As expected really.

Congratulations to each one of them. All throughly deserved.

Congrats to our two new Sixers inductees to the hall of fame, especially Mark Davis.

NBL Press Release

FOUR ENTER NBL HALL OF FAME

Loggins, Davis, Borner and Kerle receive ultimate honour


The National Basketball League (NBL) has named legendary Philips Championship players Leroy Loggins, Mark Davis and Ray Borner along with celebrated coach Brian Kerle as the 2006 inductees to the NBL Hall of Fame.



The quartet's induction, which will take place on Saturday 10 June on the Gold Coast, brings the number of people afforded the NBL's highest individual honour to 21.



'Leapin' Leroy Loggins remains to this day the NBL's all-time leader in career steals with 1,221 thefts during his stellar 567-game career with West Adelaide and the Brisbane Bullets. He also ranks second all-time behind only the great Andrew Gaze in points scored (13,106) and games played. Highlighting his versatility, Loggins also still ranks seventh all-time in the NBL in rebounds (3,897), 10th in assists (1,547) and sixth in blocked shots (537).



Loggins said his induction was an honour.



"It is a great way to cap off my career," Loggins said. "I was fortunate to have a successful career and this honour is just terrific. It's really the icing on the cake for me."



"You don't play to be inducted into the Hall of Fame you play to win games and win championships so this type of honour comes as a bonus."



Joining Loggins in the Hall is Adelaide's irrepressible rebounding machine, Mark Davis. Known as the 'Chairman of the Boards' during his career, Davis had at least 20 rebounds in a game on 40 different occasions and remains second all-time in the NBL in rebounding behind only Brisbane's Mark Bradtke. Davis won the NBL's MVP award in 1987 and snared three championship rings with Adelaide in 1986,1998 and 1998-99 during his 481-game career.



Davis said his American heritage made the induction even more special to him.



"I am very honoured and flattered," Davis said. "It is great to receive this and it's even more special given I wasn't born here and I came to this country for a new start and to now be inducted. I am very appreciative of the opportunities I received to make it here in Australia."



"There is not question this is a great honour to even be considered against some of the great players who have played in the NBL - it is just so amazing."



Ray Borner played 518 games during his career with Coburg, Wollongong, North Melbourne, Geelong and Canberra and made his NBL debut at the age of 17. He played in a remarkable 22 NBL seasons - a feat which only Andrew Gaze has equalled - and recorded 7,040 points and 3,927 rebounds. When he was named league MVP in 1985, he became the first-ever Australian to win the award in a major breakthrough for local basketballers. He won an NBL title in 1989 with North Melbourne and was a five-time NBL All-Star (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995).


Borner said that whilst basketball is a team sport, induction into the Hall was a great personal honour.



"Being inducted into the NBL Hall of Fame certainly is an honour bestowed upon players that are most deserving, so for that reason it is such an honour to be included."



"It is highlight as far as personal achievements go. This sport is about the team but on a personal note it is definitely at the top of the list."



Becoming just the third coach to be bestowed with the honour of induction into the NBL Hall of Fame, Brian Kerle led St. Kilda and later Brisbane to perennial success. Kerle coached 456 NBL games for a win-loss record of 282-174 (62%) and twice won Coach of the Year honours (1984 and 1990). His teams won four NBL titles, including the first-ever championship in 1979.



Kerle said the first person he called after being told of his induction was his son Simon, who recently concluded his own stellar NBL career as a player.



"I think after so many years being involved in the sport and now to be inducted, it gives me a real feeling of fulfillment & a feeling as if my NBL journey is now complete," Kerle said. "This really caps it all off. The first person I called when I found out was Simon. To share it with him was great."



NBL General Manager Chuck Harmison, who was himself named as one of the ten player finalists for the Hall of Fame this year, said the credentials of all four 2006 inductees were beyond question.



"Davis, Borner and Loggins set the standard in this league as players for so long and we are delighted they have been honoured with selection for the Hall of Fame," Harmison said. "Brian Kerle was also clearly one of the greatest coaches in NBL history so we believe this is one of the strongest induction classes for the Hall ever."



Ten player finalists were chosen by a ballot of the 24-member NBL Hall of Fame Committee from a list of eligible players. In order to be eligible, players must have made an outstanding contribution to the NBL, been retired for a minimum of four seasons, and have played 100 NBL games or more.



All eligible past players are placed on a ballot, with each member of the selection Committee asked to nominate a list of ten finalists. At this time, nominations were also called for the Contributors category.



The ten most nominated players were placed on the second ballot, as well as nominated contributors, and eligible coaches and referees, and forwarded to the Selection Committee.



In order to gain induction, a player needed to receive 75 percent of votes from the second ballot from the Selection Committee. A maximum of four players and a minimum of two players can be inducted each year, with a maximum of two non-players each year.







2006 Hall of Fame Inductees



Ray Borner - Coburg, Wollongong, North Melbourne, Geelong & Canberra (Player)
Played 518 games for in a career that started when he was only 17 & played in 22 NBL seasons, a feat which only Andrew Gaze has equalled & recorded 7,040 points and 3,927 rebounds & named league MVP in 1985, becoming the first-ever Australian to win the award & was selected to the All-NBL First Team in the same year & named to All-NBL Third Team in 1995 & won an NBL title in 1989 with North Melbourne & NBL All-Star in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995.



Mark Davis - Adelaide (Player)
1987 NBL MVP ... selected to the All-NBL First team in 1986, 1987,1988,1989 and 1991 ... All-NBL Second Team in 1994 ... All-NBL Third team in 1992 ... NBL All-Star in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994 ... NBL All-Star Game MVP in 1991... led league in rebounding in 1987 and 1992 ... led NBL in field goal percentage in 1985 ... second all-time in NBL in rebounding ... won NBL Championships with Adelaide in 1986,1998 and 1998-99 ... also an NBL grand finalist in 1985 and 1994... member of the NBL's 20th Season Team & selected as a member of the NBL's 25th Anniversary team & had at least 20 rebounds in a game on 40 occasions & once scored 25 points in a single quarter.



Leroy Loggins - Brisbane Bullets & West Adelaide (Player)
NBL's all-time leader in career steals (1,221) & second all-time in NBL history in games played (567) and points scored (13,106) .. seventh all-time in the NBL in rebounds (3,897) and 10th in assists (1,547) ... sixth all-time in blocked shots (537)... three-time NBL MVP (1984, 1986 and 1987 tied) ... 1987 and 1990 NBL Defensive Player of the Year ... All-NBL First Team in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993 and 1994 ... All-NBL Second Team in 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995 and 1997 ... won NBL Championships in 1982 (West Adelaide), 1985 (Brisbane) and 1987 (Brisbane) ... also appeared in 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1990 NBL Grand Finals .... member of the NBL's 20th Season Team and 25th Anniversary Team.



Brian Kerle - St. Kilda & Brisbane (Coach)
Coached 456 NBL games for a win-loss record of 282-174 (62%) & twice won Coach of the Year honours (1984 and 1990) & made his NBL head coaching debut in 1979 in the league's inaugural season at the helm of St Kilda & led the Saints to a league-best 15-3 record and the first-ever NBL title & guided the Saints to a repeat as champions in 1980 & led St Kilda to their third consecutive minor premiership in 1981 before his team were forced to miss the NBL Finals in order to attend the World Club Championships in Brazil & after five seasons with the Saints, signed on to take over the Brisbane Bullets in 1984 & immediately led the Bullets to the Eastern Division minor premiership with 19-5 regular season record & guided Brisbane to the 1984 Grand Final where they were narrowly beaten by Canberra & the next season Kerle led the Bullets back to the Grand Final and to their first-ever title & coached the Bullets to another Grand Final appearance in 1986 and the championship in 1987 as he established the team as one of the dominant forces in the competition led Brisbane back to the Grand Final once more in 1990 before retiring.





NBL Hall of Famers
Barry Barnes - Coach - 1998

Cal Bruton - Player - 1998

Herb McEachin - Player - 1998

John Raschke - Contributor - 1998

Bill Palmer - Contributor - 1998

Wayne Carroll - Player - 1999

Al Green - Player - 1999

Damian Keogh - Player - 2000

Phil Smyth - Player - 2000

Mal Speed - Contributor - 2000

Bob Turner - Coach - 2000

Larry Sengstock - Player - 2001

Ian Davies - Player - 2001

Danny Morseu - Player - 2002

Darryl Pearce - Player - 2002

Steve Carfino - Player - 2004

Michael Johnson - Player  2004

Ray Borner  Player 2006

Mark Davis  Player 2006

Leroy Loggins  Player 2006

Brian Kerle  Coach 2006