Mark Worthington

Mark Worthington (born 8 June 1983) is an Australian former professional basketball player who played 11 seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL). On 10 October 2013, he was named in the Sydney Kings 25th Anniversary Team.[1]

For the British journalist, see Mark Worthington (journalist).

Mark Worthington
Personal information
Born (1983-06-08) 8 June 1983
Bunbury, Western Australia
NationalityAustralian
Listed height203 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Listed weight107 kg (236 lb)
Career information
High schoolAustralind Senior
(Australind, Western Australia)
CollegeMetro State (2001–2005)
NBA draft2005 / Undrafted
Playing career1999–2017
PositionPower forward / Small forward
Coaching career2016–present
Career history
As player:
1999–2002Bunbury Slammers
2004Bunbury Slammers
2005–2008Sydney Kings
2008Bunbury Slammers
2008–2009South Dragons
2009–2010Melbourne Tigers
2010Brose Baskets
2010–2012Gold Coast Blaze
2011Mets de Guaynabo
2011Piratas de Quebradillas
2012–2013Radnički Kragujevac
2013–2015Melbourne Tigers/United
2015–2017Cairns Taipans
As coach:
2016–2017Cairns Dolphins
2017–2018Loyola Marymount (asst.)
2020–South West Slammers men's team
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Australia
2006 Melbourne Team competition

Early life

Born in Bunbury, Western Australia, Worthington grew up in the nearby town of Australind, where he attended Australind Primary School and Australind Senior High School.[2]

College career

Worthington started his career as a development player for the Cairns Taipans.[3] He then moved to the United States, where he played college basketball at the Metropolitan State College of Denver under coach Mike Dunlap from 2001 to 2005. He won the NABC Division II Player of the Year award in 2004–05.

Professional career

After a standout career at Metro State, Worthington made his debut with the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League, winning the NBL Rookie of the Year Award in 2005–06. He played three seasons with the Kings, before signing with the South Dragons for the 2008–09 season. He helped the Dragons win the NBL championship before they folded in 2009. He subsequently signed with the Melbourne Tigers for the 2009–10 season. In 2010, he had a stint with German team Brose Baskets.[4]

For the 2010–11 season, Worthington joined the Gold Coast Blaze. In 2011, he had stints with Puerto Rican teams Mets de Guaynabo and Piratas de Quebradillas, before returning to the Blaze for the 2011–12 season.

In July 2012, Worthington signed with Serbian team Radnički Kragujevac.[5] He suffered a season-ending injury in December 2012, forcing him to eventually leave Kragujevac in February 2013.[6] He played 14 games, averaging 10.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

On 18 July 2013, Worthington signed with the Melbourne Tigers, returning to the club for a second stint.[7] In May 2014, the Tigers changed their name to United.

On 7 July 2015, Worthington signed a two-year deal with the Cairns Taipans.[8] On 13 January 2016, he played his 300th NBL game.[9] On 22 January 2017, Worthington announced his decision to retire at the end of the 2016–17 season.[10][11] His 335th and final NBL game came in the Taipans' game two semi-final loss to the Perth Wildcats on 20 February 2017 at Perth Arena.[12]

National team career

Worthington made his debut for the Australian national team in 2005 at the FIBA Oceania Championship. He has since played for them at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, and four years later in London, as well as at the FIBA World Championship in 2006 and 2010.

Coaching career

In February 2016, Worthington was appointed head coach of QBL women's side, the Cairns Dolphins.[13] After two seasons with the Dolphins, Worthington spent the 2017–18 U.S. college season as an assistant coach with the Loyola Marymount Lions men's basketball team.[14] In October 2019, Worthington was appointed head coach of SBL men's side, the South West Slammers, for the 2020 season.[15]

Personal

Worthington's father, Greg, is a basketball coach who has been involved with the South West Slammers. His brother, Trent, played for many years with the Slammers' SBL team.[16]

Worthington and his wife, Andrea, have two sons, Taz and Axel.[17]

In August 2012, it was announced that Worthington was considering a switch to play Australian rules football for the West Coast Eagles. His uncle, Kevin Worthington played for the Collingwood, Claremont and Perth football clubs in the 1970s and 1980s.[18]

References
  1. Sydney Kings 25th anniversary team honour heals the wounds for Shane
  2. WORTHO RETURNS HOME BUT SIGNS WITH DRAGONS
  3. Worthington retires, paving the way for young stars
  4. Brose Baskets Bamberg nab Aussie Worthington
  5. "Radnicki signs Mark Worthington". Sportando.com. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  6. Mark Worthington leaves Kragujevac
  7. "FORMER TIGERS MVP RETURNS". NBL.com.au. 18 July 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  8. WORTHINGTON SIGNS TWO-YEAR DEAL IN CAIRNS
  9. MARK WORTHINGTON: LIVING THE DREAM
  10. NBL veteran Worthington to retire
  11. ANNOUNCEMENT: MARK WORTHINGTON
  12. WILDCATS SEND OFF WORTHINGTON, ADVANCE TO GF
  13. BASKETBALL: Worthington to coach Cairns Dolphins in QBL
  14. Wortho bound for US coaching gig
  15. "Basketball South West and the South West Slammers, we are excited to announce that Mark Worthington has been appointed the SBL Men's Coach for 2020". facebook.com. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  16. Season Preview - Collie Crane Hire Southwest Slammers
  17. Mark Worthington set to mark 300 NBL games
  18. Eagles eye off Boomer Worthington
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