Ian Davies (basketball) facts for kids
| Forward | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 29 January 1956 Longford, Tasmania |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Died | 7 November 2013 (aged 57) Hobart, Tasmania |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 194 lb (88 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Graceland (1974–1978) |
| NBA Draft | 1978 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 1978–1990 |
| League | NBL |
| Career history | |
| 1978–1979 | Maine Lumberjacks |
| 1980–1981 | Launceston Casino City |
| 1982–1985 | Newcastle Falcons |
| 1986–1987 | Geelong Supercats |
| 1988–1990 | Sydney Kings |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Ian Davies (born January 29, 1956 – died November 7, 2013) was a famous Australian basketball player. He played 252 games in Australia's top league, the National Basketball League (NBL). Ian also proudly represented Australia in two Olympic Games.
Contents
Playing in the NBL
Ian Davies began his NBL journey in 1980 with a new team, the Launceston Casino City. In 1981, his team won the NBL Championship, which is a huge achievement! That year, he was one of the top scorers in the league.
After that, Ian moved to the Newcastle Falcons in 1982. He played 105 games for them over four years. Then, he spent two seasons playing for the Geelong Supercats.
In 1988, Ian joined another new team, the Sydney Kings. He had some amazing moments, like in 1989 when he scored 30 points in just 18 minutes during a big game against the Melbourne Tigers. This was very impressive, especially since he usually scored around 8 points per game that season.
Throughout his NBL career, Ian played 252 games. He scored a total of 2684 points, averaging about 17.8 points per game.
Playing for Australia
Ian Davies also played for the Australian national basketball team, often called the "Boomers". He competed in two Olympic Games.
Olympic Games
- 1980 Summer Olympics: Ian played in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Australia finished eighth in the tournament. Ian was the top scorer in the entire competition, scoring 209 points in 7 games. This meant he averaged an incredible 29.3 points per game!
- 1984 Summer Olympics: He also played in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Australia finished seventh this time.
World Championships
Ian also represented Australia in two World Championships.
- He played in the 1982 World Championships held in Colombia. He was the second-highest scorer in that tournament, with 187 points.
- He also played in the 1986 World Championships in Spain.
Life After Playing
After he stopped playing in the NBL, Ian Davies had a short time playing for a State League team called Manly Warringah.
Later, he became the Director of the Darling Harbour Sports Centre in Sydney. In 2005, he worked as an assistant coach for the Adelaide 36ers, another NBL team.
Ian Davies passed away in Hobart on November 7, 2013, when he was 57 years old.
Awards and Recognition
Ian Davies received several important awards for his basketball career.
- In 2001, he was honored by being added to the NBL Hall of Fame. This means he is recognized as one of the greatest players in NBL history.
- In 2003, he was considered for the NBL 25th Anniversary All-Time team. This team was chosen to celebrate 25 years of the NBL.
Family Life
Ian Davies' father was Fred Davies, who was also a well-known footballer for Carlton and Longford.
