Mark Dalton (421 NBL Games) on being 'blacklisted' from the Boomers, Basketball politics and his NBL career

Very few have accomplished more than NBL legend Mark Dalton by age 20. In that time, he had played for the Australian Boomers at the 1984 Olympics and averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds as a starter in the Canberra Cannon's second NBL championship.

Dalton played seventeen seasons across five NBL teams. This included the Canberra Cannons, Geelong Cats, Sydney Kings, Brisbane Bullets and Wollongong Hawks, and his all-time numbers sit amongst some of the best to have ever done it. Ranking in the top 40 for games played and rebounds as well as sitting in the top 25 for total steals and blocks.

Yet, he never played for the Boomers at the Olympics again. He says poor advice from AIS coaches stopped him from taking a scholarship from major US colleges, and his NBL journey saw him unceremoniously axed from multiple NBL teams.

Dalton joins host Dan Boyce on the show to discuss a myriad of topics, ranging from all of this plus NBL free agency, his son Callum, his NBL career and his recent fight against cancer.

Tune in to hear all of this and a lot more.

Topics include...

• • Thoughts on NBL Free Agency and what advice he has for his son Callum, who currently plays for Melbourne United (2:00)
  • The early years of the Australian Institute of Sport (9:00)
  • How he was talked out of playing college basketball by AIS coaches (15:00)
  • Being unfairly 'blacklisted' by the Australian Boomers and left of numerous teams he felt he deserved to play for (16:30)
  • A cancer scare that has him urging every man over 50 years of age to get checked (25:00)
  • The 1984 Canberra Cannons championship (35:00)
  • Moving to Geelong to play for the Cats (45:00)
  • Being a part of the Sydney Kings during their first 8 years in the league (49:00)
  • The biggest learning moments he gained from his NBL career (101:00)

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Listen to our previous interviews with the biggest stars in Australian Basketball.

Head to Aussie Hoopla to check out previous podcasts featuring; Australian Basketball Legends - Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Mark Bradtke, Leroy Loggins, David Andersen, Andrew Vlahov, Phil Smyth, CJ Bruton, Chris Anstey, Brett Maher, John Rillie, Tony Ronaldson, Damian Martin

Current NBL Stars - Bryce Cotton, Chris Goulding, Jack White, Dejan Vasiljevic, Thomas Abercrombie, Daniel Johnson, Jason Cadee, Mitch McCarron, Anthony Drmic, Brad Newley, Kai Sotto, Luke Travers

Our Finest Coaching Minds - Brian Goorjian, Barry Barnes, Joey Wright, Adrian Hurley, Aaron Fearne, Rob Beveridge, Ian Stacker, Shawn Dennis, Dean Vickerman, Trevor Gleeson, Lindsey Gaze, Ken Cole, Will Weaver, Bruce Palmer

NBA Stars Past & Present - Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Stephen Jackson, Randy Livingston, Torrey Craig, Acie Earl, Josh Childress, Reggie Smith, Todd Lichti, Ryan Broekhoff, Doug Overton

The NBL's Greatest Imports - Darryl McDonald, Ricky Grace, Derek Rucker, Leon Trimmingham, Scott Fisher, Lanard Copeland, Mike Mitchell, Darnell Mee, Isaac Burton, Adonis Jordan, Shawn Redhage, Willie Farley, Al Green, Corey "Homicide" Williams, Steve Woodberry, Doug Overton, Kevin Lisch

And the men who run things - Larry Kestelman, Mal Speed, Paul Maley, Vince Crivelli, Jeremy Loeliger, Chris Pongrass, Jeff Van Groningen, Bob Turner, Danny Mills

All that and much more.

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