movies. I still like watching those sort of movies, but I wouldn’t say that now. If I could choose anyone it would be my dad because he died when I was 13.

I’d give a game’s salary to meet: I wouldn’t give $20 to meet anyone

Now: I was on a bit more than $20 in 1991.

My favourite entertainer is: Chad Morgan

Now: You’ve got to YouTube Chad Morgan, mate. He’s a classic. I’ve never been a massive one into music, I joke with Carfino that I’m tone deaf, I can’t even hear the beat or anything. I like Matt Damon.

Elaine Smith, Jason Donovan, Kylie Minogue and Paul Keane on Neighbours. Picture: Network Ten

I stay home to watch: Jason Donovan in concert

Now: I was taking the piss. That was the peak of Jason and Kylie (Minogue) on Neighbours. My wife loved Neighbours and I’d just hang it on her.

My favourite NBL player is: Grant Kruger

Now: That was the guy that I ended up knocking out. I got a $10,000 fine from the NBL for knocking him out in a pre-season game 10 years after I gave this interview. He was a thug who just used to try and belt people and play rough. He spoke trash about my family and we got into a scuffle when I was playing for the Kings and he was playing for Illawarra. If it happened in a real game today, geez, I don’t know what the suspension would be.

My favourite NBA player is: Larry Bird

Now: I loved Larry, but I probably liked Michael (Jordan) more. Now I look at guys like (Dual NBA MVP) Steph Curry and just appreciate what he can do and how he shoots the ball from distance at his size. He opened up the way I liked to play, he’s been able to promote that worldwide.

My favourite NBA team is: Boston Celtics

Now: I don’t really barrack for anybody, but obviously I’ve got a soft spot for Minnesota and San Antonio (Heal played 43 games in 1996-97 for the Wolves and six games in 2003-04 with the Spurs). I just watch heaps of NBA.

(I asked Shane if he’s still mates with anyone from his NBA stints)

It’s funny, you sort of feel when you’re there and then you leave, you don’t want to feel like you’re hanging on to people. It’s hard to describe. Guys like Tom Gugliotta (208cm power forward), Cherokee Parks (211cm centre) and Doug West (versatile 198cm wing) I loved in Minnesota. Gugliotta was a champion he was probably the guy I was closest with of anyone.

Shane Heal at Minnesota Timberwolves training.

Shane Heal in action for Australia.

My favourite NBL venue is: Boondall

Now: The Perth Arena is far and above everywhere else. There and Melbourne Arena are the two best places. But I loved playing in the Sydney Entertainment Centre, winning a championship (while playing for the Kings in 2003) there and the atmosphere when it was a full house. It was a great place to play and it holds great memories.

My teammates call me: Hungry

Now: I think, again I was just taking the piss about shooting the ball a bit, it’s always been Hammer since the Geelong days.

If I could change one thing about myself I’d: Be 6’8”

Now: You always want something that you don’t have. I always wanted to be taller. When I was at the AIS, I damaged my wrist and they took me for a scan. And the doc asked, ‘do you want to find out how tall you’re going to be’. I was only 15 or 16 and I said, ‘yeah, I need to know’ and he came back with the result and said ‘Mate, I hope you like the height you are now (183cm)’. I was shattered.

My basketball fantasy is: To make 15 three-pointers in a game

Now: Heal made 12 threes in an NBL game three times.

If I wasn’t playing basketball, I’d be playing: Football

Now: I played with Carlton in the 15s and 17s and I was in the Teal Cup squad, but I had to make a decision at 15 and a half and I was always just passionate about basketball. I put more into basketball, even though I loved footy as well.

The opponent who frustrates me the most is: Craig Adams

Now: Craig was just a bloke I knew from my local area who I played out at Kilsyth and he was on the bench for one of the Melbourne teams then.

Shane Heal and daughter Shyla in 2015. Picture: Patria Jannides

The best athlete I ever faced was: Toni Kukoc (Yugoslavian national team)

Now: We played against Kukoc and (Dino) Radja and (Vlade) Divac for (former) Yugoslavia in 1987 for the World Juniors. We saw them as they were teenagers and they were unbelievable. Kukoc had something like 13 threes against the US in the final. He was out of control. I’ll always remember the first time we saw those guys. It was before anyone else in the world saw them.

*** Kukoc would be a teammate of Aussie Luc Longley during the Chicago Bulls stunning three-peat from 1996-98, Radja spent four years with the Boston Celtics and Divac was an NBA All Star who had his number retired by the Sacramento Kings and is now the team’s vice president of basketball operations. All three were named members of FIBA’s 50 greatest players.

If I had to pay to watch someone other than myself it’d be: Christie Brinkley

Now: Not sure my wife will be happy with the Playboy and Christie Brinkley calls …

The best thing about the NBL is: Hungry Jack’s coupons

When I’m finished in the NBL, I’d like to: Retain my Hungry Jack’s card

Now: We used to get a gold card, so everything was 50 per cent off at Hungry Jacks. We don’t have a 50 per cent card now. Everyone still gets the burgers if someone from the away team misses two free throws.

When I’m 65 I’d like to: Still be alive

Now: I’m 48 and it’s still a goal. Now with three kids, hopefully I’m a grandad and we’re all happy. The older you get, the family becomes more important and that’s where your goals are.

Few people know this, but: They don’t call me Hammer because I want to be a carpenter

Now: There’s a few different meanings depending on who you talk to, some related to the shooting, others from being a few scuffles, a few nightclub scuffles.