Sam Mackinnon
Encyclopedia
Samuel Mackinnon (born 25 August 1976 in Melbourne, Victoria) is a retired Australia
n professional basketball
player whose last team was the NBL
team Melbourne Tigers
.
when he won NBL Rookie of the Year
. Two seasons later, Mackinnon went to become one of the dominant players for South East Melbourne and they won the NBL championship in 1996.
After South East Melbourne folded, Mackinnon was signed by the Townsville Crocodiles
at the beginning of the 1999 season. And it was not long before Townsville became serious title contenders. In 2001, Townsville made the Grand Final, however Mackinnon missed the series due to injury. Once his contract ended in Townsville, Mackinnon elected to sign with the West Sydney Razorbacks
where he become their captain and put up career best numbers in his first season. During the following season Mackinnon led West Sydney into the NBL Grand Final series against cross-town rivals the Sydney Kings
. Sydney won the series 3-2.
Keen to win another NBL championship, Mackinnon decided not to sign with West Sydney and instead signed with the re-emerging Brisbane Bullets
. And although Brisbane somewhat struggled during the 2006 season, Mackinnon demonstrated that he is still a dominant force in the NBL by putting up career best numbers during the 2007 season to lead the Bullets to their first championship in 20 years. During the off-season there had been much speculation concerning whether or not Sam would be signed as a free agent in the NBA. The offer of playing in the NBA never came and Sam re-signed with the Bullets.
He was the first player to win the MVP
, Best Defensive Player
and Grand Final MVP
in league history in the same season.
Unfortunately, knee injuries sidelined him for most of the 2007-08 season.
Mackinnon was a regular member of the Boomers squad, that saw him compete in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. Perhaps his greatest achievement whilst playing for Australia was winning a gold medal during the 2006 Commonwealth Games
. Mackinnon was also named captain of the Boomers squad for the more recent Olympic Qualifying series against New Zealand
.
On 8 July 2008, the Melbourne Tigers had announced they have signed Mackinnon to a three year deal.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n professional basketball
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 whose last team was the NBL
National Basketball League (Australasia)
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....
team Melbourne Tigers
Melbourne Tigers
The Melbourne Tigers are Australia's oldest and most respected basketball team, established circa 1931 in a local church hall League. Entering the National Basketball League in 1984, they are now the only Melbourne team, after the South Dragons withdrew from the league.The Melbourne Tigers are the...
.
Playing career
Mackinnon's career began in 1994 with the South East Melbourne MagicSouth 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...
when he won NBL Rookie of the Year
NBL (Australia) Rookie of the Year
* 1983 Jamie Kennedy * 1984 Andrew Gaze * 1985 Mike McKay * 1986 Steve Lunardon * 1987 Greg Hubbard * 1988 Shane Heal...
. Two seasons later, Mackinnon went to become one of the dominant players for South East Melbourne and they won the NBL championship in 1996.
After South East Melbourne folded, Mackinnon was signed by the Townsville Crocodiles
Townsville Crocodiles
The Townsville Crocodiles are a professional Australian basketball team based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in the National Basketball League...
at the beginning of the 1999 season. And it was not long before Townsville became serious title contenders. In 2001, Townsville made the Grand Final, however Mackinnon missed the series due to injury. Once his contract ended in Townsville, Mackinnon elected to sign with the West Sydney Razorbacks
West Sydney Razorbacks
The Sydney Spirit were a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League...
where he become their captain and put up career best numbers in his first season. During the following season Mackinnon led West Sydney into the NBL Grand Final series against cross-town rivals the Sydney Kings
Sydney Kings
The Sydney Kings are a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. They are the only team to date to win three consecutive championships in the NBL and currently sit third behind the Adelaide 36ers and Melbourne Tigers two away from the record five wins...
. Sydney won the series 3-2.
Keen to win another NBL championship, Mackinnon decided not to sign with West Sydney and instead signed with the re-emerging 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...
. And although Brisbane somewhat struggled during the 2006 season, Mackinnon demonstrated that he is still a dominant force in the NBL by putting up career best numbers during the 2007 season to lead the Bullets to their first championship in 20 years. During the off-season there had been much speculation concerning whether or not Sam would be signed as a free agent in the NBA. The offer of playing in the NBA never came and Sam re-signed with the Bullets.
He was the first player to win the MVP
NBL (Australia) Most Valuable Player
At the conclusion of each NBL game, both coaches award votes to the best players from that game. Each coach has 10 votes to allocate, with no more than 5 to be awarded to one player by each coach....
, Best Defensive Player
NBL (Australia) Best Defensive Player
* 1980 Ray Wood * 1981 Ray Wood * 1982 Phil Smyth * 1983 Phil Smyth * 1984 not awarded* 1985 not awarded* 1986 not awarded* 1987 Leroy Loggins...
and Grand Final MVP
NBL (Australia) Most Valuable Player - Grand Final
The Larry Sengstock Medal is awarded to the Most Valuable Player of the Grand Final series.* 1979 Larry Sengstock * 1980 Rocky Smith The Larry Sengstock Medal is awarded to the Most Valuable Player of the Grand Final series.* 1979 Larry Sengstock (St. Kilda Saints)* 1980 Rocky Smith The Larry...
in league history in the same season.
Unfortunately, knee injuries sidelined him for most of the 2007-08 season.
Mackinnon was a regular member of the Boomers squad, that saw him compete in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. Perhaps his greatest achievement whilst playing for Australia was winning a gold medal during the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
. Mackinnon was also named captain of the Boomers squad for the more recent Olympic Qualifying series against New Zealand
New Zealand national basketball team
The New Zealand national basketball team represents New Zealand in international basketball competitions. It is nicknamed the Tall Blacks, derived from the name of New Zealand's Rugby union team, the All Blacks.-History:...
.
On 8 July 2008, the Melbourne Tigers had announced they have signed Mackinnon to a three year deal.
Awards
- NBL Rookie of the YearNBL (Australia) Rookie of the Year* 1983 Jamie Kennedy * 1984 Andrew Gaze * 1985 Mike McKay * 1986 Steve Lunardon * 1987 Greg Hubbard * 1988 Shane Heal...
(1994) - NBL Best Defensive PlayerNBL (Australia) Best Defensive Player* 1980 Ray Wood * 1981 Ray Wood * 1982 Phil Smyth * 1983 Phil Smyth * 1984 not awarded* 1985 not awarded* 1986 not awarded* 1987 Leroy Loggins...
(2007) - NBL Most Valuable PlayerNBL (Australia) Most Valuable PlayerAt the conclusion of each NBL game, both coaches award votes to the best players from that game. Each coach has 10 votes to allocate, with no more than 5 to be awarded to one player by each coach....
(2007) - NBL Grand Final MVPNBL (Australia) Most Valuable Player - Grand FinalThe Larry Sengstock Medal is awarded to the Most Valuable Player of the Grand Final series.* 1979 Larry Sengstock * 1980 Rocky Smith The Larry Sengstock Medal is awarded to the Most Valuable Player of the Grand Final series.* 1979 Larry Sengstock (St. Kilda Saints)* 1980 Rocky Smith The Larry...
(2007) - Australian International Player of the YearAustralian International Player of the YearThe Australian International Player of the Year is an award for the best Australian Boomers squad member. All members of the senior national team vote after each game and the player who receives the most votes is awarded the Gaze Medal....
(2007)