Ricky Grace
Grace in 2017
Personal information
Born (1967-08-20) 20 August 1967
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
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

Ricky Ray Grace AM (born 20 August 1967)[1] 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.

Playing career

Ricky "Amazing" Grace first played college basketball at Midland College, transferring after two years to the University of Oklahoma alongside future NBA player Mookie Blaylock.[2] In 1988, his last year at Oklahoma, Grace helped the Oklahoma Sooners reach the championship game of the NCAA men's basketball tournament, where they were defeated by the Kansas Jayhawks.[3]

Selected in the 1988 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz in the third round (67th overall), he failed to make the active roster of an NBA team. Soon after, Grace was invited by then Perth Wildcats general manager (and 1990 head coach) Cal Bruton to play for the Australian club, where he played his entire professional career, and captained the club from 2002/03 until his retirement. During his time with the club Grace played an integral part in six grand finals appearances and four championships, twice being award Grand Final MVP; first in 1990 when the Wildcats defeated the Brisbane Bullets to claim their first championship, and again in 1993 when the Wildcats were defeated by the Melbourne Tigers.

1991 was filled with more success for Grace, as the Wildcats won back-to-back championships, defeating the Eastside Spectres, and Grace was selected to the All-NBL First Team.

In 1993, Grace had a three-game stint with the Atlanta Hawks, where he was reunited with college teammate Mookie Blaylock.

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

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 5-game series against the touring Magic Johnson All-Stars. 1995 also saw the Wildcats win their 3rd NBL crown, defeating the defending champion North Melbourne Giants in the Grand Final series. As Champions, the Wildcats were 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 1996, Grace signed a 6-year contract with the Wildcats and was considered unlucky not to gain a place in the Boomers squad for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Four years later he did make it to the Olympics when he was a member of the Boomers squad at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, helping the home country to 4th place. This capped off another successful year for Grace, who won his fourth championship when the Wildcats defeated the Victoria Titans.

In the second half of his career, Grace adjusted his game to become more of an offensive threat, and he was rewarded with another All-NBL First Team selection in 2001, 10 years after the first, and again in 2002 and 2003. Despite playing arguably the best basketball of his career, the Wildcats would only make one more grand final series, in 2002/2003, when they were defeated by the Sydney Kings, meaning Grace would fail to equal the then record of Larry Sengstock who won five NBL championships.

In 2003 Grace was selected to the NBL's 25th Anniversary Team. He would play for two more seasons, with his last game a loss in an elimination final against the Melbourne Tigers on 24 February 2005.

On 4 August 2010, it was announced that Grace is to be inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame (ABHF) at a ceremony on 18 August 2010.[4]

Grace was surprised to be inducted as he felt he wouldn't be considered for the Hall of Fame before former teammate James Crawford was.[5]

Post playing career

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.[6] 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.[7][8]

On 4 February 2013, Grace was named to the Perth Wildcats' 30th Anniversary All-Star team.[9][10]

Grace coached the Curtin University men's team in the University Basketball League (UBL) in 2022[11] and 2023, returning again in 2024.[12]

Oklahoma Sooners Team records

  • 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)[13]

Perth Wildcats Team records

  • First in games played (482)
  • First in points (8802)
  • First in assists (3470)
  • First in steals (734)

NBL records

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

References

  1. ↑ "Ricky Grace". NBA.com. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  2. ↑ Goodwin, Michael; Curry, Jack (4 January 1988). "SPORTS WORLD SPECIALS; Running It Up". New York Times. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
  3. ↑ "Oklahoma's 1988 NCAA runner-up team gathers for reunion". ESPN. 2008. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
  4. ↑ "Ricky Grace into basketball Hall of Fame". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 August 2010.
  5. ↑ "Ricky Grace (Perth Wildcats Legend) Podcast". Aussie Hoopla. 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "Role Models WA - About Us". Role Models WA, Inc. 2007. Archived from the original on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
  7. ↑ "Role Models WA - Role Models". Role Models WA, Inc. 2007. Archived from the original on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
  8. ↑ Briggs, Sian (14 July 2007). "Amazing Grace". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
  9. ↑ 30th Anniversary All-Star Team Archived 11 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Americans dominate Wildcats All-Star team
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ "GUESS WHO'S BACK". facebook.com/CurtinSports. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "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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