Adam Ballinger
Encyclopedia
Adam Ballinger is a naturalised Australia
n professional basketball
player, originally from the United States
. He plays for the Adelaide 36ers
in the NBL
.
after a stellar prep career at Bluffton High School
in Indiana
, where he garnered Honorable Mention All-American honours his senior year. His freshman year, he redshirted after fracturing his fibula. He returned to play 37 games for the 2000 NCAA Champion Spartans, including the Championship Game in which he scored on his only field goal attempt. Ballinger played in 25 games in his redshirt sophomore year as the Spartans went to the Final Four. Ballinger's junior year was his most successful campaign as he earned Third Team All-Big Ten honours as well as Michigan State's Most Improved Player Award as he finished third in the conference in rebounding. In his 2002-2003 senior season, he averaged 5.5 PPG. He also ranks 10th in MSU history with 53 career blocks.
in Australia
's NBL for the 2003-04 season
. He made an impact straight away in his first NBL season averaging 15.7 points per game. After a single season with the Giants he then signed to play for the Wollongong Hawks
in 2004-05
, going on to play in the NBL Grand Final that season with the team. Unfortunately the Hawks went down to their chief rivals and defending league champion Sydney Kings
without winning a game. Another three seasons followed for Adam Ballinger in Wollongong where the team only reached the playoffs in the 2005-06 season
before being eliminated in the Quarter-Finals.
Ballinger signed with the Adelaide 36ers
for the 2007-08 NBL season
where he earned the first of four consecutive club MVP awards. He finished fourth in the NBL in scoring in 2008 with 22.5 points per game and finished fourth in the league MVP
voting. Teaming Adelaide's long time captain Brett Maher
and former NBA player Luke Schenscher
, Ballinger helped the 2008-09
36ers back to the NBL playoffs for the first time since 2005-06 where they were outed in the Elimination Final by the New Zealand Breakers
101-131 in Auckland
.
Ballinger was appointed club captain of the Adelaide 36ers from the 2009-10 NBL season. In what was seen as the worst 36ers season on record, the club won its first ever wooden spoon by finishing last with a 10-18 win-loss record which resulted in coach Scott Ninnis being sacked. Ballinger himself had a very good season, leading the 36ers in scoring, blocked shots, finished second in team rebounding and won his third consecutive club MVP award.
The 2010–11 NBL season
was almost a copy of the previous season with Ballinger leading the team in almost every offensive category despite the 36ers finishing with a 9-19 record. He averaged 15.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and shoot 54.1% per game and was the 36ers leading scorer before injuring his ankle in the teams last home game of the season. With his 1.9 blocks per game, Ballinger was the leading shot blocker in the NBL during 2010-11, having rejected 50 shots in 26 games played.. Ballinger was consistently Adelaide's leading player in 2010-11 and his form saw him finish third in the 2010-11 NBL MVP voting despite the 36ers finishing with a 9-19 record, the only time in their history the club has failed to win at least 10 games in an NBL season.
Due to the relatively small size of the 2010-11 36ers squad, the 6'9" (206 cm) tall Ballinger was used as the teams starting Centre
until sustaining a season ending ankle injury on March 18, 2011 although he did revert to his more natural position of Power Forward
when 6'11½" (212 cm) tall team mate Daniel Johnson
was on the court.
Ballinger has played 248 games since 2003 (59 with the Giants, 102 with the Hawks and 87 with Adelaide) and is averaging 18.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in his NBL career. He was selected to the All NBL 3rd team
in 2006-07
and 2010-11 as well as the All NBL 2nd team in 2007-08. He also led the NBL in 3 point percentage with 47.9% in 2007 after hitting 46 of 96 shots.
squad for 2009, and hopes to make the roster for the 2012 London Olympics
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, originally from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He plays for the Adelaide 36ers
Adelaide 36ers
The Adelaide 36ers are Adelaide's men's professional basketball team, established as the Adelaide City Eagles when they joined the National Basketball League in 1982. The Adelaide 36ers tally of four championships is equal with the Melbourne Tigers and second behind the Perth Wildcats as the most...
in the NBL
National Basketball League (Australia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
.
College
Ballinger committed to the Michigan State SpartansMichigan State Spartans men's basketball
The Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represents Michigan State University and competes in the Big Ten Conference of NCAA Division I. The team currently plays at the Breslin Student Events Center...
after a stellar prep career at Bluffton High School
Bluffton High School (Bluffton, Indiana)
Bluffton High School is a Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District high school located in Bluffton, Indiana, Wells County, Indiana.-Curriculum:...
in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, where he garnered Honorable Mention All-American honours his senior year. His freshman year, he redshirted after fracturing his fibula. He returned to play 37 games for the 2000 NCAA Champion Spartans, including the Championship Game in which he scored on his only field goal attempt. Ballinger played in 25 games in his redshirt sophomore year as the Spartans went to the Final Four. Ballinger's junior year was his most successful campaign as he earned Third Team All-Big Ten honours as well as Michigan State's Most Improved Player Award as he finished third in the conference in rebounding. In his 2002-2003 senior season, he averaged 5.5 PPG. He also ranks 10th in MSU history with 53 career blocks.
Professional career
After graduating, Ballinger joined the Victoria GiantsVictoria Titans
The Victoria Titans were an Australian basketball team, that played in Melbourne, Victoria, in the National Basketball League. The team was the result of a merger of two Melbourne clubs for the inaugural NBL summer season of 1998/99...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's NBL for the 2003-04 season
2003-04 NBL Season
Here are the results and statistics from the National Basketball League season of 2003-2004.-End of Season Ladder:This is the ladder at the end of season, before the finals. In all, 198 games were played, 33 for each team...
. He made an impact straight away in his first NBL season averaging 15.7 points per game. After a single season with the Giants he then signed to play for the Wollongong Hawks
Wollongong Hawks
The Wollongong Hawks are a team competing in Australia's National Basketball League , based in the New South Wales city of Wollongong. They won the NBL championship in 2001 and finished as runners-up in 2005 and 2010...
in 2004-05
2004-05 NBL Season
Here are the results and statistics from the National Basketball League season of 2004-2005.-End of Season Ladder:This is the ladder at the end of season, before the finals. In all, 176 games were played, 32 for each team...
, going on to play in the NBL Grand Final that season with the team. Unfortunately the Hawks went down to their chief rivals and defending league champion Sydney Kings
Sydney Kings
The Sydney Kings are a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. They are the only team to date to win three consecutive championships in the NBL and currently sit third behind the Adelaide 36ers and Melbourne Tigers two away from the record five wins...
without winning a game. Another three seasons followed for Adam Ballinger in Wollongong where the team only reached the playoffs in the 2005-06 season
2005-06 NBL Season
Here are the results and statistics from the National Basketball League season of 2005-2006.-End of Season Ladder:This is the ladder at the end of season, before the finals. In all, 176 games were played, 32 for each team. The top 8 teams qualified for the finals series.KeyThe quarter finals were...
before being eliminated in the Quarter-Finals.
Ballinger signed with the Adelaide 36ers
Adelaide 36ers
The Adelaide 36ers are Adelaide's men's professional basketball team, established as the Adelaide City Eagles when they joined the National Basketball League in 1982. The Adelaide 36ers tally of four championships is equal with the Melbourne Tigers and second behind the Perth Wildcats as the most...
for the 2007-08 NBL season
2007-08 NBL Season
2007-08 is the 30th NBL season.On 21 November 2006, the NBL announced that Gold Coast Blaze will join the league, expanding it to 13 teams.-2007-08 league participants:-Pre-season Transactions:...
where he earned the first of four consecutive club MVP awards. He finished fourth in the NBL in scoring in 2008 with 22.5 points per game and finished fourth in the league MVP
NBL (Australia) Most Valuable Player
At the conclusion of each NBL game, both coaches award votes to the best players from that game. Each coach has 10 votes to allocate, with no more than 5 to be awarded to one player by each coach....
voting. Teaming Adelaide's long time captain Brett Maher
Brett Maher
Brett Steven Maher is a retired Australian basketball player who played for the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL for his entire career, from 1992-2009.-Professional career:...
and former NBA player Luke Schenscher
Luke Schenscher
Luke Dean Schenscher is an Australian professional basketball player for the Townsville Crocodiles in the Australasian National Basketball League.-School/College career:...
, Ballinger helped the 2008-09
2008-09 NBL Season
-2008-09 league participants:* On 30 June 2008 the Brisbane Bullets confirmed they would be handing back the team's license to the NBL. The NBL confirmed there will be no Brisbane team participating in the 2008/09 season....
36ers back to the NBL playoffs for the first time since 2005-06 where they were outed in the Elimination Final by the New Zealand Breakers
New Zealand Breakers
The New Zealand Breakers are a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. The Breakers joined the NBL for the 2003/04 season as one of two expansion clubs. The club is based in the city of Auckland, New Zealand and play their home games at the North...
101-131 in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
.
Ballinger was appointed club captain of the Adelaide 36ers from the 2009-10 NBL season. In what was seen as the worst 36ers season on record, the club won its first ever wooden spoon by finishing last with a 10-18 win-loss record which resulted in coach Scott Ninnis being sacked. Ballinger himself had a very good season, leading the 36ers in scoring, blocked shots, finished second in team rebounding and won his third consecutive club MVP award.
The 2010–11 NBL season
2010–11 NBL season
The 2010–11 National Basketball League is the thirty-third season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of 9 teams will contest the league. The regular season will be played between October 2010 and April 2011, followed by a post-season involving the top four. The schedule was...
was almost a copy of the previous season with Ballinger leading the team in almost every offensive category despite the 36ers finishing with a 9-19 record. He averaged 15.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and shoot 54.1% per game and was the 36ers leading scorer before injuring his ankle in the teams last home game of the season. With his 1.9 blocks per game, Ballinger was the leading shot blocker in the NBL during 2010-11, having rejected 50 shots in 26 games played.. Ballinger was consistently Adelaide's leading player in 2010-11 and his form saw him finish third in the 2010-11 NBL MVP voting despite the 36ers finishing with a 9-19 record, the only time in their history the club has failed to win at least 10 games in an NBL season.
Due to the relatively small size of the 2010-11 36ers squad, the 6'9" (206 cm) tall Ballinger was used as the teams starting Centre
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
until sustaining a season ending ankle injury on March 18, 2011 although he did revert to his more natural position of Power Forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
when 6'11½" (212 cm) tall team mate Daniel Johnson
Daniel Johnson (basketball)
Daniel Johnson is an Australian professional basketball player currently playing for the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League...
was on the court.
Ballinger has played 248 games since 2003 (59 with the Giants, 102 with the Hawks and 87 with Adelaide) and is averaging 18.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in his NBL career. He was selected to the All NBL 3rd team
NBL (Australia) All NBL teams
-NBL First Teams:* 1980 Cal Stamp, Danny Morseu, Brian Banks, Herb McEachin, Ian Davies and Ken Richardson* 1981 Rocky Smith, Danny Morseu, Al Green, David Nelson and Owen Wells* 1982 George Morrow, James Crawford, Leroy Loggins, Phil Smyth and Larry Sengstock...
in 2006-07
2006-07 NBL Season
The 2006-07 National Basketball League is the 29th season of professional basketball in Australia. For the first time, a team was established from outside the Australasian area, with the Singapore Slingers taking over the licence of the Hunter Pirates...
and 2010-11 as well as the All NBL 2nd team in 2007-08. He also led the NBL in 3 point percentage with 47.9% in 2007 after hitting 46 of 96 shots.
International career
In July 2009, Ballinger became an Australian citizen. He was named to the Aussie BoomersAustralia national basketball team
The Australian national basketball team is the men's basketball side that represents Australia in international competitions. The team is known in Australia as the Boomers, an Australian slang term for Kangaroo. Australia is ranked 9th in the world and finished 7th at the 2008 Beijing Olympic...
squad for 2009, and hopes to make the roster for the 2012 London Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
.