Sam Mackinnon

NBL Player Infobox
name = Sam Mackinnon
nickname = Slammin' Sam
position = Guard/Forward
height = 197cm
weight = 104 kg
team = Melbourne Tigers
nationality = Australia
birth_date = Birth date and age|1976|8|25|mf=y
birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria
first_nbl_game = 1994
junior_association = Diamond Valley
previous_clubs = South East Melbourne Magic 1994-98
Townsville Crocodiles 1999-2001
West Sydney Razorbacks 2002-2005
Brisbane Bullets 2006-2008
championships = 1996, 2007
career_highlights = 1994 NBL Rookie of the Year
2000, 2004, 2007 All NBL First Team
2007 NBL Best Defensive Player
2007 NBL Most Valuable Player
2007 NBL Grand Final MVP
2006 Australian International Player of the Year
Current Boomers Squad Member
Competed at 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games

Samuel (Sam) Mackinnon (born August 25 1976 in Melbourne, Victoria) is an Australian professional basketball player currently playing for NBL team Melbourne Tigers.

Playing career

Mackinnon's career began in 1994 with the South East Melbourne Magic when he won NBL Rookie of the Year. Two seasons later, Mackinnon went to become one of the dominant players for South East Melbourne and they won the NBL championship in 1996.

After South East Melbourne folded, Mackinnon was signed by the Townsville Crocodiles at the beginning of the 1999 season. And it wasn't long before Townsville became serious title contenders. In 2001, Townsville made the Grand Final, however Mackinnon missed the series due to injury. Once his contract ended in Townsville, Mackinnon elected to sign with the West Sydney Razorbacks where he become their captain and put up career best numbers in his first season. During the following season Mackinnon led West Sydney into the NBL Grand Final series against cross-town rivals the Sydney Kings. Sydney won the series 3-2.

Keen to win another NBL championship, Mackinnon decided not to sign with West Sydney and instead signed with the re-emerging Brisbane Bullets. And although Brisbane somewhat struggled during the 2006 season, Mackinnon demonstrated that he is still a dominant force in the NBL by putting up career best numbers during the 2007 season to lead the Bullets to their first championship in 20 years. During the off-season there had been much speculation concerning whether or not Sam would be signed as a free agent in the NBA. The offer of playing in the NBA never came and Sam re-signed with the Bullets.

He was the first player to win the MVP, Best Defensive Player and Grand Final MVP in league history in the same season. Unfortunately, knee injuries sidelined him for most of the 2007-08 season.

Mackinnon was a regular member of the Boomers squad, that saw him compete in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. Perhaps his greatest achievement whilst playing for Australia was winning a gold medal during the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Mackinnon was also named captain of the Boomers squad for the more recent Olympic Qualifying series against New Zealand.

On the 8th of July, 2008, the Melbourne Tigers had announced they have signed Mackinnon to a three year deal.

Awards

*NBL Rookie of the Year (1994)
*NBL Best Defensive Player (2007)
*NBL Most Valuable Player (2007)
*NBL Grand Final MVP (2007)
*Australian International Player of the Year (2007)

Links

* [http://www.aussiebball.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3372 Sam Mackinnon Profile]