THE long-awaited MAHERVELLOUS! The Brett Maher Story" hits book stores on November 1, chronicling the life and times of the 36ers' greatest player and an icon of Australian basketball.
From his days growing up in Adelaide's southern suburbs, through life inside the Australian Institute of Sport, national selections, recovering from two career-threatening injuries to both the high times and the low with the 36ers it's all here.
But it's all that and more. There's the inside story of both the tragedy and anguish of the brief inspirational life of Hudson Maher and his enormous impact on all around him.
BRETT Maher is not only an icon of South Australian basketball, but one of Australian basketball's elite - a humble champion who will one day join the greats of the National Basketball League in the Hall of Fame.
And when that day comes he'll join the likes of Phil Smyth, Cal Bruton, Mark Davis, Andrew Gaze and Leroy Loggins in the Hall. Most importantly, his name will sit comfortably among the great ones who came before him.
-- Andrew Johnstone
(Member of NBL Hall of Fame selection committee; Managing Editor, News Custom Publishing; Currently senior producer on FIBA World Basketball, weekly television program made on behalf on the international governing body in Melbourne, Victoria.)
Behind-the-scenes of the Olympic teams, find out what happened at Athens between legendary coach Brian Goorjian and NBA draft selection Andrew Bogut.
Armed riot police with the big screens segregating fans of warring clubs at every game - welcome to domestic basketball Turkish style, where your key player can be sacked midway through the playoffs for disrespecting his uniform.
AS a human being, Brett is as good as it gets. He was always a fierce competitor but an absolute sportsman and a gentleman. I think he showed his tremendous class when his child passed away.
He always carried himself so well and rarely complained about his treatment on the Australian team. He certainly is a terrific person, human being and man. I say that sincerely and not just for the sake of this piece.
-- Adrian Hurley
(Australian Institute of Sport head basketball coach for 12 years, Australian National Men's coach for six years; NBL Championship-winning coach with Perth in 1995; NBL Coach of the Year 2005)
The background of what happened in Adelaide during the Dunlap years and the Smyth revolution which soared the Sixers to the pinnacle, then right back to where they started.
It's all there in MAHERVELLOUS! as Brett's 18-year, 500-plus game NBL career unfolds against the backdrop of every major development in the game in Australia during that time.
THE thing that is so impressive about Brett Maher to me is this. It doesn't matter if it's disadvantaged kids, Aboriginal kids, Sudanese kids and whether you need someone for mentoring, basketball camps, clinics, whatever. Brett is always the first guy to put his hand up to help. I just admire him so much. He is such a powerful person yet very unassuming and he hasn't changed.
-- Butch Hays
(American import, team-mate, opponent, friend)
All the "Andrews" are there, from Bogut to Gaze to Vlahov. In fact, virtually every major player in Australian basketball of the past two decades is included in what is not just a biography of one of the game's all-time greats but also a history of the sport during his time in it.
His toughest opponent, his greatest achievement, his highs, his lows and the source of his inspiration to be a triple-Olympian, triple-championship winner, dual Larry Sengstock Medallist and multiple All Star - it's all there in MAHERVELLOUS!
Pre-order your copy now by emailing Paul Bell (pbell@mvpsports.com.au) to avoid disappointment.
BRETT Maher has been absolutely one of my favourite players in the NBL for many years, not only for what he's done for Adelaide and the NBL, but also what he's done for Australia.
The way he handled himself through his family's personal crisis was exemplary. You cannot speak highly enough of the man.
-- Dave Claxton
(Adelaide 36ers coach 1997; Australian Boomers assistant-coach 1994 World Championship; NBL head coach at Brisbane 1980-81 and Gold Coast 1991-96; Director of Gold Coast Blaze NBL franchise)
AT the state championship level he always seemed as if he was doing everything easy. He was a great guard. I'd put him in the same class as those people that you know are going to make it when they're fifteen. It was his poise and the fact he could look after the ball. He had great leaping ability then and he could hit a jumper.
-- Colin Donovan
(Former personnel director of the South East Melbourne Magic)
WHEN I came to Adelaide, Brett was the first to welcome me into the team. As a human being, he is as good as it gets.
He is just a genuine nice guy and very down-to-earth. He's also always the one paying you out. That's one of the first things I noticed about him but the way he pays people out endears him to everyone. I miss playing with him.
Myself and Darnell (Mee) always talk about our Adelaide days. They were great times.
-- Martin Cattalini
(Three-time NBL Championship winner with Perth (1995), Adelaide (1998-99), dual Olympian, runner up NBL Most Valuable Player in 2000-07)
THERE'S a few guys who are all class. Those guys tend to have support from everybody. Sportsmanship, how they handle themselves with their peers, the media, the crowds – there are a few guys such as Andrew Gaze, Mike Kelly, Brett Wheeler who fall into this category.
Brett Maher certainly does. But he's even more rare. This guy just doesn't have any enemies. There's so much about him to respect. Players have genuine affection for him and to have that and compete like he competes is very special. Brett is his own man and he plays as hard as hell. It's rare somebody with his competitive instincts can continue to command such respect and support from his peers but he does; always has, always will.
-- Brian Goorjian
(Australian national men's basketball coach; Five-time NBL Coach of the Year; The NBL's “winningest” coach; First coach to win five NBL championships.)
ANDREW Gaze is in a league of his own as far as his credentials as a basketballer for Australia go. But from the point of view of an athlete who inspires both on and off the court, Brett Maher is very much in the same class.
As a South Australian, we should be extremely proud of what Brett has achieved as a player and as a man. He's in that James Hird-type of athlete category – the leaders in their sports.
-- Jan Stirling
(Australia's 2006 World Championship gold medal-winning coach, four-time Women's NBL Championship-winning coach)
AT the AIS, Brett was a natural leader and one of the best I saw in my time there, which was twelve years
He read the game very well, made the plays when he had to, played defence and played beyond his years. I think also that his injury set him back in confidence and leadership for a few years and it was only after a couple of years back in Adelaide that those skills began to dominate again.
-- Adrian Hurley
(Australian Institute of Sport head basketball coach for 12 years, Australian National Men's coach 1986 World Championship, 1988 Seoul Olympics, 1990 World Championship, 1992 Barcelona Olympics)
I GUESS he just does everything well. For a guard he's a very good rebounder. He's a very good leaper off two feet, but once again you wouldn't say he's an excellent leaper. You won't see him fly down the middle of the lane and dunk on people, and no, he's not flashy. He just gets it done. I guess if you were writing a textbook on basketball you could take his jumpshot. You could take his rebounding for a guard and you could take his positioning on defence.
-- Scott Ninnis
(Long-time teammate, opponent, friend, coach)
I DON'T know any player who has been as consistent as he has for so long throughout his career. We are blessed to have a player like Mahersy on our team.
He is a terrific leader because he always comes ready to play and he is such low maintenance. The thing about Mahersy that stands out is that it's not as though teams aren't aware of him, don't prepare for him or aren't sending someone out to try and keep up with him.
And he still keeps coming through for us. The truth is, you can't stop him legally.
-- Phil Smyth
(Adelaide 36ers coach 1998-2008, former teammate, mentor and Hall of Fame legend)
