Basketball On The Internet.

BRAD Newley's retirement from the NBL in the wake of Melbourne United's Grand Final Series defeat by Tasmania, ends the elite-level career of one of Australian basketball's true greats, a dual-Olympian, a Boomers' mainstay, an international star, a stalwart of the game but, and most importantly, one of the sport's genuine good blokes. 

Don't under-estimate the importance of that last attribute because Newley is universally loved, respected and admired for his achievements in an extraordinary 20-year professional career.

A Forestville Eagles junior product, Newley was earmarked as a future Adelaide 36er but while attending the Australian Insitute of Sport, he was "the kid" who caught the eye of Townsville Crocodiles coach Ian Stacker.

Though from Adelaide, Brad had relatives on his mother Janelle's side in Townsville so when weighing up the 36ers' offer, Stacker's assurance he would be replacing current South East Melbourne Phoenix coach Mike Kelly and immediately in the playing rotation made the opportunity too good to refuse.

Ironically, the man he would have been playing behind at the Sixers, Mark Nash, suffered an early injury and missed most of that fabulous 2004-05 NBL season - fabulous, that is, for Brad Newley.

Fulfilling all the promise he showed in the Gold Medal match for the Australian Emus at the FIBA World Under-19 championship in Thessalonika with 16 points at 75 percent, five rebounds, three assists and three blocks, Brad's rookie season was one for the ages.

An athletic slasher who could get to the rim and throw down with the best of them, his 3-point shot made him a near-impossible defensive assignment - guard him tight and he'd drive, guard him for the drive and he'd slay you from range.

By mid-season, he was selected for what then was an annual NBL All Star Game, this time a mouth-watering clash between the Phil Smyth-coached Australian All Stars against the Brian Goorjian-coached World All Stars and staged in Townsville, no less.

The Aussies won 156-140, Newley claiming the game's Most Valuable Player award with a match-high 35-point haul at 54 per cent, plus seven assists. He opened the match with a soaring dunk (on his way to four for the game) and each of his five 3-pointers had 36ers' fans near tears of sorrow as "the one who got away.".

"He's the best guy to come into the league since I've been in it," Goorjian said. "He's definitely a national prospect and an NBA prospect."

These were heady days for The Kid, averaging 16.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game en route to not only the NBL's Rookie of the Year award but also its Best Sixth Man.

He produced 19.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 32 games for Townsville in his sophomore season, selected for the Boomers and winning Commonwealth Games Gold in 2006 before the FIBA World Cup in Japan.

His NBL numbers at the Crocodiles in 2006-07 improved again to averages of 22.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, and finally he signed a two-year deal with the Adelaide 36ers.

His fine form though also prompted him to declare for the 2007 NBA Draft, and he was selected with the 54th pick by Houston Rockets.

After playing Summer League with Houston, the Rockets suggested a stint in Europe to help develop his game and Newley headed to Greece and Panionios for the 2007–08 season.

In just his fourth game, Newley scored 32 points on 12-of-12 shooting in a win over AEK Athens, including 8-of-8 3-pointers, a new record in the Greek Basketball League.

The Boomers and the Beijing Olympic Games followed before his second season in Greece at Panellinios. Signing with Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball Super League for 2009–10, that led to a two-year deal with famous Lithuanian outfit Lietuvos Rytas.

His international career with the Boomers continued to blossom, selection for the 2010 FIBA World Cup, the 2012 London Olympic Games and the 2014 FIBA World Cup confirming his status as a lynchpin of the Australian natioinal team.

From Lithuania, Newley initially played in Spain with Valencia before spending four years at Gran Canaria, life in the Canary Islands close to idyllic.

Arguably the best story of his time in Gran Canaria, where he was a beloved figure, came with the birth of his first child, Beth Rosa.

Attending his wife Brigid as she delivered their daughter and resigned to missing the match against UCAM Murcia, Beth Rosa arrived during Gran Canaria’s first half against Murcia. Newley received a surprise SOS on his mobile from his club’s general manager.

“The GM messaged me at halftime and said can I go?” Newley said, his team in trouble. Brigid gave her beau the “all clear” and he rushed from the hospital to the stadium. The fans, aware why their Aussie superstar was absent, gave him a rousing reception when he burst into the venue.

“I arrived midway through the third quarter and we were down by six,” Newley said.

Fuelled by the emotion of his arrival, Gran Canaria went on a 24-2 tear to lock the game away, eventually comfortably winning 86-69.

Newley had nine points and was given a standing ovation by the crowd at the end of the game.

“It was the most amazing day of my life,” Newley said at the time.

Returning to the NBL for five years with Sydney Kings, a quick return to AEK Athens in Greece and joining Melbourne United in 2021, Newley drew the curtain on a 20-year career at the close of the 2023-24 NBL season, including 327 NBL games.

"I want to give a special shout out to the Newley family," United captain Chris Goulding said in his concession speech after Tasmania JackJumpers won Game 5 of the Championship Series.

"That's my good mate, and his whole family are good friends of ours and are legends of Australian basketball. So could we please put our hands together one time for Brad Newley."

His time at the top may be over, but Brad Newley will always be a great example of what a man can and should be, a great player, husband, father, son, sibling and friend, his father Arthur also a legend in his own right in SA, sister Mia a multiple WNBL champion.

Finally it's time to settle back and enjoy a beer.