Casey Frank

Casey Frank (born October 23, 1977) is an American-New Zealand former professional basketball player who spent the majority of his 17-year career in the New Zealand NBL and Australian NBL. After playing four years of college basketball for Northern Arizona, Frank arrived in New Zealand in 2002 and remained in the region for the remainder of his career. He won NBL titles in 2004 and 2005 with the Auckland Stars, and in 2010 and 2011 with the Wellington Saints. Frank was named Outstanding Forward and selected to the All-Star Five three times each. He was an import with the New Zealand Breakers in their debut season until he was cut mid-season, and has also played for the Wollongong Hawks and Gold Coast Blaze in Australia. Frank debuted for the Tall Blacks in China in 2005 and gained New Zealand citizenship for inclusion in the 2006 Commonwealth Games silver-medal winning team. He went on to participate in the 2006 and 2010 FIBA World Championships, as well as the 2014 FIBA World Cup.[1]

Casey Frank
Personal information
Born (1977-10-23) October 23, 1977
Port Jefferson, New York
NationalityAmerican / New Zealand
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High schoolNorth (Phoenix, Arizona)
CollegeNorthern Arizona (1995–1999)
NBA draft1999 / Undrafted
Playing career1999–present
PositionPower forward
Career history
1999–2000Paris SG
2001La Crosse Bobcats
2001–2002Sallen Basket
2002–2009Auckland Stars
2003New Zealand Breakers
2005West Sydney Razorbacks
2005New Zealand Breakers
2006–2007Wollongong Hawks
2007–2009Gold Coast Blaze
2010–2013Wellington Saints
2014New Zealand Breakers
2014Waikato Pistons
2015Super City Rangers
2016Wellington Saints
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  New Zealand
Commonwealth Games
2006 Melbourne Team Competition

Professional career

Frank was tested by different teams in Spain, France and Australia between 1999 and 2000.[2]

In January 2001, he signed with the La Crosse Bobcats of the Continental Basketball Association.[3] The next month, he was placed on the injured reserve list.[4] In nine games for the Bobcats, he averaged 4.7 points, 5.3 rebounds 1.8 assists per game.[5]

For the 2001–02 season, Frank played in Sweden for Sallen Basket. In 2002, he joined the Auckland Stars of the New Zealand NBL where he played eight seasons, winning two championships (2004 & 2005) and many individual awards. In 2006, he gained New Zealand citizenship, allowing him to play for the Tall Blacks and as a Kiwi in the NZNBL and the ANBL.[2]

Frank signed with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian NBL for the club's debut season in 2003–04. However, in November 2003, he was released by the Breakers after appearing in just 12 games.

On September 5, 2005, he signed with the West Sydney Razorbacks of the Australian NBL as an injury-replacement for Nick Horvath.[6] Later that month, he left the Razorbacks after appearing in just three games. In November 2005, he re-joined the New Zealand Breakers as an injury-replacement, but had to be let go after just two games due to the return of Adrian Majstrovich from injury.[7]

In March 2006, he signed a two-year deal with the Wollongong Hawks of the Australian NBL.[8] He finished his first full season in the ANBL, playing 33 games and averaging 11.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.

In April 2007, he signed with the Gold Coast Blaze.[9][10] In November 2009, he re-signed with the Blaze as a short-term injury replacement for Greg Vanderjagt.[11] He left the Blaze after three games. Frank later signed with the Wellington Saints for the 2010 New Zealand NBL season. He continued on with the Saints in 2011,[12] 2012,[13] and 2013.[14]

On 8 January 2014, Frank signed with the New Zealand Breakers as an injury replacement for Alex Pledger.[15][16] Two days later, he played his first game for the Breakers since 2005, recording 9 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in just under 16 minutes of action in a 93–87 win over the Melbourne Tigers. On 17 January, in his second game for the Breakers, Frank recorded 3 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist in a loss to the Perth Wildcats. In the loss, he lasted just over seven minutes before fouling out in club record time.[17][18]

On 11 February 2014, Frank signed with the Waikato Pistons for the 2014 New Zealand NBL season, joining his former Saints coach, Pero Cameron, at the Pistons.[19][20]

On 13 February 2015, Frank signed with the Super City Rangers for the 2015 New Zealand NBL season.[21][22]

On 27 March 2016, Frank signed with the Wellington Saints, returning to the club for a second stint.[23] He appeared in seven games for the club before departing in late April.

Personal

Frank's partner is South African-born actress, Mia Pistorius.[24] The pair have been together since 2002 when Frank first arrived in New Zealand.[25]

In August 2013, Frank graduated with a Master of Business Administration (MBA).[17]

In 2016, Frank played the role of a villain in the Bollywood film Mohenjo Daro starring Hrithik Roshan.[22]

References
  1. Casey Frank | Basketball New Zealand
  2. 2006 FIBA World Championship – Casey Frank Profile
  3. TRANSACTIONS – January 24, 2001
  4. TRANSACTIONS – February 2, 2001
  5. Lacrosse Player Statistics
  6. Frank comes to Razorbacks rescue
  7. NBL Breakers recall Thompson
  8. Frank signs with Wollongong
  9. Blaze Sign Frank
  10. Tall Black joins Blaze
  11. Barnes' Big Night
  12. Tall Black Casey Frank re-signs with Saints
  13. Veteran Frank signs with Saints again
  14. Saints sign main man Frank
  15. NZ Breakers to replace Alex Pledger with Frank
  16. Breakers bring back Casey Frank
  17. Breakers' Casey Frank ready, whatever comes
  18. Player statistics for Casey Frank
  19. Casey Frank signs with the Waikato Pistons
  20. "Frank Follows Cameron To Pistons". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  21. "Rangers Rope In Frank". Archived from the original on 2015-02-13. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
  22. Hinton, Marc (30 March 2015). "Tall Black centurion Casey Frank returns for another crack at the NBL". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  23. Tai Wesley and Shea Ili out for Wellington Saints clash against Nelson Giants
  24. Basketball: Even cramped travel helps mould team
  25. Basketball: Home is where Casey Frank's heart is
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