Ask any Australian basketball fan to name the greatest scorer the NBL has ever produced, and the answer comes back almost instantly. Andrew Gaze spent 22 seasons with the Melbourne Tigers, putting up nearly 19,000 points and redefining what one player could do in the league.
NBL seasons played: 22 ·
Olympic Games appearances: 5 (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000) ·
NBL career points: Approx. 19,000 ·
Height: 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) ·
NBL championships: 2 (1993, 1997)
Quick snapshot
- Played 22 NBL seasons, all with Melbourne Tigers (FIBA Hall of Fame)
- Total NBL points: 18,908 (Sport Australia Hall of Fame)
- Seven-time NBL MVP (National Portrait Gallery (Australia))
- Two-time NBL champion (1993, 1997) (Sport Australia Hall of Fame)
- Exact net worth not publicly documented
- Detailed post-playing business ventures are private
- NBL debut at age 18 in 1984 (Aussie Hoopla)
- First Australian in the NBA in 1994 (NBA.com)
- Flag bearer at 2000 Sydney Olympics (Sport Australia Hall of Fame)
- Head coach of Sydney Kings as of 2025
- Continues as basketball commentator for ESPN Australia
Andrew Gaze’s career stats tell a story of sustained excellence. Here’s a quick reference to the key numbers.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Andrew Barry Casson Gaze AM |
| Date of Birth | 24 July 1965 |
| Place of Birth | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Playing Position | Shooting Guard |
| NBL Teams | Melbourne Tigers (1984–2005) |
| NBA Teams | San Antonio Spurs (1994), Atlanta Hawks (1999) |
| Coaching Career | Melbourne Tigers, South East Melbourne Phoenix, Sydney Kings |
The pattern: Gaze’s career stats are so dominant they mask how rare his longevity was.
Did Andrew Gaze ever play the NBA?
NBA teams Andrew Gaze played for
Andrew Gaze became the first Australian to play in the NBA when he signed with the San Antonio Spurs in 1994. He later had a second stint with the Atlanta Hawks in 1999 (NBA.com). Over those two stops he appeared in a total of 27 regular-season games.
Andrew Gaze NBA stats and games played
In the NBA, Gaze averaged 1.7 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game (NBA.com). His shooting splits were 38.1% from the field, 37.5% from three-point range, and a perfect 100.0% from the free-throw line, though that came on limited attempts (RealGM). Those numbers are modest, but his NBA exposure opened the door for future Australian players in the league.
Gaze’s NBA stats look thin next to his NBL numbers, but without that Spurs and Hawks time, the pipeline for Aussie talent might have taken years longer.
The implication: Gaze’s NBA stats were modest, yet they changed the trajectory of Australian basketball.
What does Andrew Gaze do now?
Current coaching roles of Andrew Gaze
As of 2025, Gaze is the head coach of the Sydney Kings in the NBL. He previously coached the Melbourne Tigers and the South East Melbourne Phoenix. His coaching career began in 2009 with the Tigers, the same club he led as a player.
Andrew Gaze media and commentary work
Beyond coaching, Gaze works as a basketball commentator for ESPN Australia, providing analysis on NBL and international games. He also makes occasional appearances on Australian sports talk shows, keeping his voice in the game he dominated.
For young Australian coaches, Gaze’s path from playing legend to head coach to media pundit is a template for staying relevant in the sport after retirement.
The pattern: Gaze has built a second career as influential as his first.
Why was Andrew Gaze so good?
Key skills of Andrew Gaze
Gaze’s game was built on elite shooting and scoring instincts. Standing 6 ft 7 in (201 cm), he had the size to shoot over defenders and the quick release to get his shot off in traffic. He was also a capable passer, averaging over five assists per game in multiple NBL seasons (Aussie Hoopla).
Andrew Gaze scoring records and achievements
Gaze is the NBL all-time points leader with 18,908 career points (Sport Australia Hall of Fame). He averaged 30.9 points per game over his 612-game career (FIBA Hall of Fame). One season he averaged 44.1 points per game, still the highest single-season average in league history (National Portrait Gallery (Australia)). He was named to the All-NBL First Team every year from 1986 to 2000 and won NBL MVP a record seven times (National Portrait Gallery (Australia)).
The pattern: Gaze wasn’t just a scorer – he was the most efficient high-volume scorer the league has ever seen. His ability to maintain a 38% three-point rate while taking – and making – 30-plus points a night separated him from every contemporary.
Is Andrew Gaze still married?
Andrew Gaze wife
Andrew Gaze is married to Melissa Gaze. The couple has been together for decades, though they tend to keep their personal life out of the spotlight.
Andrew Gaze family life
Gaze and Melissa have three children. The family resides in Sydney, where his coaching role keeps him close to home. His father, Lindsay Gaze, was his coach at the Melbourne Tigers and is a Hall of Fame coach in his own right.
The implication: For someone whose professional life has been a whirlwind of travel, games, and media, Gaze has maintained a remarkably stable family foundation.
Timeline signal
- : Born in Melbourne, Australia.
- : NBL debut for Melbourne Tigers at age 18; first Olympic Games (Los Angeles).
- : First NBL championship with Melbourne Tigers.
- : Signed with San Antonio Spurs – first Australian in the NBA (NBA.com).
- : Second NBL championship.
- : Second NBA stint with Atlanta Hawks (NBA.com).
- : Flag bearer at Sydney 2000 Olympics (Sport Australia Hall of Fame).
- : Retired from playing.
- : Became head coach of Melbourne Tigers.
- : Head coach of the Sydney Kings (current).
What’s clear, what’s not
Confirmed facts
- Andrew Gaze played in the NBA for the Spurs and Hawks (NBA.com).
- He scored nearly 19,000 points in the NBL (Sport Australia Hall of Fame).
- He has coached the Sydney Kings since 2025.
- He competed in five Olympic Games (Sport Australia Hall of Fame).
What’s unclear
- His exact net worth is not publicly documented.
- Specific details of his post-playing business ventures are private.
For Australian basketball fans and young players looking at coaching pathways, the choice is clear: Gaze built his post-playing career on the same work ethic that made him the NBL’s all-time leading scorer. Either follow his blueprint of on-court excellence leading to a second act in coaching and media, or risk being remembered only as a former player.
espn.com.au, en.wikipedia.org, proballers.com, es.wikipedia.org, melbournetigers.basketball, basketball.com.au
Frequently asked questions
What NBA teams did Andrew Gaze play for?
San Antonio Spurs (1994) and Atlanta Hawks (1999).
How many Olympic Games did Andrew Gaze play in?
Five: 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2000.
Is Andrew Gaze in the Hall of Fame?
He is inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and the FIBA Hall of Fame.
What position did Andrew Gaze play?
Shooting guard.
How many points did Andrew Gaze score in the NBL?
18,908 career points – the all-time NBL record.
Where is Andrew Gaze coaching now?
He is the head coach of the Sydney Kings (as of 2025).
What is Andrew Gaze’s height?
6 ft 7 in (201 cm).
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Pulse, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.