Shane Heal

NBL Player Infobox
name = Shane Heal


nickname = Hammer
position = Point guard
height = height|m=1.82
weight = convert|83|kg
league = NBL
team = Gold Coast Blaze
nationality = AUS
birth_date = birth date and age|1970|9|6|df=yes
birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria
first_nbl_game = 1988
games_played = 394 [http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=dragons_playerprofile&profile=323 NBL website]
junior_association = Nunawading
previous_clubs = Brisbane Bullets 1988
Geelong Supercats 1989–1991
Brisbane Bullets 1992–1995
Sydney Kings 1996–1997, 2001/02–2002/03
Makedonikos BC 2003–2004
South Dragons 2006–2008
Gold Coast Blaze 2008–Current
championships = 2003
career_highlights = Played for Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs in the NBA
Olympic Squad Member 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004
1988 NBL Rookie of the Year
1990 NBL Most Improved Player
1990 NBL Good Hands Award

Shane Douglas Heal (born 6 September 1970 in Melbourne, Victoria,) is an Australian professional basketball player currently with the Gold Coast Blaze of the National Basketball League. His career highlights include representing the Boomers at a number of Olympics (1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004) and World Championships, brief stints in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs, and winning the 2002/2003 NBL championship with the Sydney Kings. Heal retired from basketball after his stint at the Kings. He later continued his career, coming out of retirement to play for the newly formed South Dragons initially as a player. This quickly changed after the coaching position became vacant and he was offered the job as the clubs player/coach, which he accepted. He was sacked from his job at the Dragons during his second season at the club, after multiple poor performance. During his early years as a player, Heal played for the Brisbane Bullets and the Geelong Supercats early in his NBL career.

Playing career

NBL team records

Brisbane Bullets

*2nd on three pointers made (477)
*2nd on assists (816)
*4th on free-throw percentage (84.1%)
*7th on points scored (2771)
*7th on field goals made (951)
*7th on free-throws made (392)
*8th on steals (164)
*6th on turnovers (387)

Source: [http://www.bullets.com.au www.bullets.com.au]

ydney Kings

Captained to inaugural Championship Team

Gold Coast Blaze

Heal returned to basketball after a short stint out of the game with the Gold Coast Blaze franchise. [cite news | title=BLAZE SIGN HEAL IN BIG WIN FOR THE GOLD COAST | date=14 May 2008 | publisher=Gold Coast Blaze | url=http://www.blazegc.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=74936]

NBL league records

*First in assists per game in 1990 (8.3/24 games)
*First in assists per game in 2002 (7.5/29 games)
*Third in most points in a game (61 in 1994)
*Third in most assists in a game (20 in 1990)
*Second and third in most three-pointers made in a game (12 in 1994 and 2001)

Coaching career

outh Dragons

On Date|2006-03-03, it was reported in Melbourne's "Herald Sun" newspaper that Heal was considering coming out of retirement to captain the South Dragons, a new Melbourne-based NBL franchise to enter the league in the 2006/07 season. [cite news | last=Bernard | first=Grantley | title=Heal weighs up Dragons captaincy | date=3 Mar 2006 | publisher=Herald Sun | url=http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,18328459%255E10914,00.html] He officially signed with the team on April 6 as the Dragons' inaugural captain. [South Dragons (2005). [http://www.southdragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=dragonsnews&id=129 Heal back in black] . Retrieved 6 April 2006.] On Date|2006-10-23, Dragons coach Mark Price resigned his position after the Dragons lost their first five NBL championship season games, citing family reasons. Price was replaced by Heal, who was appointed as player and interim coach for the remainder of the season. [South Dragons (2006). [http://www.southdragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=dragonsnews&id=598 Price resigns, Heal new head coach] . Retrieved 23 October 2006.] After multiple successful performances his contract was extended to the end of the 2008/2009 season. On Date|2008-02-01 Heal was sacked from his job as player/coach at the Dragons after poor season left the club struggling at the bottom of the table and himself battling fitness issues. [cite news | title=Dragons and Heal part ways | date=1 Feb 2008 | publisher=South Dragons | url=http://southdragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=74112]

References

External links

* [http://www.nba.com/playerfile/shane_heal/ NBA player profile]
* [http://www.aussiebball.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3370 Shane Heal Profile]