Mark Davis (basketball, born 1960) facts for kids
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 23, 1960 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Nationality | American / Australian |
| Listed weight | 95 kg (209 lb) |
| Career information | |
| College | St. Augustine's (1981–1983) |
| NBA Draft | 1983 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 1984–2002 |
| Career history | |
| 1984 | Hamilton |
| 1984–1985 | Dorados de Chihuahua |
| 1985–2002 | South Adelaide Panthers |
| 1985–2001 | Adelaide 36ers |
| 1987 | Long Island Knights |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Mark Davis (born December 23, 1960) is an American-Australian former professional basketball player. He is famous for playing in Australia's National Basketball League (NBL) for the Adelaide 36ers from 1985 to 2001. People called him "The Chairman of the Boards" because he was so good at getting rebounds.
Mark Davis was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. He became an Australian citizen in 1992.
Contents
College Basketball Days
Mark Davis played basketball for two seasons at St. Augustine's College. In his final year, 1982–83, he scored an average of 20.5 points in each game.
Professional Basketball Career
Mark Davis started his professional career in 1984. He played for the Hamilton team in the New Zealand NBL. There, he was the best at getting rebounds. After that, he played in Mexico for Dorados de Chihuahua from 1984 to 1985. He helped his team win a championship in Mexico.
Joining the Adelaide 36ers
In 1985, Mark Davis moved to Adelaide, Australia. He joined two teams: the South Adelaide Panthers and the Adelaide 36ers. He quickly became a key player for the 36ers. In his first game for Adelaide, he scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. He was named the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP) that year. The 36ers made it to the Grand Final, but they didn't win.
Winning the NBL Championship
By 1986, Mark Davis was seen as one of the best power forwards in Australia. He led the 36ers to their second Grand Final in a row. They had an amazing season, winning 24 games and losing only 2. The 36ers won the championship against the Brisbane Bullets. Mark Davis was named the Most Valuable Player of the Grand Final.
In 1987, Mark Davis continued his great performance. He was named the NBL's Most Valuable Player, sharing the award with Leroy Loggins. He averaged 26.1 points and 17.5 rebounds per game that season. This was also the first year he led the league in total rebounds. This led to his famous nickname, "Chairman of the Boards."
Captain and More Championships
In 1990, Mark Davis became the captain of the Adelaide 36ers. He helped the team return to the playoffs in 1991. In 1994, the 36ers reached the Grand Final again. However, Mark Davis dislocated his shoulder during the semi-finals. Even though he played in the Grand Final, his injury limited him. The 36ers lost the series.
Mark Davis remained captain until 1996. He later won two more NBL championships with the 36ers in 1998 and 1999. On December 13, 1999, he became the first NBL player to reach 5,000 rebounds. His record of 5,200 rebounds was later broken by his former teammate Mark Bradtke.
Mark Davis holds many records for the Adelaide 36ers. He is the team's all-time leader in free throws made (2,037), rebounds (5,200), and blocked shots (301). He also played for the South Adelaide Panthers, winning five championships and five Woollacott Medals.
Playing for Australia
After becoming an Australian citizen in 1992, Mark Davis was able to play for the Australian Boomers. He joined the team in 1995 and played in a series against the Magic Johnson All-Stars.
Life After Basketball
Mark Davis still lives in Adelaide after retiring from basketball. In 2004, he started the "Mark Davis Basketball Camp." He coaches young players with help from other former and current NBL and NBA players.
Awards and Recognition
Mark Davis is one of only five players to have their jersey number retired by the Adelaide 36ers. His number 33 jersey hangs in the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. A bronze statue of Mark Davis is also displayed at the arena, honoring his achievements.
The Adelaide 36ers' team MVP award is named the Mark Davis Trophy in his honor. Mark Davis won this award nine times in a row from 1985 to 1993. He is also the only 36ers player to have won the NBL's overall MVP award.
Mark Davis was included in the NBL (Australia) 20th Anniversary Team in 1998 and the NBL (Australia) 25th Anniversary Team in 2003. In 2006, he was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame.
The chairman of the boards! I just marvelled at him and his offensive abilities off the glass. Throughout his time with the Adelaide 36ers, sometimes their best offence was the second shot, because they could just throw it up there and they had Mark Davis to go and get it. The thing about it, is that he was a big guy and a really good athlete, but he wasn't tall for someone who was so prolific on the boards. Just another one who came in a generation where he was setting the tone for others, and he was just an incredible competitor who did some tremendous things.
In 2015, his number 33 was also retired by his local club, the South Adelaide Panthers. He won five championships with the Panthers and five Woollacott Medals.
NBL Career Statistics
| Games Played: | 482 |
| Total Rebounds: | 5,200 (10.8 per game) |
| Total Points: | 8,752 (18.2 per game) |
| Free Throws Made: | 2,037 / 2,888 (70.5%) |
| Field Goals Made: | 3,235 / 6,664 (48.5%) |
| 3-Pointers Made: | 245 / 791 (31.0%) |
| Steals: | 481 (1.0 per game) |
| Assists: | 818 (1.7 per game) |
| Blocked Shots: | 301 (0.6 per game) |
