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Ricky Grace

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Ricky Grace
Grace in 2017
Personal information
Born (1966-08-20) 20 August 1966 (age 58)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
NationalityAmerican / Australian
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight174 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High schoolWilmer-Hutchins (Dallas, Texas)
College
NBA draft1988: 3rd round, 67th overall pick
Selected by the Utah Jazz
Playing career1988–2005
PositionPoint guard
Number15
Career history
1988–1989Topeka Sizzlers
1990–2005Perth Wildcats
1993Atlanta Hawks
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Ricky Ray Grace AM (born 20 August 1966)[1][2][3][4] is an American-Australian former professional basketball player who spent the majority of his career in the Australian National Basketball League with the Perth Wildcats.

Early life

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Grace attended Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas, Texas.[5]

College career

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Grace played college basketball at Midland College between 1984 and 1986. In 1985–86, he averaged 15.8 points and 10.7 assists per game in leading Midland to a 33–1 record. His 363 assists broke Spud Webb's former school record of 355 set in 1982–83.[5]

With two years of eligibility remaining, Grace transferred to the University of Oklahoma in 1986[5] alongside future NBA player Mookie Blaylock.[6] He helped the Sooners reach the championship game of the 1988 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, where they were defeated by the Kansas Jayhawks.[7] He averaged 14.3 points and 7.4 assists per game in 1987–88.[7]

Playing career

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Grace was selected by the Utah Jazz in the third round (67th overall) of the 1988 NBA draft and went on to play for the Topeka Sizzlers of the Continental Basketball Association in 1988–89.[citation needed]

Grace joined the Perth Wildcats of the Australian National Basketball League in 1990. He helped the Wildcats win the NBL championship in 1990 with grand final MVP honours. The team won back-to-back championships in 1991. He was also named All-NBL First Team in 1991.[8] The Wildcats returned to the grand final in 1993, where they lost to the Melbourne Tigers. Despite the loss, Grace was named grand final MVP for the second time.[9]

To begin the 1993–94 NBA season, Grace had a three-game stint with the Atlanta Hawks, where he was reunited with college teammate Mookie Blaylock.[citation needed]

Grace (#15) holding up the 1995 NBL Championship trophy

In 1995, Grace helped the Wildcats win their third NBL championship. The Wildcats were subsequently invited to participate in the 1995 McDonald's Championship in London. The Wildcats lost to NBA champions the Houston Rockets before defeating Real Madrid in their second match.

In 2000, Grace helped the Wildcats win their fourth NBL championship. He was named All-NBL First Team every year between 2001 and 2003.[8][10][11] He helped them reach the 2003 grand final series, where they lost to the Sydney Kings. That year, Grace was selected to the NBL's 25th Anniversary Team. He retired after two more seasons, with his last game coming in a loss in an elimination final against the Melbourne Tigers on 24 February 2005.[citation needed]

In August 2010, Grace was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame.[12][13] He was named to the Perth Wildcats' 30th Anniversary All-Star team[14] and 40th Anniversary All-Star team.[15] In July 2024, he was inducted into the Basketball WA Hall of Fame.[16][17]

Grace held the Wildcats' all-time games played record of 482 until November 2024, when Jesse Wagstaff broke the record.[18][19]

National team

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In late 1994, Grace became naturalised as an Australian citizen and in March 1995 made his international debut when he was selected for the Australian Boomers in their five-game series against the touring Magic Johnson All-Stars.[citation needed]

Grace played for the Australian Boomers at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.[1]

Post playing career

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Grace was previously the director for the Role Models WA organisation. Role Models WA offers sport and development programs for indigenous communities in Western Australia.[20] Other role models that work alongside Grace include numerous football players from the Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles including Chris Lewis, David Wirrpanda, Des Headland and Daniel Kerr.[21][22]

Grace coached the Curtin University men's team in the University Basketball League (UBL) in 2022[23] and 2023, returning again in 2024.[24]

Oklahoma Sooners team records

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  • First in three-point field goal percentage in a season - 1986/87 (.441)
  • First in assists in a season - 1987/88 (280)
  • Equal First in steals in an NCAA Tournament game - vs Iowa, 20 March 1987 (7)[25]

Perth Wildcats team records

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  • First in points (8802)
  • First in assists (3470)
  • First in steals (734)

NBL records

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  • First in assists per game in 2003 (8.0/27 games)
  • First in assists per game in 2004 (7.3/23 games)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ricky Ray Grace". www.fiba.basketball. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Ricky Grace". NBL Official Website. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Ricky Grace". olympics.com. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Ricky Grace". The Draft Review. 26 January 2008. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Kensler, Tom (9 April 1986). "Grace Gets Point Across To Sooners Midland Guard to Sign Letter of Intent to OU". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  6. ^ Goodwin, Michael; Curry, Jack (4 January 1988). "SPORTS WORLD SPECIALS; Running It Up". New York Times. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
  7. ^ a b "Oklahoma's 1988 NCAA runner-up team gathers for reunion". ESPN. 2008. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
  8. ^ a b "All NBL TEAMS". NBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 February 2002.
  9. ^ "Hall of Fame to immortalise Grace". ABC News. 4 August 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  10. ^ "MARK BRADTKE WINS NBL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD". NBL.com.au. 10 April 2002. Archived from the original on 20 August 2002.
  11. ^ "All-NBL Teams Named". NBL.com.au. 15 April 2003. Archived from the original on 16 April 2003.
  12. ^ "Ricky Grace into basketball Hall of Fame". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 August 2010.
  13. ^ "Ricky Grace (Perth Wildcats Legend) Podcast". Aussie Hoopla. 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  14. ^ "30th Anniversary All-Star Team". Wildcats.com.au. 4 February 2013. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  15. ^ "Perth Wildcats 40th Anniversary Team Revealed". Wildcats.com.au. 3 February 2022. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  16. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (20 July 2024). "Former Perth Wildcats star Ricky Grace adds Basketball WA Hall of Fame nod to extraordinary resume". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 21 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Grace inducted into Basketball WA Hall of Fame". Wildcats.com.au. 21 July 2024. Archived from the original on 21 July 2024.
  18. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (29 October 2024). "Dribble Podcast: Ricky Grace honours Perth Wildcats captain Jesse Wagstaff before he breaks club games record". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 29 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Undermanned Wildcats go down to Phoenix". Perth Wildcats Offical Website. 3 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  20. ^ "Role Models WA - About Us". Role Models WA, Inc. 2007. Archived from the original on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
  21. ^ "Role Models WA - Role Models". Role Models WA, Inc. 2007. Archived from the original on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
  22. ^ Briggs, Sian (14 July 2007). "Amazing Grace". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
  23. ^ "We are thrilled to announce Ricky Grace as our new official Head of Basketball Operations & Men's Head coach of the Curtin University Carnabys UBL team for 2022!". facebook.com/CurtinSports. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  24. ^ "GUESS WHO'S BACK". facebook.com/CurtinSports. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  25. ^ "2008-09 Men's Basketball Media Guide". Soonersports. 2008. Archived from the original on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
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