West Sydney Razorbacks
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| West Sydney Razorbacks | |
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| Established | 1998/99 |
| Team Colours | Navy, Orange, Red and White |
| Home Venue | Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, Sydney |
| Major Sponsor | Westbus |
| Championships | None |
| Team History | West Sydney Razorbacks (1998/99-Present) |
| Chief Executive | Robbie Cadee |
| Coach | Rob Beveridge |
| Captain | Darnell Hinson |
| Website | www.razorbacks.com.au |
The West Sydney Razorbacks are a professional basketball team competing in Australia's National Basketball League. The club is based in the western suburbs of the city of Sydney.
They are the second team to represent Sydney's west in the NBL, several years after the Fosters (West Sydney) Westars were largely absorbed in a merger with the Sydney Supersonics to form the Sydney Kings.
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[edit] History
Granted a National Basketball League licence in 1997, the Razorbacks originated from the Sydney Slammers. The Razorbacks, played their first game in the NBL on 10 October 1998 defeating the Kings 103-97. They qualified for the NBL play-offs in their second season - 1999-2000. Since season 2000-01 the Razorbacks’ home venue has been the 4,500 seat Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre in Homebush. Prior to that their home was the EG Whitlam Centre in Liverpool.
The Razors made history in season 2001-02 becoming the first Sydney team in the NBL's 24 year history to contest the Grand Final series. The Adelaide 36ers went on to win the championship with a 2-1 result in the best-of-three series.
After breaking club records for most wins in a season, most wins on the road and most wins at home in 2003-04, the Razorbacks made it to their second Grand Final series, this time against the Sydney Kings. In the new best-of-five format, the Razorbacks, who at one stage were up 2-1 in the series, lost 2-3.
During the 2003-04 season, legendary NBL forward, Bruce Bolden, became the first Razorback to have his singlet (#32) retired. In 2005-06 he was joined by #45 Simon Dwight - the NBL's all time top shot-blocker.
After being coached for their first six seasons by Gordie McLeod, a new coach was appointed in 2004-05 – Mark Watkins who previously had been the team’s assistant coach.
The club is headed up by basketball Olympian, Robbie Cadee, who launched the franchise in 1998-99. The Razors have had two shocking years in a row. The first of these years started off with Dwight's retirment and promising youngster Steve Markovic walking out on the club to play in Europe just a few weeks before the start of season. The second of the spell started off with import Nick Horvath sustaining a knee injury in the first game (he was out for season).
Cadee axed Watkins and hired Cal Bruton as coach in late 2006 amid a long Razorbacks losing streak. During the 2006/07 season the Razorbacks finally broke a 20 game losing streak against the Wollongong Hawks. Six games after that, the Razorbacks thumped the Kings 106-75 at the Pig Pen, spoiling Brian Goorjian's record of games coached.
In recent years the Razorbacks have been in severe financial difficulty after the original team owner, Canterbury Leagues Club, withdrew its support. Tri Media Group later took over the running of the club, which had almost folded. As a result of their financial troubles, the Razorbacks squad for season 2007/2008 comprised mainly of young NBL rookies, headed by first time NBL coach Rob Beveridge.
[edit] Honour Roll
| NBL Championships: | 0 | NBL Finals Appearances: | 2000,2001,2002,2004 |
| NBL Grand Final appearances: | 2 (2002, 2004) | ||
| All-NBL First Team: | John Rillie (2004), Sam Mackinnon (2004) | ||
| NBL Rookie of the Year: | Steven Markovic (2004) | ||
| NBL Best Defensive Player: | Simon Dwight (2002) | ||
| NBL Best Sixth Man: | Bruce Bolden (1999) | ||
| NBL Most Improved Player: | Liam Rush (2007) |
Source: www.nbl.com.au
[edit] Current roster
| West Sydney Razorbacks Current Roster |
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| Head Coach: Rob Beveridge | Edit | |||
| G | 5 |  |
Graeme Dann | (NSW; AIS) |
| F | TBA |  |
David Gruber * | (Iowa; University of Northern Iowa) |
| F | 14 | |
Matthew Knight | (TAS; Loyola Marymount University) |
| C | 6 | |
Julian Khazzouh | (NSW) |
| G | 55 | |
Damian Martin | (NSW; Loyola Marymount University) |
| C | 12 |  |
Tony Rampton | (NZ; Iowa State University) |
| G/F | 8 | |
Clint Reed | (NSW; Coastal Carolina University) |
| G/F | 13 | |
Liam Rush | (WA) |
| G | ? |  |
Drew Williamson | (NSW; Metropolitan State College) |
| * = Import, # = Development Player | West Sydney Razorbacks | |||
[edit] External links
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Clubs in the National Basketball League
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