Paul Rees (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Paul Rees is a former Australian professional basketball
player who played his entire career in the Australian National Basketball League
. Rees was known for his presence under the basket and while not blessed with a great jumping ability he was able to use his physical size to his advantage and was considered to be a strong rebounder.
made his NBL debut in the 1990 season for the Brisbane Bullets
. The Bullets made the NBL grand final that season but went down two games to one to the Perth Wildcats
. After the club failed to make the playoffs in 1991, Rees signed with the North Melbourne Giants
.
Rees quickly established himself as the starting centre for the Giants who hadn't made the playoffs since their 1989 championship win. The team failed to make the post-season in 1992 and only just missed out in 1993 under new head coach Brett Brown
. The 1994 NBL season would see Paul Rees win the first of his four NBL championships when the Giants defeated the Adelaide 36ers
by two games to nil in the three game series. Paul Rees was the NBL Grand Final MVP averaging 18.5 points in the two games.
The Giants made it back to back grand final appearances in 1995, this time playing against the Perth Wildcats. Rees series wasn't as successful as the previous year as he averaged only 8.7 points over the three games and the Giants lost the series 1-2 to the Wildcats. 1995 was also the last year that the North Melbourne Giants ever made it to the NBL Grand Final.
Paul Rees played another two seasons in Melbourne before signing with the Adelaide 36ers for the 1998 season. There under new coach Phil Smyth
, Rees and the 36ers would both go on to win their second NBL championship when they defeated the South East Melbourne Magic
two games to nil in the grand final. Rees averaged 7.4 points per game in his first year with the 36ers.
Adelaide would finish the 1998-99 regular season in first place with an 18-8 record with Rees averaging 6.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Both Rees and the 36ers would win their third NBL championship when they defeated the Victoria Titans
two games to one in the grand final series.
Following Semi-finals appearances in both the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 NBL seasons, the Adelaide 36ers, with Paul Rees maintaining his form but sharing the centre spot with team mate David Stiff
, made it back to the NBL grand final in 2001-02
where they faced the West Sydney Razorbacks
who were led by Rees's former 36ers team mate John Rillie
. Rees won his fourth NBL championship as the 36ers defeated the Razorbacks two games to one.
The 36ers only reached the elimination finals in 2002-03
, following which, after 3 championships and 201 games for Adelaide, Rees was not offered a contract. He then decided to move back to his original club, the Brisbane Bullets for the 2003-04 NBL season
. The Bullets and Paul Rees made it as far as the Semi-finals before bowing out of a successful season.
Rees moved again after the 2003-04 season, this time moving back to Adelaide and the 36ers. He would spend another two seasons with the club helping them to reach the Quarter-finals in both 2004-05
and 2005-06
before finally retiring from basketball at the age of 37. He played a total of 508 games during his NBL career.
. Playing as the 3rd centre behind team stalwarts Mark Bradtke
and Ray Borner
, Rees only played 2 games in the tournament averaging 4 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist per game in just 10 minutes of court time.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who played his entire career in the Australian National Basketball League
National Basketball League (Australia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
. Rees was known for his presence under the basket and while not blessed with a great jumping ability he was able to use his physical size to his advantage and was considered to be a strong rebounder.
Professional career
Rees, a 6'9" (205 cm) tall CentreCenter (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
made his NBL debut in the 1990 season for the Brisbane Bullets
Brisbane Bullets
The Brisbane Bullets were, until 2008, a professional basketball team competing in Australia's National Basketball League. The Bullets were one of only two teams that survived since the NBL's inception in 1979; the only surviving team is now the Wollongong Hawks. The team played in Midnight Navy...
. The Bullets made the NBL grand final that season but went down two games to one to the Perth Wildcats
Perth Wildcats
The Perth Wildcats are an Australian professional basketball team competing in the National Basketball League. The Wildcats are the only team in the league representing the state of Western Australia and are based in the state capital, Perth...
. After the club failed to make the playoffs in 1991, Rees signed with the North Melbourne Giants
North Melbourne Giants
The North Melbourne Giants were an Australian basketball team, that played in Melbourne, Victoria, in the National Basketball League.-History :The team was formed in 1980 as the Coburg Giants and were renamed in 1987 as the North Melbourne Giants...
.
Rees quickly established himself as the starting centre for the Giants who hadn't made the playoffs since their 1989 championship win. The team failed to make the post-season in 1992 and only just missed out in 1993 under new head coach Brett Brown
Brett Brown
Brett Brown is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the Australia national basketball team the Boomers team and an assistant coach at the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. He was an assistant coach with the Boomers for 132 games between 1995 and 2003 including the 1998 world...
. The 1994 NBL season would see Paul Rees win the first of his four NBL championships when the Giants defeated the Adelaide 36ers
Adelaide 36ers
The Adelaide 36ers are Adelaide's men's professional basketball team, established as the Adelaide City Eagles when they joined the National Basketball League in 1982. The Adelaide 36ers tally of four championships is equal with the Melbourne Tigers and second behind the Perth Wildcats as the most...
by two games to nil in the three game series. Paul Rees was the NBL Grand Final MVP averaging 18.5 points in the two games.
The Giants made it back to back grand final appearances in 1995, this time playing against the Perth Wildcats. Rees series wasn't as successful as the previous year as he averaged only 8.7 points over the three games and the Giants lost the series 1-2 to the Wildcats. 1995 was also the last year that the North Melbourne Giants ever made it to the NBL Grand Final.
Paul Rees played another two seasons in Melbourne before signing with the Adelaide 36ers for the 1998 season. There under new coach Phil Smyth
Phil Smyth
Philip John Smyth AM is an Australian former basketball player and former three time championship winning head coach of the National Basketball League's Adelaide 36ers.-Professional career:...
, Rees and the 36ers would both go on to win their second NBL championship when they defeated the South East Melbourne Magic
South East Melbourne Magic
The South East Melbourne Magic were an Australian basketball team, that played in Melbourne, Victoria, in the National Basketball League. The team was the result of a merger of two Melbourne clubs for the 1992 season...
two games to nil in the grand final. Rees averaged 7.4 points per game in his first year with the 36ers.
Adelaide would finish the 1998-99 regular season in first place with an 18-8 record with Rees averaging 6.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Both Rees and the 36ers would win their third NBL championship when they defeated the Victoria Titans
Victoria Titans
The Victoria Titans were an Australian basketball team, that played in Melbourne, Victoria, in the National Basketball League. The team was the result of a merger of two Melbourne clubs for the inaugural NBL summer season of 1998/99...
two games to one in the grand final series.
Following Semi-finals appearances in both the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 NBL seasons, the Adelaide 36ers, with Paul Rees maintaining his form but sharing the centre spot with team mate David Stiff
David Stiff (basketball)
David Stiff is a former Australian Professional Basket baller from Melbourne. He has had a long and distinguished career, being part of 6 NBL Championships, the most amongst any NBL basketball player...
, made it back to the NBL grand final in 2001-02
2001-02 NBL Season
Here are the results and statistics from the National Basketball League season of 2000-2001.-End of Season Ladder:This is the ladder at the end of season, before the finals. In all, 154 games were played, 28 for each team. The top 6 teams qualified for the finals series.-First Round:1st played...
where they faced the West Sydney Razorbacks
West Sydney Razorbacks
The Sydney Spirit were a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League...
who were led by Rees's former 36ers team mate John Rillie
John Rillie
John Rillie is an Australian basketball player. Rillie previously captained the Townsville Crocodiles in the NBL but his contracted was not renewed. In his first season in the NBL, Rillie won Rookie of the Year honours playing for the Brisbane Bullets. He is known for his long range shooting...
. Rees won his fourth NBL championship as the 36ers defeated the Razorbacks two games to one.
The 36ers only reached the elimination finals in 2002-03
2002-03 NBL Season
The 2002-03 National Basketball League is the 25th season of professional basketball in Australia....
, following which, after 3 championships and 201 games for Adelaide, Rees was not offered a contract. He then decided to move back to his original club, the Brisbane Bullets for the 2003-04 NBL season
2003-04 NBL Season
Here are the results and statistics from the National Basketball League season of 2003-2004.-End of Season Ladder:This is the ladder at the end of season, before the finals. In all, 198 games were played, 33 for each team...
. The Bullets and Paul Rees made it as far as the Semi-finals before bowing out of a successful season.
Rees moved again after the 2003-04 season, this time moving back to Adelaide and the 36ers. He would spend another two seasons with the club helping them to reach the Quarter-finals in both 2004-05
2004-05 NBL Season
Here are the results and statistics from the National Basketball League season of 2004-2005.-End of Season Ladder:This is the ladder at the end of season, before the finals. In all, 176 games were played, 32 for each team...
and 2005-06
2005-06 NBL Season
Here are the results and statistics from the National Basketball League season of 2005-2006.-End of Season Ladder:This is the ladder at the end of season, before the finals. In all, 176 games were played, 32 for each team. The top 8 teams qualified for the finals series.KeyThe quarter finals were...
before finally retiring from basketball at the age of 37. He played a total of 508 games during his NBL career.
International career
Paul Rees form in winning the 1994 NBL Grand Final MVP award was rewarded when was selected as a member of the Australian Boomers team that finished in 5th place at the 1994 FIBA World Championship1994 FIBA World Championship
The 1994 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Canada from August 4 to August 14, 1994. The tournament was held at SkyDome and Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto as well as at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton...
. Playing as the 3rd centre behind team stalwarts Mark Bradtke
Mark Bradtke
Mark Robert Bradtke is a retired Australian professional basketball player who played mainly in Australia's National Basketball League but also had a single stint in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996-97...
and Ray Borner
Ray Borner
Ray Helmut Borner AM is a former Australian basketball player who competed in the National Basketball League...
, Rees only played 2 games in the tournament averaging 4 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist per game in just 10 minutes of court time.