Daniel Dillon (basketball)

Daniel James Dillon (born 19 March 1986) is an Australian professional basketball player for Polpharma Starogard Gdański of the Polish Basketball League. A graduate of the University of Arizona, Dillon has enjoyed a successful career both in Australia and overseas. Following a three-year stint in the Australian NBL, Dillon carved out an impressive career in Europe with CSM U Oradea in Romania and with PGE Turów Zgorzelec in Poland. In 2016, he moved to Japan to play for the Hiroshima Dragonflies.

Daniel Dillon
No. 7 – Polpharma Starogard Gdański
PositionPoint guard / Shooting guard
LeaguePolish Basketball League
Personal information
Born (1986-03-19) 19 March 1986
Melbourne, Victoria
NationalityAustralian
Listed height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Listed weight91 kg (201 lb)
Career information
High schoolNorth Laurel (London, Kentucky)
CollegeArizona (2004–2008)
NBA draft2008 / Undrafted
Playing career2008–present
Career history
2008–2009South Dragons
2009–2010Sandringham Sabres
2010–2011Cairns Taipans
2011–2012Waverley Falcons
2011–2012Melbourne Tigers
2012–2015CSM U Oradea
2015–2016PGE Turów Zgorzelec
2016–2017Hiroshima Dragonflies
2017Kilsyth Cobras
2018Waverley Falcons
2018–2019Paris Basketball
2019–presentAdelaide 36ers
2020–presentPolpharma Starogard Gdański
Career highlights and awards

Early life

Dillon was born in Melbourne, Australia.[1] He grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Hampton.[2] In 2003, he moved to the United States to attend North Laurel High School in London, Kentucky. He averaged 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists per game for the school's basketball team.[3]

College career

Dillon had a four-year college basketball career with the Arizona Wildcats under coach Lute Olson from 2004 to 2008.[3] He played sparingly for the Wildcats, averaging 1.6 points and 10.5 minutes in 113 career games with six starts.[3] As a senior in 2007–08, he averaged 2.0 points, 1.3 assists and 14.4 minutes in 30 games with five starts.[3][4]

Professional career

Dillon's post-college career began with a spot on the Milwaukee Bucks roster for the Las Vegas Summer League in July 2008.[5] He appeared in one game for the Bucks, recording one rebound in seven minutes.[6]

Following his stint with the Bucks, Dillon returned to Australia and joined the South Dragons as a development player for the 2008–09 NBL season.[1] In March 2009, he was a member of the Dragons' championship-winning team when they defeated the Melbourne Tigers 3–2 in the NBL Grand Final series. He appeared in game three and game five of the series.[7] In 12 games, he averaged 1.8 points per game.[7] He went on to win the 2009 SEABL South Men Australian Youth Player of the Year as a member of the Sandringham Sabres.[8] In February 2010, he travelled with a SEABL Select Team to Doha to play the Qatar national team in a two-game friendly series.[8]

After another successful season in the SEABL in 2010 with the Sabres, Dillon joined the Cairns Taipans for the 2010–11 NBL season.[9][10] He helped the Taipans reach their maiden NBL Grand Final series,[1] where they were defeated 2–1 by the New Zealand Breakers.

After helping the Waverley Falcons win the championship in the Big V in 2011,[11][12] Dillon joined the Melbourne Tigers ahead of the 2011–12 NBL season.[13][14] After initially agreeing to terms to stay at the Taipans, Dillon signed a three-year deal with his hometown team.[15] However, he left after just one season.[16][17] He then re-joined the Waverley Falcons for the 2012 season.

In September 2012, Dillon signed with Romanian team CSM Oradea,[18] where he went on to spend three seasons.[19]

In August 2015, Dillon signed with PGE Turów Zgorzelec of the Polish Basketball League.[20] In 32 league games for Turów in 2015–16, he averaged 16.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game. He also averaged 15.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.5 steals in six FIBA EuroCup Challenge games.

In August 2016, Dillon signed with the Hiroshima Dragonflies of the Japanese B.League.[21] In 63 games for Hiroshima, he averaged 11.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

On 16 June 2017, Dillon signed with the Kilsyth Cobras for the rest of the 2017 SEABL season.[22] Six days later, he signed with Melbourne United for the 2017–18 NBL season.[23] However, on 10 July 2017, he was ruled out for six to eight months after suffering an Achilles injury two days earlier playing for Kilsyth.[24] He was a member of Melbourne's championship-winning team in March 2018. In April 2018, he joined the Waverley Falcons of the Big V.[25]

In August 2018, Dillon signed with Paris Basketball of the LNB Pro B.[26] In 33 games, he averaged 9.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.

On 16 May 2019, Dillon signed a two-year deal with the Adelaide 36ers.[27][28] In 24 games for the 36ers during the 2019–20 NBL season, he averaged 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.

On 25 February 2020, Dillon signed with Polish team Polpharma Starogard Gdański for the rest of the 2019–20 PLK season, returning to the country for a second stint.[29]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2004–05 Arizona 2305.1.444.400.500.6.4.2.01.0
2005–06 Arizona 31110.4.326.269.714.9.5.4.11.5
2006–07 Arizona 29011.0.400.346.478.9.8.3.01.9
2007–08 Arizona 30514.4.327.355.8891.11.3.4.02.0
Career 113610.5.361.333.651.9.8.3.91.6

Personal life

Off the court, Dillon is a sports mentor and life coach with Life Resolutions.[30]

References
  1. "DANIEL DILLON (MELBOURNE TIGERS) PODCAST #2". aussiehoopla.com. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  2. "Men's Basketball Signs Pair to National Letters-of-Intent". pac-12.com. 12 November 2003. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  3. Daniel Dillon Profile
  4. Daniel Dillon Stats
  5. 2008 Bucks Summer League Team
  6. Daniel Dillon – Summer League 2008
  7. Player statistics for Daniel Dillon – 2008/09
  8. SEABL-SELECT TEAM TRAVELLING TO QATAR
  9. Cairns Taipans circle Daniel Dillon
  10. Cairns Taipans add Daniel Dillon
  11. Daniel Dillon Signs with Waverley
  12. Waverley Falcons win premiership
  13. Melbourne Tigers sign Liam Rush and Daniel Dillon, dump Wade Helliwell
  14. NBL newcomer Daniel Dillon signs on with the Tigers
  15. Former Snake Dillon returns home
  16. Tragardh & Dillon released by the Tigers, Cam a Hawk? Dillon a 36er?
  17. Dillon and Tragardh part ways with Tigers
  18. Daniel Dillon signs with Romanian club CSM Oradea
  19. Daniel Dillon re-signs with CSM Oradea
  20. Daniel Dillon reportedly agreed to terms with PGE Turow Zgorzelec
  21. #12 ダニエル・ディロン（Daniel Dillon）選手契約合意（新規）のお知らせ (in Japanese)
  22. COBRAS SIGN GUARD DANIEL DILLON
  23. DANIEL DILLON RETURNS HOME TO MELBOURNE
  24. DANIEL DILLON SUFFERS ACHILLES INJURY
  25. Player statistics for Daniel Dillon – 2018
  26. Daniel Dillon (ex Waverley F.) joins Paris
  27. "36ers Make Some Major #NBL20 Moves". NBL.com.au. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  28. "Californian guard to join 36ers in NBL". SBS.com.au. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  29. "DANIEL DILLON W STAROGARDZIE". polpharmabasketball.pl (in Polish). 25 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  30. Daniel Dillon – Life Resolutions Melbourne CBD
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