Scott Fisher

HTML <h2><strong>No</strong><strong>78</strong><strong> SCOTT FISHER</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>6 feet 7 inch (201cm) Forward/Centre</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>1996 Olympic Games</strong></h2>

HTML <p>The Perth Wildcats had just scored a come from behind dramatic win over the Adelaide 36ers at the Adelaide home the Clipsal stadium in the NBL playoffs. As the Wildcats were walking down the tunnel off the court the Wildcats tall, solidly built American born Australian said in a scene reminiscent of a scene from the movie Top Gun, “I feel the need for the Fish-Flop-Slide”, and he turned took a deep breath and raced back onto the court, ran the full length of the floor as the bewildered Adelaide crowd watched in amazement and puzzlement he launched himself onto the floor at the top of the keyhole, did a perfect “belly-flop” and slide all the way on his stomach to the baseline. The Adelaide crowd were dumbfounded then in anger....amazement....respect....they started to hoot and boo the player all the way back to the tunnel where his team-mates were waiting and cheering. It was not the first time or the last time that the “fish flop-slide would be performed by Scott Fisher.</p>

HTML <p>Scott Fisher was born on the 20th of July 1963 in San Jose, California in the USA.Like most young Americans Scott played basketball from an early age. He played basketball in high school before attending the University California Santa Barbara (USB). At USB Scott was a “walk-on” (someone who is a member of the student body who tries out for the College team) and earned a basketball scholarship in his second year at the University.</p>

HTML <p>Scott was so successful at USB that he became the three-time MVP for his team. He has been inducted into the USB Basketball Hall of Fame as a player. </p>

HTML <p>Graduating from USB in 1986 Scott was drafted by the Wildwood Aces in the United States Basketball League (USBL). He had try-outs for the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukie Bucksbefore playing with Cincinnati in the Continental Basketball Association(CBA).</p>

HTML <p>Scott came to Australia in 1987 and played with the North Melbourne Giants in the National Basketball League (NBL) and won a title with the Giants in 1989. </p>

HTML <p>In 1992-3 he played in France before joining the Perth Wildcats for the 1993 season.Perth Coach Adrian Hurley comments.“I recruited Scott in 1993 because I saw him as the ideal player to complement my three main players Andrew Vlahov, Ricky Grace and James Crawford. Scott enhanced that hard work ethic of running the floor until you drop, fighting for every rebound, being tough on defence and being a problem for the opposition on offense. He had all the attributes the team needed.” </p>

HTML <p>An excellent defender and a very physical player Scott played with great intelligence and drive and was a natural leader. His “flat” medium range jump-shot was very accurate and he became a proficient three-point shooter. He was an excellent rebounder even though he was not a “leaper.”He quickly developed a reputation in the NBL as “a big-time player.”In 1995 he was a pivotal member of the Perth Wildcats team that won the NBL Championships. After winning the NBL title Scott played for the Wildcats in the McDonalds World Club Championships in London, England where the team finished in third place.</p>

HTML <p>Scott became an Australian citizen in 1993 and in 1995 debuted for Australia when he was selected for Australian Men’s Basketball Team (Boomers) to play exhibition games against the Magic Johnson All Stars.At the end of the year (1995) he travelled with the Boomers on their ten match tour to Portugal, Spain and Holland. In 1996 he played in Australia for the Boomers against the NBA All-Stars, the Lithuanian National Teamand was selected on the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games Basketball Team.</p>

HTML <p>Scott says, “For me the Olympics were great for many reasons. The fact that the games were played in the country of my birth proved to be a wonderful bonus....my parents and friends were able to see me play.”</p>

HTML <p>But Scott nearly didn’t make the eligibility requirements for the Games. “My dream to play at the Olympics, seem to be realised, however the Olympic Games were scheduled to start on the 19th of July and I had to be an Australian citizen for three year period prior to the Games. That three year period ended on the 20th of July. It seems I would be ineligible by one day. However, we explained that due to the time difference between Australia and Atlanta, I actually became a citizen on the 19th of July Atlanta time. I was deemed eligible and got to compete on one of the greatest of all Australian Men&#39;s Basketball&#160;Teams.&#160;“</p>

HTML <p>Scott played a significant role in the Boomers Atlanta Olympic campaign. He was the teams “sixth man” and often got (along with Andrew Vlahov) the tough defensive assignments on one of the opposition’s best players. This was particularly so when they played Brazil and he guarded the dynamic Oscar Schmidt and in the Boomers great upset win over Croatia in the quarter-finals. TheBoomers win against Croatia put the Aussies into the semi-finals. Scott was always a valued man in a crises or when the game was on the line. The Boomers had a wonderful tournament and gained 4th place their equal best ever result at an Olympic Games.</p>

HTML <p>After returning from the Olympics Scott suffered a serious knee injury and missed most of the 1996 NBL season and the beginning of the 1997 NBL season. </p>

HTML <p>In 1998 Scott was still a mainstay of the Boomers team. After games for the Boomers against touring teams from Japan and Canada he was selected to play for the Boomers for the 1998 World Championships in Greece. On the way to Greece the team played exceptionally well in the Goodwill Games in the USA. The Boomers finished 9th in the World Championships. </p>

HTML <p>Scott missed selection for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games when he would have been 37 years of age. He did however play for the Perth Wildcats NBL winning team in 2000. </p>

HTML <p>In all Scott Fisher played 417 NBL games, 247 of them for the Wildcats. He averaged 22.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. He played on NBL championship winning teams in 1989 (North Melbourne), 1995 and 2000 (Perth Wildcats) and also played in Grand Finals in 1988 and 1993. He was selected to the NBL 20th Season and 25th Season Teams and was the NBL Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1989 and 1992. He was second in the NBL MVP voting in 1988, 1990 and 1991. He was selected to the All NBL First Teams in 1989, 1990, 1991 and,1992 and the All NBL Second Team in1987, 1988 and 1993. He played in three NBL All Star Games.</p>

HTML <p>Scott continued to play for the Wildcats until the end of the 2001 season when he retired at age 41. In 2004-05 he became the Head Coach of the Perth Wildcats and held that position for four years before returning to the USA in 2008 where he continues to coach and work in sport including coaching at the University Hawaii Men’s Basketball.</p>

HTML <p>Scott remarks,“Making the Australian Olympic Team was a dream fulfilled but required a number of amazing coincidences and a great deal of luck.&#160; First of all my being US born it never seemed likely that I would ever get to experience the Olympics as a competitor. I always felt that the Olympic Games were the pinnacle of sporting achievement.&#160; It was fantasy of mine throughout my formative years.”</p>

HTML <p>In 2007 Scott Fisher was inducted into the NBL Hall of Fame as a player. In 2013 he was named to the Perth Wildcats 30 Year Anniversary Team.</p>

HTML <p>Andrew Vlahov (14)and Scott Fisher (6) battle the USA or a rebound in Atlanta while Mark Bradtke moves in to assist (Courtesy of Basketball Australia)</p>

HTML <p>Scott Fisher drives to the basket in the NBL (The Australian Basketballer Magazine/Tony Gough)</p>

HTML <p>Scott Fisher after winning the NBL title with the Giants in 1989 (The Australian Basketballer Magazine/Tony Gough)</p>

HTML <p>Scott Fisher playing for the Wildcats (SWISH Magazine/National Basketball League)</p>