Well everybody, it's time...
The final instalment of my blogging series is here. This has been a
fantastic introduction to the phenomenon that is blogging and something that I
am considering to continue with moving forward. I have really enjoyed being
able to express myself and my thoughts, without having the academic theory to necessarily
back it up. Anyhow, this final piece covers an Aussie basketballer who may not
have been the most proficient offensive player, but he did all the little
things required to win. Rebound, pass, block shots, bring physicality and was
rewarded with numerous championships throughout his tenure. Oh, and it also
helped he was lucky enough to play with the greatest player of all time! This
is my greatest Aussie Basketballer to ever play in the NBA. Enjoy!
Number 1: Luc Longley
Born: January 19, 1969 in Melbourne, Victoria
Height: 218cm (7 ft. 2)
Position: Centre
Drafted: 1991 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7th overall
NBA Career Stats:
Height: 218cm (7 ft. 2)
Position: Centre
Drafted: 1991 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7th overall
NBA Career Stats:
| Season | Age | Tm | Lg | Pos | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | 2P | 2PA | 2P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991-92 | 23 | MIN | NBA | C | 66 | 3 | 15.0 | 1.7 | 3.8 | .458 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 3.8 | .458 | 0.8 | 1.2 | .663 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 4.3 | |
| 1992-93 | 24 | MIN | NBA | C | 55 | 25 | 19.0 | 2.4 | 5.3 | .455 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.4 | 5.3 | .455 | 1.0 | 1.3 | .716 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 4.4 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 5.8 | |
| 1993-94 | 25 | TOT | NBA | C | 76 | 46 | 19.8 | 2.9 | 6.1 | .471 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 2.9 | 6.1 | .472 | 1.2 | 1.6 | .720 | 1.7 | 4.0 | 5.7 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 6.9 |
| 1993-94 | 25 | MIN | NBA | C | 49 | 29 | 20.2 | 2.7 | 5.9 | .464 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 2.7 | 5.9 | .465 | 1.1 | 1.6 | .700 | 1.8 | 4.2 | 6.0 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 6.6 |
| 1993-94 | 25 | CHI | NBA | C | 27 | 17 | 19.0 | 3.1 | 6.5 | .483 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.1 | 6.5 | .483 | 1.3 | 1.7 | .756 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 5.1 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 7.6 | |
| 1994-95 | 26 | CHI | NBA | C | 55 | 0 | 18.2 | 2.5 | 5.5 | .447 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 2.5 | 5.5 | .450 | 1.6 | 1.9 | .822 | 1.5 | 3.3 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 6.5 |
| 1995-96 | 27 | CHI | NBA | C | 62 | 62 | 26.5 | 3.9 | 8.1 | .482 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.9 | 8.1 | .482 | 1.3 | 1.7 | .777 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 5.1 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 3.6 | 9.1 | |
| 1996-97 | 28 | CHI | NBA | C | 59 | 59 | 24.9 | 3.7 | 8.2 | .456 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 3.7 | 8.2 | .458 | 1.6 | 2.0 | .792 | 2.1 | 3.6 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 3.2 | 9.1 |
| 1997-98 | 29 | CHI | NBA | C | 58 | 58 | 29.4 | 4.8 | 10.5 | .455 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.8 | 10.5 | .455 | 1.9 | 2.6 | .736 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 5.9 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 3.6 | 11.4 | |
| 1998-99 | 30 | PHO | NBA | C | 39 | 39 | 23.9 | 3.6 | 7.4 | .483 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.6 | 7.4 | .483 | 1.5 | 1.9 | .776 | 1.5 | 4.2 | 5.7 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 8.7 | |
| 1999-00 | 31 | PHO | NBA | C | 72 | 68 | 19.7 | 2.6 | 5.5 | .466 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.6 | 5.5 | .466 | 1.1 | 1.3 | .825 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 4.5 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 6.3 | |
| 2000-01 | 32 | NYK | NBA | C | 25 | 2 | 12.0 | 0.7 | 2.2 | .333 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 2.2 | .333 | 0.5 | 0.7 | .765 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
| Career | NBA | 567 | 362 | 21.2 | 3.0 | 6.4 | .462 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 3.0 | 6.4 | .463 | 1.3 | 1.7 | .760 | 1.5 | 3.4 | 4.9 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 7.2 |
Lucien James "Luc" Longley was the first Australian to play in the NBA, however, his path to greatness did take a little longer that some expected. At age sixteen Luc was a member of the Australian Under-19 side and the following year, 1986, he joined the Perth Wildcats in the Australian National League, with whom he played two games. Longley was then recruited out of Scotch College, Perth by the University of New Mexico's basketball coach, Gary Colson. Longley attended college at the University of New Mexico from 1987 to 1991, where he averaged 19.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists in his senior year.
After his senior year, Longley was drafted 7th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1991. After two plus mediocre seasons with the struggling franchise, Luc was traded to the Chicago Bulls for Stacey King late in the 1993-94 season. This was the perfect situation for both Luc and the Bulls. He won three straight championships with the Bulls from 1996 to 1998 as a teammate of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Toni Kukoč and Dennis Rodman. He was the starting centre in all three championships and a valuable member to the teams results.
Following the breakup of the championship Bulls in 1998, Chicago did a sign-and-trade deal with Longley, sending him to the Phoenix Suns. Longley spent two lackluster seasons with Phoenix, where he gained less attention for his play than for being stung twice by a scorpion while sitting on the floor of his home sorting through his CD collection. He was traded to the New York Knicks prior to the 2000–01 NBA season in what was only the second four-team trade in NBA history. Longley spent one year with New York before retiring, due to a degenerative condition in his left ankle. Luc averaged 7.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in his 567 regular season game NBA career, along with the 3 NBA Championships with the Chicago Bulls. With being the first Aussie to play in NBA, Longley also played more NBA games than any other Australian.
