Adelaide 36ers legend Darryl Pearce has died, aged 64

The Adelaide 36ers have lost one of their Invincibles, with the passing of legendary three-point shooter and championship winner Darryl Pearce.

Adelaide 36ers and NBL great Darryl Pearce has died, aged 64.

Known as the Iceman for his capacity to knock down three-point shots with great regularity and at critical moments, Pearce was part of the ‘Invincibles’ 36ers team that won the 1986 championship.

He was a 36er for a decade before switching in 1992 to North Melbourne, where he claimed the 1994 crown with the Giants team that swept Adelaide in the grand final series.

Darryl Pearce (right) with then fellow 36er Mark Bradtke in 1988. Picture: Graham Tidy

Darryl Pearce shoots a jump shot against the Perth Wildcats at Apollo Stadium in1987. Picture: Kevin Bull

Former Boomers teammate and fellow South Australian basketball icon, Phil Smyth said the news had come as a “shock” on Monday morning.

The pair represented Australia at the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul as well as both playing for Adelaide 36ers at different times.

“From a Boomers perspective he was a terrific teammate (and) understood his role really well,” Mr Smyth said.

“(He was) a team oriented guy with a great sense of humour...he could command a room with his humour.”

Mr Smyth said he will remember his teammate for his humble nature as a shooter which he said can be “a rarity” in the game.

Darryl Pearce while representing the Boomers in their game against the USSR at Apollo Stadium in Richmond, SA 18 Aug 1987. Picture: The Advertiser Staff Photographer

Adelaide 36ers executive chairman Grant Kelley said it was an incredibly sad day for the club.

“Darryl was one of our Invincibles and his No. 4 jersey hangs proudly from the rafters,” he said.

“He was an inaugural inductee to the club Hall of Fame, and one of the best shooters the NBL has ever seen.

“Our thoughts and prayers go to the entire Pearce family and the wider basketball community at this time.”

The NBL also paid tribute to Pearce, who was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002 and was also an NBL All-Star in 1990.

The 191cm guard averaged 15.6 points, 3.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds across his 13-year NBL career, while shooting three-pointers at nearly 42 per cent.

Darryl Pearce catching up with former 36ers teammate David Winslow the Mansions Hotel in the Adelaide CBD. Picture: David Cronin

“The NBL is saddened by the loss of one of the league’s great players, Darryl Pearce, who played 374 games with the Adelaide 36ers and North Melbourne Giants,” the league said in a statement.

“A two-time championship winner in 1986 and 1994, Pearce was one of the great scorers and shooters that the NBL has seen, sitting 13th all-time in three-point makes.

“A member of the Adelaide 36ers Hall of Fame, with his #4 jersey retired by the club, he was also inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. Our thoughts are with his family and those who were close to him at this time.”

The 36ers will honour Pearce with a moment of silence, and players wearing black armbands, in Monday night’s match against the Illawarra Hawks.

Originally published as Adelaide 36ers legend Darryl Pearce has died, aged 64