Luke Schenscher facts for kids

Luke Dean Schenscher (born 31 December 1982) is a former professional basketball player from Australia. He played as a centre, which is usually the tallest player on the team. Luke played college basketball for Georgia Tech in the United States. Later, he played in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls and the Portland Trail Blazers. In Australia, he won an NBL championship with the Perth Wildcats in 2010.

Early Life and Basketball Beginnings

Luke Schenscher was born in a small town called Hope Forest in South Australia. He grew up on a farm. When he was younger, he played basketball for a team called the Noarlunga City Tigers.

In 1999, Luke moved to Canberra to join the Australian Institute of Sport. This is a special place where young athletes train. He also attended Lake Ginninderra College. From 1999 to 2001, he played for the Australian Institute of Sport's basketball team.

In 2001, Luke was a top player for his team. He scored about 15 points and grabbed 9 rebounds per game. He was even named the AIS Junior Athlete of the Year. That same year, he made history by becoming the first high school student to play for the Boomers, Australia's national men's team. He also played for Australia's under-21 team.

College Basketball Journey

From 2001 to 2005, Luke played college basketball for Georgia Tech in the USA.

As a freshman, he started many games but had a foot injury that kept him out for a while. He was still very good at shooting, making 58.7% of his shots. In his second year, he continued to play well and block shots.

During his third year (2003–04), Luke was one of the best shot blockers and rebounders in his conference. He helped his team reach the NCAA Final Four tournament. This is a huge event in college basketball! In one important game, he scored 19 points and got 12 rebounds. His team made it to the final game but lost.

In his final year (2004–05), Luke had his best season, scoring over 10 points and grabbing over 7 rebounds per game. Overall, he played 119 games for Georgia Tech, averaging 7.3 points and 5.4 rebounds.

Playing Professional Basketball

NBA and D-League Experience

After college, Luke tried out for NBA teams. He played for the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings in 2005 but was later released. He then joined the Fort Worth Flyers in the NBA Development League (now called the G-League). This league helps players get ready for the NBA.

In March 2006, Luke signed with the Chicago Bulls. He played 20 games for them, averaging 1.8 points and 1.5 rebounds. After the Bulls, he went back to the Fort Worth Flyers.

In March 2007, he got another chance in the NBA, signing with the Portland Trail Blazers. He played 11 games for them before the season ended.

Playing in Germany

In July 2007, Luke signed a contract to play for a German team called Brose Baskets. This was a big deal, as it was a very high salary for the club. However, he only played one game before needing knee surgery and returning to Australia.

Playing in Australia (NBL)

Luke spent many years playing in Australia's top league, the National Basketball League (NBL).

Adelaide 36ers (First Stint)

In 2008, Luke joined the Adelaide 36ers. He had an amazing season, averaging 16.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. He even had games where he scored 37 points or grabbed 22 rebounds! Because of his great play, he was named to the All-NBL Second Team.

Perth Wildcats (NBL Champion)

In 2009, Luke moved to the Perth Wildcats. He helped the Wildcats win the NBL championship in 2010, defeating the Wollongong Hawks. This was a major highlight of his career! He averaged 10 points and 6.2 rebounds that season.

Townsville Crocodiles

After winning the championship, Luke signed with the Townsville Crocodiles. He continued to play strongly, averaging 13.7 points and 6.8 rebounds in the 2010–11 season. He was again named to the All-NBL Second Team and was the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP). He played with the Crocodiles for two seasons.

Adelaide 36ers (Second Stint)

Luke returned to the Adelaide 36ers in 2012. He played for them for three more seasons. In 2014, he helped the 36ers reach the NBL Grand Final series again, but they lost to his former team, the Perth Wildcats.

Townsville Crocodiles (Second Stint)

In 2015, Luke went back to the Townsville Crocodiles. However, injuries to his ankle and back limited his playing time. After the Crocodiles team stopped playing in 2016, Luke retired from the NBL.

Final Years in Basketball

Even after leaving the NBL, Luke still played basketball. In 2016, he played for the Townsville Heat. In 2017, he had a short time playing for the Singapore Slingers in the ASEAN Basketball League. He also played for the Southern Tigers in South Australia.

In June 2017, Luke's team won a 3x3 basketball championship in Australia. They even got to compete in a world tour qualifier in Mongolia.

Personal Life

Luke Schenscher is a big fan of Australian rules football. He supports the Glenelg Football Club. He is also skilled at playing the didgeridoo, a traditional Aboriginal instrument.

Career Stats

Here are some of Luke Schenscher's basketball statistics:

NBA Regular Season Stats

NBA Playoffs Stats

NBL Stats

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See also

In Spanish: Luke Schenscher para niños