Ricky Grace

NBL Player Infobox
name = Ricky Grace
nickname = Amazing
position = Guard
height = 185cm
weight = 79 kg
number = 15
nationality = Australia
nationality_2 = USA
birth_date = birth date and age|1966|8|20
birth_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S.
first_nbl_game = 1990
last_nbl_game = 2003
games_played = 474 [cite web| title = NBL stats player profile | publisher = NBL Stats | date = 2006| url = http://www.nblstats.com/players.php?playerid=10454 | accessdate = 2007-07-15]
junior_association =
college = University of Oklahoma
previous_clubs = Perth Wildcats 1990-2005
championships = 1990, 1991, 1995, 2000
career_highlights = Played with the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA
NBL's First Team (1991, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Grand Final MVP (1990, 1993)
NBL's 25th Anniversary Team (2003/04)

Ricky Ray Grace (born August 20, 1966 in Dallas, Texas, United States) is an American/Australian professional basketball player who played in the Australian National Basketball League from 1990 until the 2004/2005 season.

Playing career

Ricky "Amazing" Grace attended the University of Oklahoma in the US before travelling to Australia where he played his entire NBL career for the Perth Wildcats and captained the club from 2002/03 until his retirement. During his time with the club Grace played an integral part in six grand finals appearances and four championships (including a Grand Final MVP in the Wildcats 1993 loss to the Melbourne Tigers).

Originally selected in the 1988 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz in the third round (67th overall), Grace later had a three-game stint with the Atlanta Hawks in 1994. He was also a member of the Australian Men's Basketball team, the Boomers at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.

As 1995 NBL Champions, Grace was also a member of the Wildcats team that played in the 1995 McDonalds Championship in London. The Wildcats lost to the NBA Champions Houston Rockets before defeating Real Madrid in their second match.

He retired and now has 2 daughters (Jaida Grace & Jazmyn Grace) & a son (Jerami Grace).

Post playing career

Currently Grace is the director for the Role Models WA organisation. Role Models WA offers sport and development programs for Indigenous communities in Western Australia. [cite web| title = Role Models WA - About Us | publisher = Role Models WA, Inc. | date = 2007| url = http://www.rolemodelswa.com/home.htm | accessdate = 2007-07-15] . Other role models that work alongside Grace include numerous football players from the Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles including Chris Lewis, David Wirrpanda, Des Headland and Daniel Kerr [cite web| title = Role Models WA - Role Models | publisher = Role Models WA, Inc. | date = 2007| url = http://www.rolemodelswa.com/rolemodels.htm | accessdate = 2007-07-15]

Team records

*First in games played (482)
*First in points (8802)
*First in assists (3470)
*First in steals (734)

NBL records

*First in assists per game in 2003 (8.0/27 games)
*First in assists per game in 2004 (7.3/23 games)

References