From Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams to Craig Randall II - NBL’s wildest import stars

From dodgy car salesmen, to professional hairdressers living double lives, Australian basketball has seen some truly bizarre imports grace the game.

Overseas imports have played a vital role in the NBL’s rise and some of their antics on and off the court are the stuff of Australian basketball folklore. Right now, the league is littered with fiery and fun characters, from legendary four-time league MVP Bryce Cotton in Perth to larger-than-life former NBA big man Montrezl Harrell in Adelaide.

Matt Logue and Michael Randall take a walk down memory lane with a look at some of the weird, wacky and wonderful overseas talents who have graced – and, on the odd occasion, disgraced – the NBL.

Scroll on to discover some of the NBL's most interesting characters.

Kenne Young

Syndey Kings, 1991

Young played just one game for the Sydney Kings in 1991 before a knee injury ended his stint, but he’ll be forever remembered thanks to a bizarre quote.

The American forward had the local scribes in stitches when he produced this cracker during a media opportunity: “I like dunking better than sex”.

Young had 11 points, 5 rebounds and one assist on debut – and while his stay in Sydney was brief – he lit up the Kings locker room with his bravado and dance moves.

In Damian Keogh’s book, Money For Jam, he mentions the players saw the warning signs with Young.

Kenne Young played one game for the Sydney Kings. Picture: Jeff Herbert

“We only had to look across the changerooms during the Kmart Classic. There was Kenne, watching himself dance in the mirrored Homebush dressing room, dressed only in a jockstrap, as the rap music thumped from his ghetto blaster.”

Young had limitations but was a great athlete. He had 44 in a pre-season game against Adelaide at Broken Hill, won the dunk contest at the pre-season Kmart Classic, but was terrible in the tournament final against Eastside Melbourne and dreadful in the only regular season game he played with the Kings against the Melbourne Tigers. After that game he was diagnosed with a knee injury which then turned into severe tendinitis requiring eight weeks on the sidelines, at which point the Kings cut him.

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Jim Foster

Coburg Giants, 1986

As far as first impressions go, Coburg must have been hugely impressed with American forward Jim Foster because they signed him even after he chased the referees off the court. The year was 1985 and Foster was in Australia as a member of a touring US All-Stars side to take on the Australian Boomers in Melbourne.

The Boomers won a controversial game at the Entertainment Centre, prompting an aggrieved Foster to pursue the match officials.

“It was chaos … he had to be held back from his whole team,” one fan who was in attendance that day told us.

Drama aside, Foster proved he could play basketball after producing a dominant display against the Boomers. His performance paved the way for Coburg to sign him for the 1986 NBL season.

Foster’s season average of 32.2 points and 11 rebounds a game earned him All-NBL First Team status. He enjoyed his time in Down Under, although conceded the local bar caused issues.

“Australia was good, but I had too much free time, which isn’t good for Jimmy Foster,” he said.

“Our home arena was next to a bar, and post-game meetings were held there. My teammates were smoking, drinking beers.”

Ollie Johnson

West Sydney Westars, 1987

As far as crazy antics from imports go, Ollie Johnson from the West Sydney Westars is hard to beat.

Johnson was playing against Hobart in Tasmania during the 1987 NBL season when there was a knock on the door of the dressing room at halftime.

The San Francisco-born forward had to make a bolt because the man at the dressing room door was there to serve a summons for allegedly selling a hire car that he had rented while back in Hobart for the weekend.

Worried Westars officials had to sneak him out to the team bus and into the hotel after the game.

Ollie Johnson played in the NBA before coming to the NBL. Picture: Getty Images

Buster Whitney

Illawarra Hawks, 1980s

Some would argue one of the least impressive imports in NBL history, but we didn’t get to see him play a game because he didn’t survive the pre-season.

In fact, Buster Whitney was so bad that he approached the Hawks coach to say: “don’t play me”.

A 6’9 centre out of Boise State in America, we’re told the Hawks got “completely wrong info” about Buster, who lived a double life as a professional hairdresser and a scratch golfer.

Despite displaying athletic ability on the golf course, Buster was well and truly a “bust” on the basketball court.

Matt Nover

Sydney Kings, 1998

Nover arrived in Sydney amid fanfare after starring alongside hoops greats Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway in the 1994 movie, Blue Chips.

Nover – a former NCAA Final Four centre – was known as ‘Ricky Roe’ in the film and the Kings were expecting big things following the pre-season departure of big man Melvin Thomas.

The Hollywood hype soon nosedived when Sydney officials realised Nover’s ability didn’t match up.

The American-born big played just seven games for the Kings in 1998, averaging 7.7 points and 5.6 rebounds.

Nover struggled so badly that King Brad Rosen once said: “I don’t know what was wrong with Matt Nover, other than he had a bad back and hands like Flipper.”

New Sydney Kings US import Matt Nover, 06/01/98. Basketball P/R

Craig Randall II

Adelaide 36ers, 2023

Burst into the NBL with a bang, leading the 36ers to a history-making win over NBA team Phoenix Suns with 35 points and nine three-pointers.

It was all downhill from there.

Wildly talented but just about uncoachable, Randall II’s immaturity ripped through the team and made coach CJ Bruton’s life hell as he was forced to deal with the American’s whining during games, rather than actually coaching the team.

In one scene more befitting of a primary school playground than a professional basketball court, Randall II is heard talkingto Bruton during a time-out: “He keep yelling at me”, “That’s not fair”, “I’m a grown-ass man”.

Randall II blew up when it was pointed out he stood away from the rest of his teammates as they linked arms during the national anthem before a game. Aussie humour seemed to fly over his head as he took umbrage at his namesake, reporter Mick Randall, jokingly referring to him as “my cousin”.

And STOP calling me your cousin we don't have no type of affiliation and we never will. Appreciate it sir

— Dos (@moneyteam1222) October 30, 2022

“STOP calling me your cousin we don’t have no type of affiliation and we never will,” Randall II tweeted.

Despite public assurances from he and the club everything was rosie, two weeks later, after a blow up over being asked to come off the bench, he was out the door after just six games.

Bruton later said Randall II’s stay was a “debacle” from the start.

Craig Randall made plenty of headlines in his stint with the 36ers. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams

Townsville Crocodiles, 2007-10, Melbourne Tigers, 2010-11

A former league MVP who relished playing the villain, Homicide came to Australia as a New York street ball legend and left the earth as one of the most beloved figures ever to grace the NBL.

As a player, Williams made himself public enemy No.1 in Perth, saying in interviews Wildcats fans hated him – and he hated them just as much.

Williams produced an iconic moment in the 2010 elimination final when he bore the full brunt of the Red Army’s spite, poured in 28 points, then paraded around the old Challenge Stadium with his jersey lifted up and a big smile on his face after sending the Wildcats packing.

“I’m sure they wish I was on their team, then they could show that love at every home game. The Homicide jerseys would be sold out if I was there.”

He maintained the Perth rage when he moved into broadcasting as his compelling takes and outgoing personality, played a key role in the NBL’s rise.

The basketball world was, last year, united in its heartbreak when Williams lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.

Corey Williamss, pictured taunting the Perth crowd, was truly one of a kind.

Glen Rice Jr

NZ Breakers, 2019

Son of NBA legend Glen Rice, Junior arrived at the Breakers and exploded on the court for 26, 19 and 30 points in three losses and imploded off it.

Charged over a November 2019 bar fight, the NBL ordered the Breakers to stand Rice Jr down amid an investigation by Basketball Australia’s Integrity Unit.

Cleared to return to play, Rice Jr breached his bail conditions and had his contract terminated.

Breakers owner Matt Walsh was criticised for the initial signing, given Rice Jr already had previous run-ins with the law.

“There is no denying he has let down the club, our fans and the New Zealand public after we gave him this lifeline,” Walsh said.

“I put structures in place, which I thought would prevent any problems happening, but I was wrong.”

Rice Jr was a no-show at his 2020 court date – he’d already left the country for Texas.

Trouble has followed Glen Rice Jr. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Michael Carrera

Cairns, 2017

Dubbed the ‘Venezuelan Volcano’, Carrera couldn’t keep his emotions in check and it led to a pre-season ejection, an amusing ‘Burger Boy’ label and a fine for engaging in a melee and making contact with the face for former Perth import Derrick Cooke Jr.

Long-time Melbourne announcer Wayne Peterson has made himself a target of opposing teams over the years with his passionate sideline antics and, during a game where Carrera gave up free cheeseburgers with two missed free throws, The Rattlesnake dubbed him “Burger Boy”.

Carrera’s eyes were rolling in the back of his head and coach Aaron Fearne, who was filthy in his postgame press conference, called the situation “bullshit”, “amateur hour” and “ridiculous”.

Carrera managed just five games in a short but eventful stay with the Taipans, which ended when he was given his marching orders after injuring his ankle, amid reports of a blow-up with coach Fearne.

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Taipans import Michael Carrera managed just five games for the club. Picture: Brendan Radke.

Al Green

West Adelaide, 1981-84, Adelaide 36ers, 1985-90, Newcastle Falcons, 1991–93

The man who holds the NBL’s all-time scoring record with 71 points in a game, Al Green says a wild brawl was the catalyst for his record-breaking scoring streak.

Way back on March 3, 1984, West Adelaide’s clash with Newcastle went nuclear – and Mean Al was at the centre of it.

Suspended for three games, Green maintains he never connected with any Newcastle player, but did use the ban as motivation for one of the all-time great scoring runs in NBL history.

“They tried to stop me and they cheapshot me and I’m the one who got penalised,” he told Crosscourt.

“What kept me from going crazy, I said ‘when I come back, I’m going to be a man possessed’.

“I said to myself ‘can’t no one stop me from scoring’.

“And I put my money where my mouth was.”

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?mibextid=wwXIfr&v=1136574433061111&rdid=bANSt7YnsbcXdqDK

And then some – the Bearcats lost the three games Green missed by 49, 21 and 42, before he returned with back-to-back 39-point performances, both wins.

What followed included 59, 60 and the crowning 71-point explosion in a stretch where he averaged 41.9 points across his last 15 contests.

Mean Al stood 188cm and was a physical specimen who could have played just about any sport he wanted. Drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the NBA — and the San Diego Chargers in the NFL, the New Yorker was the 1982 NBL MVP on a West Adelaide championship team that featured the great Leroy Loggins.

Al Green holds the NBL’s all-time scoring record with 71 points in a game.

Jim Havrilla

Hobart, 1993

Nicknamed Magilla after the famous cartoon primate – not just for his surname, but for the fact the 210cm, 120kg musclebound monster was as strong as a Gorilla.

The Valparaiso-born big announced his NBL arrival with a bang by ripping down the ring during the 1993 pre-season ‘NBL 3-on-3’ dunk contest on the Gold Coast.

Hobart Devils teammate Donald Whiteside reckons it was he who inspired the iconic moment, that was broadcast live as glass from the shattered backboard caused blood to pour from Havrilla.

“He was in the dunk contest. I said ‘man, listen, the only way you win this contest is if you end it now’ and I said ‘drop-step and just bring the house down’ and that’s what he did,” Whiteside told the AussieHoopla podcast.

“He ripped the rim out of the backboard, fell on the ground, cut himself up.

“And he won it.”

South East Melbourne Magic legend Andrew Parkinson recalls Havrilla was taken to hospital for treatment – “then he appeared at the function that night and drank more than anyone”.

Havrilla’s featured in 22 games as the Devils went 6-20 and finished up averaging 9.8 points, 5.4 rebounds – and one ruined backboard.

Jim Havrilla was a musclebound monster who starred for Hobart.

Originally published as From Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams to Craig Randall II - NBL’s wildest import stars