Growing up in Western Australia I use to love driving the two hours up to the Perth Entertainment Centre to see the Wildcats play. So I'm starting with Perth and who I believe is there all time best 6.
Point Guard: Ricky Grace
Hands down Perth's greatest point guard. Had an amazing ability to keep going to the well and the well being that running left hand baby hook down the lane.
Helped Perth to win there first championship by being named GF MVP in 1990. Was also GF MVP in 1993 in a losing effort against the Melbourne Tigers. He was a 4 time All NBL First Team member and always lived up to his nickname "Amazing".
Shooting Guard: Todd Licthi
If you never got to see Todd Licthi play you missed one of the most talented guys to come to the NBL. He didn't win any awards, he didn't speak a whole lot but he was skilled and the total team player that the Wildcats needed. Whether it was shooting with his opposite hand to grabbing big rebounds and setting teammates up he was one the smoothest players ever to put on the Wildcats uniform. He was one of my favorite players ever.
Small Forward: Andrew Vlahov (c)
Arguably the toughest guy ever to play in the NBL. Captained the Wildcats from 1993 - 2002. Played 347 NBL games. 1991 ROY, 1995 GF MVP, All NBL First Team Member 1992 and 1995 and to top it off a 4 time Olympian. Basically the guy got the job done and was the heart and soul that the Wildcat fans embraced for many years.
Power Forward: Scott Fisher
"The Fish" came to the Perth Wildcats after stellar career at the North Melbourne Giants. Playing 417 NBL games the fish won 3 championships in 1995, 1999/2000. Known for his trademark baseline jumper that rarely missed and his penguin chest slides after the games, the fish became a cult hero for the wildcat fans as a player and later as a coach. He was one of the true characters of the game.
Centre: Paul Rogers
This was a hard one. Do you go with the Alabama Slama or his successor in Paul Rogers. I went with Rogey because the dude was an MVP. Conversation over. Came to Perth in 1999 and left in 2002 only to return in 2006 to current. He was MVP in 2000 and was All First Team member in 2000 and 2002. Known as one of the all time good guys and the baseline bandit, he really was the stability in the middle after Crawford.
6th Man: Shawn Redhage
One man's trash is another man's treasure. After being thrown on the trash heap by the NZ Breakers the man known as the scoring machine went to Perth with a point to prove and wore his heart on his sleeve. Being named captain for this up coming season this Olympian will be looking to take Perth to the Championship that Jack Bendat craves.
Honorable Mentions: Mike Ellis, Cal Bruton, James Crawford
That wraps up Perth. Next blog we will focus on the Adelaide 36'ers.
Til next time
Have a beer for me
Wortho
Great work Wortho. I would probably agree on all of those. Had forgotten about Licthi - he is probably the only change I would consider.
ReplyDeleteWish we had a Ricky Grace clone right now.
This is an AWESOME blogg Wortho.
ReplyDeleteHow about you do a All Time team for the Newcastle Falcons, Hobart, Geelong etc etc?
I got some mad pics I can hook u up with hey.
You should come back and play being a good WA boy.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there would be room for you on that list after if you moved next season and put in a good sasons.