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| Andrew Gaze | |
|---|---|
| Name | Andrew Gaze |
| Birth date | 24 July 1965 |
| Birth place | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Height | 198 cm |
| Weight | 90 kg |
| Career start | 1984 |
| Career end | 2005 |
| Position | Shooting guard / Small forward |
| College | Seton Hall (1988–1989) |
| Teams | Melbourne Tigers; San Antonio Spurs; Washington Bullets; Portland Trail Blazers; Dallas Mavericks |
Andrew Gaze is an Australian former professional basketball player, coach and broadcaster renowned for his scoring ability and longevity. He is widely regarded as one of the preeminent figures in Australian sport, combining success in the National Basketball League with multiple appearances at Olympic Games and FIBA World Championships. Gaze's career intersected with prominent teams and figures across Australian and international basketball, and he later transitioned into coaching and media roles across television and radio.
Born in Melbourne, Victoria, Gaze is the son of Lindsay Gaze, a prominent figure associated with the Melbourne Tigers and the Australian Institute of Sport era development pathways. He played junior basketball in Victoria (Australia) and attended St. Bernard's College, Essendon where he developed alongside contemporaries linked to the NBL pipeline. Gaze represented Victoria at junior national championships and participated in programs connected to the Australian Olympic Committee and national talent identification systems. Early mentors included coaches from the Melbourne Tigers program and figures linked to Australian national teams that later appeared at Olympic Games and FIBA World Championship tournaments.
Gaze made his professional debut with the Melbourne Tigers in the NBL in the mid-1980s, joining a roster built under his father Lindsay and contemporaries who had links to the South East Melbourne Magic era franchises. He emerged as the NBL's leading scorer and multiple-time Most Valuable Player, facing rivals such as players from the Sydney Kings, Perth Wildcats, Brisbane Bullets and Adelaide 36ers. During his career Gaze had stints in the National Basketball Association with the San Antonio Spurs, Washington Bullets, Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas Mavericks, where he played limited minutes but trained alongside NBA figures associated with Michael Jordan-era personnel and coaches from the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers coaching trees. Returning to the NBL, Gaze led the Tigers to championships and multiple finals appearances, competing against import-led squads that included players connected to NBL MVP histories and international recruits from United States, Serbia, Lithuania and Canada.
Gaze represented Australia national basketball team at numerous major tournaments, including multiple Summer Olympics (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000) and FIBA World Championship appearances. He played alongside teammates such as players whose careers intersected with the NBA and European leagues, competing against national teams like United States men's national basketball team, Yugoslavia national basketball team, Spain national basketball team, Lithuania national basketball team and Greece national basketball team. Gaze was central to Australia's rise on the international stage, contributing in key qualifiers against teams from the Asian Basketball Confederation pathways and the FIBA Oceania Championship, often under coaches who later served in development roles within the Australian Institute of Sport and national federation structures.
After retirement, Gaze transitioned into coaching roles including positions within the Melbourne Tigers organization and assistant roles linked to Australian national team programs alongside staff who had worked with the Australian Boomers and youth development squads. He also entered broadcasting, becoming a commentator and analyst for networks covering the NBL, NBA and Olympic basketball, appearing on platforms associated with Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commercial television broadcasters and radio outlets. Gaze's media work connected him with commentators and former internationals who had careers at the FIBA World Cup and Olympic Games broadcasting desks, and he served as a public ambassador for events tied to the Australian Olympic Committee.
Gaze was noted for his perimeter scoring, three-point shooting and free-throw consistency, traits comparable to contemporary guards and wings in the NBA and European leagues. His preparation and shooting mechanics were often analyzed in coaching clinics affiliated with the Australian Institute of Sport and development programs in Victoria (Australia). Gaze's legacy includes influence on subsequent Australian stars who moved to the NBA and European clubs, contributing to a pathway followed by players from Victorian junior programs to professional opportunities in Spain, Italy, Germany and the United States. He remains a frequent reference point in discussions about the history of the NBL and Australia's presence in international basketball competitions.
Gaze is part of a basketball family that includes his father Lindsay, a long-time coach and administrator associated with the Melbourne Tigers and national team programs. He has been involved in charitable initiatives and community programs linked to sports development and health campaigns often coordinated with organizations such as the Australian Olympic Committee and state sporting bodies in Victoria (Australia). Gaze has also undertaken speaking engagements and corporate ambassador roles with businesses and foundations tied to major sporting events hosted in Melbourne and Sydney.
Gaze's honours include multiple NBL Most Valuable Player awards, NBL scoring titles, and inclusion in NBL all-time leading scorer lists; he received national recognition through inductions into halls of fame associated with the NBL Hall of Fame and broader Australian sport halls. Internationally he attained milestones representing Australia at Olympic Games and FIBA World Championship tournaments, and he was decorated in national sporting awards presented by organizations such as the Australian Sports Commission and state-level institutes. He has been honoured in commemorations alongside Australian sporting legends from codes including Australian rules football, cricket in Australia, rugby union in Australia and tennis in Australia.
Category:Australian basketball players Category:Olympic basketball players of Australia