Jason Smith

HTML <h2><strong>No</strong><strong>88 JASON SMITH</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>6 feet 4 inch (194cm) </strong><strong>Guard/Forward</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>2000, 2004 Olympic Games</strong></h2>

HTML <p>The youngster was playing in the Little League Grand Final at half time of the Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final in front of 100,000 people. He thought the 100,000 people there were all there to watch him! During the game he went in to get the ball and another kid on the opposing team kicked at the ball lying on the ground and missed and ended up kicking some of the youngster’s teeth out! &#160;After the game his mother was annoyed that she had to take him to the dentist again (He had his teeth knocked out about three or four times prior to this occasion) and was suggesting he and his twin brother try another sport. She recommended that the twins go to the local sports stadium (Nunawading) and enrol in the basketball holiday program. The youngster advised her that he was not interested at all and that he loved his footy! After the dentist had fixed his two missing teeth, they arrived back at their family home. Being a typical winter&#39;s day in Melbourne it was raining and hewas still dressed in all his football gear, boots and all. He took two steps up the stairs to their front door and slipped, knocking his teeth out again.</p>

HTML <p>“As a result my mother had her way and that was the start of my basketball adventure! The rest is history!” says Jason Smith.</p>

HTML <p>Jason Matthew Smith was born on October 20th, 1974 in Melbourne, Victoria.He started playing basketballwith the Vermont Vultures under Coach Scott Nicey. “He was the one who identified my twin brother and me as having some potential and sacrificed a lot to help our development with extra sessions and individual skill training”.</p>

HTML <p>He remembers being thirteen and playing in the U14 domestic Grand Final on Court One at the Nunawading Basketball Association and having a lot of people watch the game because both he and his brother could dunk the ball at that age. At the beginning of the game Jason got a long tip rebound and took off and dunked the ball for the first score of the game. “That is my first memory of dunking in a game and how exciting that feeling was. At that stage dunking the ball and winning were major motivations for me,” says Jason.</p>

HTML <p>It was not until the Under 16’s that Jason was selected to represent the Nunawading Spectres Third Team and he never actually made a First Team until Under 20&#39;s. “I never made a Victorian State team until Under 20&#39;s, and even then I was not a very good player. My brother and I were both very athletic and loved the fact you could block shots, run the lanes and dunk given the opportunity,” says Jason.</p>

HTML <p>After five or six years of junior basketball Jason was still finding his way despite his obvious athletic talents. He recalls, “I was lucky that I had the height and athleticism to make the next step to senior basketball”</p>

HTML <p>Jason attended Cal Lutheran College in the USA from 1993-1994 and this experience assisted his skill levels and knowledge of the game.</p>

HTML <p>Returning to Australia in 1995 to the National Basketball League (NBL) Jason joined the South Eastern Melbourne Magic in a career there that lasted until 1999. ”I spent a lot of time on the bench,” says Jason. </p>

HTML <p>He was primarily seen at this time as a tremendous athlete who was a great defender and rebounder (and of course dunker). He won the NBL Best Sixth Man Award in 1998. He was just starting to establish himself in the NBL when the Magic folded. He was however given a chance with the new franchise the Victoria Titans who elected to honour the contract Jason had with the Magic. Jason played with the Titans from 1999 to 2002 until this Club also folded.</p>

HTML <p>In 1999 Jason debuted for the Australian Men’s Basketball Team (Boomers) when he was selected to play against a touring Russian National Team. He followed this with games for the Boomers in Germany and Greece in the Berlin Super Cup and the Acropolis Tournament. He also played against Canada in a series in Australia.</p>

HTML <p>In 2000 Jason played for the Boomers in the Olympic Test Event, the Russian series and in tournaments in Italy and France. In these games he displayed the ability to score as well as defend and rebound. Jason was named to the Boomers Team for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.</p>

HTML <p>Leading into the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games,Jason played for the Boomers in the FIBA Diamond Ball Cup in Hong Kong, against the USA in Melbourne and against Lithuania in Wollongong.</p>

HTML <p>Jason’s role on the team was as a defensive stopper and a back-up for the veterans on the team.</p>

HTML <p>In the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games the Boomers came agonizingly close to a medal when they finished in 4th place the equal best result for the Boomers at an Olympics.</p>

HTML <p>After the 2000 Olympics Jason was to go on to play Club basketball with RidaScafati (Italy 2002/3,) and Sydney Kings(2003/05-Captain). He was named the NBL Grand Final MVP when the Kings won the NBL Championships in 2005. He played for KK Cibona-Croatia (2005), Sydney Kings (2006-08-Captain), and the Sydney Spirit (2008-09 Captain). In all Jason played 413 games in the NBL and won three NBL Championships with the Sydney Kings.</p>

HTML <p>In 2003 Jason played for the Boomers when they won the Oceania 2004 Olympic Qualification Tournament. In 2004 he played for the Boomers in the Four Nations Tournament and the three game New Zealand Series and was chosen on the Boomers Team for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.</p>

HTML <p>In the build up to the Athens Olympics Jason played for the Boomers in the FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament in Belgrade and in the Italy International Tournament. </p>

HTML <p>At his second Olympics, Jason had a much greater role than he did in Sydney 2000. He was a leader on the team and played tough determined basketball. It was another great experience. The Boomers finished in 9th position, a few positions below what they expected.</p>

HTML <p>In 2005 Jason played for the Boomers in the Four Nations Tournament and on the team that won the Oceania 2005 World Championships Qualification Tournament. Jason was Captain of the Boomers Team that won the Gold Medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne. He also played for the Boomers when the team played New Zealand in a four game series. Jason was then named to the Boomers Team and as Captain to contest the 2006 World Championships in Japan where the Boomers finished equal tenth for positions ten to sixteen.</p>

HTML <p>Jason’s experience was called upon in 2007 to assist the Boomers when they toured to Italy and Turkey, and to win the Oceania 2008 Olympic Qualification Tournament.</p>

HTML <p>The Oceania 2008 Olympic Qualification Tournament held in 2007 was Jason’s last Australian Team representation.</p>

HTML <p>During his career Jason underwent seven knee operations and one shoulder operation. The shoulder operation most likely cost him selection for the 2008 Athens Olympic Games.</p>

HTML <p>Jason’s favourite experience (apart from playing) was when Andrew Gaze entered the Boomers locker-room prior to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and announced that he (Andrew) was to be the Australian Olympic Team Flag Bearer for the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics.“To see such emotion from someone who had represented his country hundreds of times before really instilled in me how much representing your country truly means. From that point on I had greater respect for Andrew and a new sense of pride every time I was able to wear the Green and Gold! I never took the honour lightly or misunderstood who I was representing.”</p>

HTML <p>Boomer legend Larry Sengstock sums up Jason. “He really worked hard at his game, he forged himself a career and he Captained Australia, but more than that he was an outstanding ambassador for the sport.”</p>

HTML <p>Olympic team-mate Glen Saville comments on Jason. “He always led by example with his effort and leadership. His leadership qualities were based on leading from the front and whatever he said to the team, he’d back up with his actions and his effort.”</p>

HTML <p>Jason states that he has been honoured to play basketball for Australia through some of the best years of the sport in this country. “I have been able to play with and against the iconic names in the sport over mycareer such as the likes of Shane Heal, Luc Longley, Andrew Vlahov, Andrew Gaze, Mark Bradtke, Chris Anstey, Sam McKinnon, Brett Maher, David Anderson, Matt Nielsen, Glen Saville, Andrew Bogut, Patrick Mills and Martin Cattalini to name quite a few.”</p>

HTML <p>Jason retired from basketball in 2009 after playing 413 NBL games and playing in two Olympic Gamesand one World Championship for his country.</p>

HTML <p>Jason is a great example of how with perseverance, dedication, belief and sheer hard work players and people can achieve more than perhaps they or others think. He captained his country and set a great example for others to follow.</p>

HTML <p>Jason Smith playing for Australia (Basketball Australia)</p>

HTML <p>Jason Smith (Basketball Australia)</p>