Ian Watson

HTML <h2><strong>No</strong><strong> 45 IAN WATSON</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>5 feet 11 inches (180cm) Guard</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>1972, </strong><strong>1976 Olympic Games</strong></h2>

HTML <p>The Watson boys, Ian and Ray, were highly competitive with each other and anyone else who played basketball with them or against them in the backyard. Ray, the elder brother, was the smaller and less athletic of the two but that did not deter Ray from getting “stuck into” his athletic brother whenever they played basketball. Their father Ken and their mother Betty totally approved of the boys rivalry and efforts. It was to all concerned, “character building.”</p>

HTML <p>Ian Broughton Watson was born June 7th, 1949 in North Fitzroy, Melbourne. His father Ken was Secretary of Victorian Basketball, and an outstanding player and coach and represented Victoria as a player and Australia as a coach. His mother Betty was also heavily involved in basketball and is an icon for women’s basketball. His brother Ray was to play for Australia at the 1968 Olympics and another brother David was to become an outstanding basketball referee. It is fair to say that basketball was in the blood of the family.</p>

HTML <p>Typically in those early days of Ian’s life sport was all about “footy” and cricket. The only basketball was in the backyard as there was none at school. In fact his dad Ken had worked diligently during World War Two just to keep junior basketball running in Melbourne. Ken had erected a backboard and ring on the garage that backed onto a lane at the back of the house so the boys had plenty of time to go “one-on-one”.</p>

HTML <p>Ian’s basketball started when he followed his older brother Ray to play basketball with CEBS. Ray was Under 14’s and Ian was Under 12’s. Of course Dad (Ken) was delighted to have the boys playing competition basketball. There were no State championship competitions in those days, just Club basketball. Ian and Ray were soon members of the Melbourne Church Club (which was to develop into the current NBL Club Melbourne Tigers) when Ray joined the Under 16 level and Ian the Under 14’s.</p>

HTML <p>His brother Ray recalls, “Ian was an outstanding sportsman who excelled at “footy”, cricket and golf so it was no surprise when he showed outstanding talent at basketball.” He was also being coached by some of the best basketball coaches in Australia so the opportunity to become very good at the game was there.</p>

HTML <p>In 1963 Ian was selected to the Victorian State Under 16 team that played in the Australian Championships held in Hobart that year. His team lost the final to NSW53-52. As Ian was bottom-age he was selected for the same team the next year when the Championships were held at home in Melbourne. This time the Victorians defeated NSW 37-34 in the final.</p>

HTML <p>The following year Ian moved up to the State Under 18 level for the National Championships held in Adelaide and once again the Victorians were victorious in the final over NSW (76-73).</p>

HTML <p>In Ian’s last year in the Under 18 State team (1966) he played in the National Championships held in Wollongong where again Victoria conquered NSW in the final, this time to the tune of 62-51. That made it three National Championships in a row for Ian and the Victorians.</p>

HTML <p>At this time he was also moving into the senior ranks at the Melbourne Church Club.</p>

HTML <p>The senior team at Melbourne Church was coached by Ian’s dad Ken and included Olympic greats Lindsay Gaze and Bill Wyatt, so he was certainly learning from the best. He was to play for the Church teams from 1967 to 1977.</p>

HTML <p>During this period Melbourne Church was the dominate team in Australian Club basketball. At that time the clubs played in the South Eastern Conference (SEC) which was a competition between clubs from South Australia, Victoria and NSW. It was a fore-runner of the NBL and the Melbourne Church team dominated the competition. During this period Church also brought to Australia the first US College players to play with an Australian club in the form of Fred Guy, Ken James and Perry Crosswhite. Ian’s basketball learning environment was certainly a very good.</p>

HTML <p>Lindsay Gaze described Ian, “As the first prototype point guard of his generation as he was an excellent play-maker and court leader.” Ian’s skills soon saw him as a regular on the Victorian senior men’s team. </p>

HTML <p>Ian first represented Australia in 1971 when he was a member of the Australian Basketball Team that won the Oceania Championships that were held in New Zealand. Winning those Championships meant Australia qualified for the 1972 Olympic Games.</p>

HTML <p>After the 1972 Australian Championships in Melbourne Ian was selected to the Australian Olympic team for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. His older brother Ray had been a member of the 1968 Australian Mexico Olympics basketball team and Ian had now emulated “big brother.”</p>

HTML <p>In Munich Ian and all the team were deeply affected by the massacre of Israeli athletes and coaches by Palestinian terrorists. Once the team recovered from that tragedy and were able to play their basketball the team achieved 9th position in what was a very credible result. Munich was a learning experience for Ian as he honed his point-guard skills and watched the best players in the world.</p>

HTML <p>Back in Australia Ian continued to play with Melbourne Church and undergo overseas tours with the Club. </p>

HTML <p>In 1974 Ian played for Australia in the World Basketball Championships played in Puerto Rico. Ian was now very much the team leader and directed play and organized the team. He was especially effective in ensuring that Australia’s very talented shooters and scorers Andris Blicavs and Eddie Palubinskas received good opportunities to show their skills. The Australians finished 12th in the tournament.</p>

HTML <p>Ian played in the Oceania Championships in 1975. Australia won the tournament and the right to participate in the 1976 Olympic Games.</p>

HTML <p>The Australian Team with Ian as a member toured to the USA at the end of 1975 to play eight games against the very strong US College PAC 8. The PAC 8 contained such powerhouse teams as UCLA coached by the legendary John Wooden. It was a good learning experience for the whole Australian Team.</p>

HTML <p>Ian was selected on the Australian Men’s Basketball Team for the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. By now Ian was the backcourt leader on the Olympic team and his point-guard play was a major force in the offensive structure of the team under his Melbourne Church Club coach Lindsay Gaze.</p>

HTML <p>In Montreal Ian’s main scoring game was against Japan where he scored 12 points. He also played a big part in Australia’s famous overtime win over Mexico when Eddie Palubinskas scored 48 points in the game. The Australian Team improved one position on their 1972 Olympic achievement when they gained 8th place, their best placing to that time. </p>

HTML <p>After the 1976 Olympics Ian continued to play with Melbourne Church as well as undertaking a coaching career and did some coaching in Victorian country.</p>

HTML <p>In 1978 he moved to Queensland to become that State’s first Director of Basketball Coaching.</p>

HTML <p>Ian’s coaching direction in Queensland provided great impetus to that State’s basketball and he inspired many young players to represent their State and country. Today that State recognises Ian’s contributions by the annual Ian Watson Memorial Trophy to the junior player who has achieved outstanding ball-handling skills.</p>

HTML <p>Ian was an outstanding leader and player of his generation. His contributions to the Australian Men’s Team and to junior State basketball have been profound.</p>

HTML <p>Ian Watson passed away in 1981. He was 32 years of age.</p>

HTML <p>Ian Watson in his Victorian uniform (Courtesy of R. Watson)</p>