Paul Rogers (basketball)

Born in Adelaide, South Australia, Paul Rogers is a 7'0" (213 cm) tall centre. He started his NBL career with the Adelaide 36ers in 1992 at the age of 18 where he was back up to 6'10" (208 cm) centres Mark Bradtke, an Australian Boomers representative, and Brett Wheeler. Rogers, who had reportedly only been just over 6'0" (182 cm) in mid-1990, had a growth spurt and was 6'10" (209 cm) by the time he joined the 36ers. His first two seasons in the league saw Rogers play just 10 games for the 36ers averaging just 1.4 points per game. He had an unorthodox shooting style in which he would grit his teeth before shooting. This was most noticeable when at the free throw line.

Following a four-year stint playing college basketball in the United States at Gonzaga University, Rogers was lured home to Australia in 1998 to play for the Perth Wildcats. The move would prove fruitful as the Wildcats would win the 2000 NBL Championship defeating the Victoria Titans 2 games to nil in the grand final series. Rogers all-round play was rewarded in 2000 as he was voted the NBL's Most Valuable Player. He also won the first of two selections to the All NBL First Team in 2000.

He continued to play for the Wildcats until the end of the 2001–02 NBL season, following which he signed to return home to the Adelaide 36ers who would be defending NBL champions. The season was a disappointing one for the defending champs as they were eliminated in the leagues elimination finals. Rogers season was interrupted by injury and he only appeared in 9 games, averaging 11 points per game compared to his 30 games and 19-point average the previous season in Perth.

Rogers moved to play in Spain for Real Madrid in the season 1997–1998, and for Casademont Girona from 2003 to 2005 in the Spanish Liga ACB.

Rogers was again re-signed by the Perth Wildcats for the 2005–06 NBL season and would remain with the club until his retirement following the 2009–10 NBL season, during which time he was selected to the All NBL Third Team in 2007–08. he was also named captain of the team from the 2006–07 NBL season.[1]

Just two games into the 2009–10 NBL season, Rogers injured his elbow and missed the rest of the season. Following the Wildcats win in the NBL grand final series over the Wollongong Hawks, and after 214 NBL games, he announced his retirement from professional basketball.[2]

On 4 February 2013, Rogers was named in the Perth Wildcats 30th Anniversary All-Star team.[3][4]

For NBL games between the two clubs Rogers played for, the Adelaide 36ers and Perth Wildcats, the game MVP is awarded the Paul Rogers MVP Medal.

His last team, was East Perth Eagles on 2010.

Rogers first represented the Australian Boomers at the 1998 FIBA World Championship in Athens where the Boomers finished 9th with a 5–3 record. Two years later he was selected to the Boomers squad for the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, helping the team to a best ever 4th place after a 71-89 Bronze medal playoff loss to Lithuania in front of 14,833 at the Sydney Super Dome. He later represented Australia at the 2004 Olympics in Athens where the team finished in 9th place.[5]

Following the 1993 NBL season, Rogers was recruited to play U.S. college basketball at Gonzaga University, notably playing on the Bulldogs first-ever NCAA tournament team in 1995.

After his stint at Gonzaga university, Rogers nominated for the 1997 NBA Draft where he was selected as the 25th pick in the 2nd round by the Los Angeles Lakers. He was then traded by the Lakers to the Toronto Raptors but never played an NBA game.

• NBL stats