Danny Morseu facts for kids
| Forward | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 January 1958 Thursday Island, Queensland |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Career information | |
| Pro career | 1979–1989 |
| Career history | |
| 1979–1983 | St. Kilda Saints |
| 1984–1985 | Geelong Supercats |
| 1986–1989 | Brisbane Bullets |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Danny Morseu (born 1 January 1958) is a famous Australian basketball player. He proudly represented Australia on the Australian national basketball team. He even played in two Olympic Games! These were the 1980 Summer Olympics and the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Contents
Danny Morseu's Basketball Journey
Playing for Australia
Danny Morseu played for the Australian team at the 1980 Summer Olympics. This big event took place in Moscow. Australia finished eighth in the basketball competition.
He also played at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Here, Australia achieved its best Olympic result at that time, finishing seventh. Danny also played in twelve World Cup matches for Australia.
Starting His Club Career
Danny Morseu is a Torres Strait Islander. He was born in 1958 on Thursday Island. This island is in Far North Queensland. He grew up in a community called Tamwoy. Life there was simple, without running water or electricity.
Danny started playing basketball at school. Even though he was not chosen for his primary school team, he worked hard. He grew into a tall and talented teenage athlete. After school, he moved to Cairns. There, he played both basketball and rugby league for local teams.
Joining the NBL
Danny's basketball skills caught the eye of Brian Kerle. Brian was a coach for the National Basketball League (NBL). He saw Danny play against his team, the St Kilda Saints. The Saints were visiting North Queensland.
Coach Kerle convinced Danny to move to Melbourne in 1978. Danny then joined the St Kilda Saints. He helped them win championships in 1979 and 1980. He played a total of 217 NBL games. He won another NBL championship with the Brisbane Bullets in 1987.
Coaching After Playing
After his playing career, Danny continued to be involved in basketball. In December 2017, he became the head coach. He coached the Toowoomba Mountaineers men's team in the QBL. He had actually won a championship with this team as a player in 1991.
Life Beyond the Court
Education and Community Work
In 1984, Danny Morseu completed a special degree. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in recreation from Footscray Institute of Technology. This education helped him work in different roles. He worked for state and federal governments. His work included helping with health for Indigenous people.
Danny has also been a mentor for other Indigenous basketball players. He has guided players like Nathan Jawai and Patty Mills. He shares his experience and knowledge with them.
Awards and Recognition
Danny Morseu has received many honors for his contributions. In 2002, he was inducted into the NBL Hall of Fame. He was the very first Indigenous basketball player to receive this honor. In 2007, he was also inducted into the Victoria University Sport Hall of Fame.
Family Connections
Danny Morseu has strong family ties to basketball. He is the uncle of two other Australian Boomers players. These players are Patty Mills and Nathan Jawai.
