Eagle River’s Kelsey Griffin will go down in the history as one of the greatest players of Australia’s Women’s National Basketball League.
Where she’ll finish in the pecking order is yet to be finalized because the 6-foot-2 forward is still playing, but the 36-year-old is knocking on the door of the top 10 in rebounds and top 20 in points.
The former Chugiak High all-star needs just 11 rebounds to reach 2,000 and tie Aussie legend Lauren Jackson for 10th all-time.
Griffin has racked up 3,420 points and 1,989 rebounds in 216 career games.
She is WNBL royalty after having been named MVP in 2019, Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and Grand Final MVP in 2013, 2014 and 2019. She’s also a four-time WNBL champion.
She’s averaging 13.9 points for the Bendigo Spirit in nine games this season and needs 445 points to reach the top 20 all-time in WNBL scoring.
Griffin has developed into more of a perimeter player over the last few years, like most veterans do, but she can still get out on the break and finish in traffic.
Kelsey Griffin gets the tough bucket to fall! 💪
Watch Spirit v Fire live on 9Now. pic.twitter.com/AIZdG7G3nA
— Bendigo Spirit (@BendigoSpirit) January 7, 2024
In 2010, Griffin was a First Team All-American as a senior at Nebraska and was picked No. 3 overall in the WNBA Draft. She played in the league from 2010 to 2014 and scored 801 points, the most among Alaskans.
She played professionally in Israel and Hungary before going to Australia, where she’s become a Hall of Fame player.
In 2019, when she won MVP honors, she averaged 19.7 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 26 games.
In Kazakhstan, Vante Hendrix of Anchorage dropped a 40 piece on Tobol in a career night that paved the way for a 101-95 victory for Barsy Atyrau.
The 6-foot-5 Alaskan sank 14-of-20 field goals and 9-of-16 free throws to become the sixth Alaska men’s player to produce a 40-point game at the professional level.
The former West High standout made 11-of-13 shots inside the arc on a variety of layups and pullups. He added 3-of-7 3-pointers.
Hendrix, 25, added seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals in a true takeover performance.
His big game helped raise his season scoring average to 18.1 points per game, which ranks second among Alaskans this season.
In Norway, Peter Bullock of Anchorage is still playing – and still scoring. At 41 years old, no less.
The 6-foot-6 forward recorded double figures for the first time in 11 games with an 11-point, 7-rebound effort for Fyllingen in a 104-72 win over Froya.
Bullock was the first player off the bench, logging 18 minutes and making all seven shots – four field goals and three free throws.
The East High graduate starred at UAA from 2000 to 2004 and 20 years later remains the school’s all-time leader in points (1,902) and double-doubles (48) while ranking second in rebounds (974).
Pro Scorers from Alaska
PTS | PLAYER | LEAGUE |
19.7 | Daishen Nix | G League |
18.1 | Vante Hendrix | Kazakhstan |
14.0 | Jacob Calloway | Iceland |
13.9 | Kelsey Griffin | Australia |
13.9 | Derrick Wilson | Kosovo |
12.7 | Brandon Huffman | Turkey |
9.8 | Daniel Hornbuckle | Montenegro |
9.5 | Justinian Jessup | New Zealand |
6.9 | Travante Williams | Spain |
5.9 | Jeremiah Bailey | Portugal |
5.4 | Kamaka Hepa | Poland |
3.8 | Peter Bullock | Norway |
3.2 | JT Thor | NBA |
2.5 | Kok Yat | G League |
1.3 | Daishen Nix | NBA |
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