Andrew Gaze Australian basketball player Date of Birth: 24.07.1965 Country: Australia

1. Australian basketball player
2. Record-breaking career
3. Partnership with Lanard Copeland
4. International success
5. Short NBA stint
6. Retirement and media career
7. Continued involvement in basketball

Australian basketball player

Andrew Gaze is a former Australian professional basketball player and is considered the greatest player in the history of the National Basketball League (NBL). He was born in a well-known basketball family, as his father Lindsay Gaze was a prominent basketball player and coach in Australia. Andrew started playing in the NBL at the age of 18 and was named the "Rookie of the Year" in 1984.

Record-breaking career

Andrew Gaze had a highly successful career and received numerous awards and accolades. He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the NBL seven times, which led to the prestigious award being renamed in his honor. Gaze holds the record for the most points scored in a season, achieving this feat 14 times. His success was not solely due to his athletic abilities, but also his exceptional shooting accuracy.

Partnership with Lanard Copeland

One of Gaze's most famous moves was the alley-oop pass to Lanard Copeland while playing for the Melbourne Tigers. The team won the championship twice and consistently reached the league finals. Throughout his career, Gaze played in 603 NBL games.

International success

Andrew Gaze also achieved significant success on the international stage. He became the third basketball player in the world to participate in five Olympics in 2000. The Australian national team, nicknamed the "Boomers," achieved their best result in the Olympics by finishing fourth in Atlanta in 1996. Gaze was chosen to carry the national flag during the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics.

Short NBA stint

In the 1988-1989 season, Gaze played college basketball in the United States. He had a brief opportunity to play in the NBA for the Seattle SuperSonics but did not secure a contract. However, during the 1993-1994 season, he played seven games for the Washington Bullets. Gaze later had a short stint with the San Antonio Spurs, but due to an injury, he had limited playing time. Nevertheless, he received an NBA championship ring when the Spurs won the title in 1999.

Retirement and media career

After retiring from international basketball following the Sydney Olympics, Gaze continued playing in the NBL. He officially retired from professional basketball on May 12, 2005, after 20 years in the sport and 612 NBL games. Gaze then released his autobiography, "A Kid, a Ball, a Dream." He transitioned into a media personality, appearing in commercials and commentating NBL games for SEN 1116 and Fox Sports. He also became a coach for the junior team of the Melbourne Tigers.

Continued involvement in basketball

Andrew Gaze currently works as a sports commentator, primarily on Network Ten and One. He also hosts a weekly podcast on the NBL website with Grantley Bernard. In June 2013, Gaze was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame, recognizing his significant contributions to the sport. In addition to his basketball career, Gaze was approached by the Australian Labor Party in June 2007 to run for office, reflecting his interest in politics. However, he maintains a predominantly Republican viewpoint.