AUS - Lindsay Gaze honoured by Australian Basketball Hall of Fame

MELBOURNE (Hall of Fame) - Former Olympian Lindsay Gaze has been given "Legend" status by the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame - only the third person to receive the honour.

Gaze, who played in the 1960, 1964 and 1968 games but perhaps best known for his outstanding record as a coach, joins NBL founder Dr John Raschke and administrator Alastair Ramsay in the select group of Legends.

Gaze, the father of former Boomers star Andrew Gaze, coached the Melbourne Tigers to 363 victories between 1984 and 2005, putting him second on the all-time list. The Tigers made the play-offs 16 times, reaching four finals and claiming the title in 1993 and 1997.

Gaze also served on FIBA's technical and rules committees to help shape the game on a global level.

The ceremony came on the eve of the announcement of the next set of inductees into the FIBA Hall of Fame. The ceremony will be held on September 12. While Gaze was elevated to Legend level, 14 new members were inducted into the Australian Hall.

- Michael AhMatt
The South Adelaide Panthers stalwart was one of the first two Indigenous Australians to represent their country in the Olympics when he played for the Boomers in 1964. AhMatt died in 1984.

- Sandy Blythe
Captained the Rollers at the 1996 Paralympics in Atalanta, having first played at a Games in Seoul in 1988. Blythe died in 2005.

- Sandy Brondello
Former Opals star who played in four Olympic Games and on four World Championship teams. She was a member of the first Australia team to win an Olympic medal taking bronze in 1996.

- David Carmichael
Administrator who has served on the NBL board for over a decade.

- Merv Emms
Coach, referee, administrator and former national team selector who has spent over 60 years in the game.

- Trisha Fallon
Winner of three Olympic medals with the Opals (two silver, one bronze) as well as bronze at a World Championship. Captained the team in Athens in 2004.

- Shelley Gorman
Played in the 1988, 1996, and 2000 Olympics, as well as the 1989 World Championship.

- Ricky Grace
"The Amazing One" who played on the 1996 and 2000 Olympic teams.

- Elaine Hardwick
One of the first women players in the country, who played on the opening night of the Victorian women's competition in 1955. Played for the Opals in 1960 and 1963 on tours of New Zealand.

- Greg Love
Official who has refereed in the league as well as the Gold Cup and Paralympics

- Karin McRobert
Played on the 1975 and 1979 World Championship teams.

- Julie Nykiel
One of the leading players in WNBL history who also played at three World Championships and two Olympics.

- Michael Wrublewski
One of the first private owners of a sports team in Australia, who merged the Sydney Supersonics and West Sydney Westars to create the Sydney Kings. Wrublewski recently passed away.

- Bill Wyatt
Olympian in 1964 and 1972

FIBA