Mike Helms played three seasons in the NBL for the Hunter Pirates and Singapore Slingers.
He averaged 22 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists over 95 games and led both the Pirates and the Slingers to the playoffs during his time in the NBL.
Now back home in Detroit we catch up with him to find out what he is up to now and talk about some of the highlights and challenges he faced as an import both in Australia and overseas.
Helms, who graduated from Oakland University would also play as a professional basketball player in Argentina, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, Mexico and Canada.
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Topics discussed on the podcast include;
Dan starts off by reviewing the current NBL business plan (2:00)
Breaking down NBL TV broadcast numbers (4:30)
Illawarra helps receive financial assistance and will remain in the league for next season (12:00)
Mike Helms joins the show and explains what the Detroit basketball scene is like (16:00)
Reflections on playing at Oakland University (19:00)
How interested were NBA teams in Mike Helms after college (24:00)
Playing in Argentina (31:00)
Arriving in the NBL with the Hunter Pirates (36:00)
Playing for Dr Adrian Hurley (40:30)
Thoughts on the level of competition in the NBL (42:00)
His first year with the Pirates and making the playoffs (44:00)
What it was like playing in Newcastle (49:00)
The demise of the Hunter Falcons (51:00)
What is was like playing for the Singapore Slingers (55:00)
What players and teams in the league did Mike enjoy facing the most (105:00)
Time in New Zealand and how he knew it was time to retire (113:00)
All of this and a whole lot more...
Listen to our previous interviews with the biggest stars in Australian Basketball, head to Aussiehoopla.com. Check out previous podcasts featuring;
Australian Basketball Legends - Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Mark Bradtke, Leroy Loggins, David Andersen, Andrew Vlahov, CJ Bruton, Chris Anstey, Brett Maher, John Rillie, Tony Ronaldson, Brad Newley
Current NBL Stars - Kevin Lisch, AJ Ogilvy, Damian Martin, Daniel Kickert, Thomas Abercrombie, Jason Cadee, Bryce Cotton, Chris Goulding, Mitch McCarron, Cam Gliddon
Our Finest Coaching Minds - Brian Goorjian, Joey Wright, Adrian Hurley, Aaron Fearne, Rob Beveridge, Phil Smyth, Ian Stacker, Shawn Dennis, Dean Vickerman, Trevor Gleeson, Lindsey Gaze, Ken Cole
NBA Stars Past & Present - Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Stephen Jackson, Randy Livingston, Torrey Craig, Acie Earl, Josh Childress, Reggie Smith, Todd Lichti
Aussie Basketballers Abroad - Ryan Broekhoff, Brock Motum, Jack White, Ben Madgen, Clint Stiendl, Ater Majok, Rhys Carter, Clint Stiendl
The NBL's Greatest Imports - Darryl McDonald, Ricky Grace, Derek Rucker, Leon Trimmingham, Scott Fisher, Lanard Copeland, Mike Mitchell, Terry Dozier, Isaac Burton, Shawn Redhage, Willie Farley, Al Green, Corey "Homicide" Williams, Andre Moore, Steve Woodberry
And the men who run things - Larry Kestelman, Vince Crivelli, Jeremy Loeliger, Chuck Harmison, Jeff Van Groningen, Bob Turner
All that and much more. Follow @AussieHoopla on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and email at info@aussiehoopla.com
Australian Basketball Hall of Famer, recipient of the Order of Australia, four-time Olympian, part of North Melbourne's 1989 NBL championship winning team and the first Australian to win the NBL MVP (1985)... and true-blue Ballarat boy Ray Borner joins the Aussie Hoopla podcast to talk about his NBL career, the 14 years he spent playing with the Australian Boomers and thoughts on the Australian basketball landscape.
Hear Ray discuss all four of his Olympic experiences and review how the national program has changed since he first donned the green and gold in 1982.
Get 20% off custom designed uniforms with promo code HOOPLA20 from CA Sports
Get 5% off NBA tickets with promo code HOOPLA5 from US Sports Tickets
Sign up for Ian Stacker's All-Star Shooting Program
Topics discussed on the podcast include;
Andrej Lemanis breaks down after forcing an injured Mika Vukona and potentially costing the Brisbane Bullets and NBL championship (2:00)
Ray Borner on growing up in Ballarat and making it to the NBL as a 17-year old (5:00)
How he coped facing "men" in his first years in the NBL and how players were forced to develop their game in the 1980's (16:00)
Becoming a member of the Boomers in 1982 (27:00)
Missed opportunities with NBA teams in the 1980s (33:00)
1982 FIBA World Championships (36:00)
The 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the games goes commercial (43:00)
1988 Olympic Games (52:00)
Getting into a fight with the USA''s David Robinson in Seoul (54:00)
The Illawarra Killer B's (57:00)
Winning the NBL championship in 1989 (102:00)
Making international headlines during the 1992 Olympics for refusing to play against an HIV positive Magic Johnson (108:00)
1996 Olympics in Greece (109:30)
Comparing the changes in Australian Basketball from 1982 to 1996 (117:00)
Finishing up his career in the NBL and when he knew it was time to walk away (121:00)
All of this and a whole lot more...
Listen to our previous interviews with the biggest stars in Australian Basketball, head to Aussiehoopla.com. Check out previous podcasts featuring;
Australian Basketball Legends - Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Mark Bradtke, Leroy Loggins, David Andersen, Andrew Vlahov, CJ Bruton, Chris Anstey, Brett Maher, John Rillie, Tony Ronaldson, Brad Newley
Current NBL Stars - Kevin Lisch, Rotnei Clark, AJ Ogilvy, Damian Martin, Daniel Kickert, Thomas Abercrombie, Jason Cadee, Stephen Holt, Bryce Cotton, Chris Goulding, Mitch McCarron, Cam Gliddon
Our Finest Coaching Minds - Brian Goorjian, Joey Wright, Adrian Hurley, Aaron Fearne, Rob Beveridge, Phil Smyth, Ian Stacker, Shawn Dennis, Dean Vickerman, Trevor Gleeson, Lindsey Gaze, Ken Cole
NBA Stars Past & Present - Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Stephen Jackson, Randy Livingston, Torrey Craig, Acie Earl, Josh Childress, Reggie Smith, Todd Lichti
Aussie Basketballers Abroad - Ryan Broekhoff, Brock Motum, Jack White, Ben Madgen, Clint Stiendl, Ater Majok, Rhys Carter, Clint Stiendl
The NBL's Greatest Imports - Darryl McDonald, Ricky Grace, Derek Rucker, Leon Trimmingham, Scott Fisher, Lanard Copeland, Mike Mitchell, Terry Dozier, Isaac Burton, Shawn Redhage, Willie Farley, Al Green, Corey "Homicide" Williams, Andre Moore, Steve Woodberry
And the men who run things - Larry Kestelman, Vince Crivelli, Jeremy Loeliger, Chuck Harmison, Jeff Van Groningen, Bob Turner
All that and much more. Follow @AussieHoopla on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and email at info@aussiehoopla.com