Liam Rush
| Free agent | |
|---|---|
| Position | Small forward / Power forward |
| Personal information | |
| Born |
29 January 1982 Broome, Western Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Listed height | 202 cm (6 ft 8 in) |
| Listed weight | 94 kg (207 lb) |
| Career information | |
| Playing career | 2003–2015 |
| Career history | |
| 2003–2006 | Perth Wildcats |
| 2006–2008 | West Sydney Razorbacks / Sydney Spirit |
| 2008–2009 | Sundsvall Dragons |
| 2009 | Australia men's national basketball team |
| 2009–2010 | Gothia Basket |
| 2010–2011 | Sundsvall Dragons |
| 2011–2013 | Melbourne Tigers |
| 2013–2015 | Uppsala Basket |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Liam Rush (born 29 January 1982) is an Australian professional basketball player who last played for Uppsala Basket of the Swedish Basketligan.
Early life
Born in Broome, Western Australia, Rush and his family then moved to Perth and it was there he developed a passion for sports at a young age. Rush and his siblings were regulars at Melville Little Athletics and thoroughly enjoyed the vast array of events, however, it wasn't until his father built a basketball hoop on the family drive way that Rush began to direct his attention to Basketball. From the age of twelve, Rush was regularly competing in junior basketball competitions at Lakeside Recreation Centre. It was coach Andy Stewart (basketball) who then directed Rush to pursue his dream of playing basketball professionally.
Perth Wildcats (2003-2006)
Rush started his professional career with the Perth Wildcats in the 2003–04 season. Rush's first points came by half court alley-opp pass from Perth Wildcats legend Ricky Grace in which Rush emphatically finished with a two-handed slam. Rush continued to improve his athleticism and strong fundamentals and at the end of just his second season he was awarded the Perth Wildcats Most Improved Player Award for the 2004-05 season. That same season Rush also competed in the NBL Slam Dunk competition, where he made the final against Townsville Crocodiles star import Rob Brown. Rush narrowly missed out by 1 point on being crowned the NBL's best dunker. After his third season with the Perth Wildcats Rush was offered a further two-year contract by the club, however he chose to accept a 1-year deal with the West Sydney Razorbacks, citing more court-time and opportunity as the sole reason.
West Sydney Razorbacks (2006–2008)
In just his first season with the Razorbacks, Rush was named the Most Improved Player for the 2006–07 season.[1] Rush’s regular season scoring average increased from 6.0 points per game the previous season to 14.7ppg in 2006/07. His rebounds almost doubled from 2.9 per game in 2005/06 to 5.6 per game this season. Most impressively, Rush improved his scoring accuracy from 42% to 48% from the field, and from 28% to 47% from the three-point line. He was ranked fourth in the league from long distance during the regular season. After the season concluded Rush was selected to the Australia men's national basketball team for the first time.
For season 2007/08, Rush was appointed co-captain of the Razorbacks, alongside import Darnell Hinson Appearing in 29 matches Rush finished the season with averages of 13.4ppg, 5.5rpg and 2.7apg.
After just 15 games in the 2008-09 regular season the club's owner, Greg Evans, informed the league's executive that he intended to put the club into administration shortly, resulting in the club's immediate closure.[2] Rush was enjoying another strong season with stats of 15.1ppg, 5.5rpg and 2.0apg.
Svenska Basketligan (2009–2011)
In December 2008, Rush moved to Sweden where he joined the Sundsvall Dragons in Basketligan. He joined mid-way through the 2008–09 season at which point the Dragons were languishing at the bottom of the Ligan ladder. Rush was instrumental in turning the season around and propelling the club to the playoffs. After finishing the regular season with 9 straight wins the Sundsvall Dragons went on to win their maiden championship, defeating Solna Vikings in game 7 of the finals.[3] Rush top scored off the bench for the winners netting 23 points, sealing the win with two clutch free-throws in the dying seconds. This marked the first championship for any sporting team in Sundsvall's history.
In December 2009, after months of waiting, Rush failed to land a contract in the larger European leagues. This led to him signing back in Basketligan this time with Gothia Basket where he would join fellow countrymen Rhys Carter and Neil Mottram. Rush sustained a season ending injury and underwent surgery in Sweden to repair a broken tendon in his wrist. Rush was averaging 19ppg, 8.4rpg and 2.9 apg before the injury.
Rush made a full recovery and signed with previous club Sundsvall Dragons for the 2010-11 season, where he would be reunited with Alex Wesby and Peter Öqvist. The Dragons finished the regular season in first place with a record of 29 wins and 7 losses. The Dragons secured their second SM Guld, this time celebrating on their home court after beating Norrköping Dolphins in the seventh game of the finals.
2011 Svenska All-Star
In season 2010-11 Rush polled the most votes throughout the entire competition to be named a starter for the Nord All-Stars in the Basketligan All-Star game. Rush finished the event with a game high 26 points.
Melbourne Tigers (2011–2013)
On 16 May 2011, Rush signed a three-year deal with the Melbourne Tigers and was runner up Sixth Man of the Year in the competition for the 2011-12 National Basketball League season.[4] After two seasons in the NBL Rush reached a buyout agreement with the Tigers and immediately signed with Uppsala Basket in Basketligan.[5]
Uppsala Basket (2013-2015)
Uppsala Basket began their 2013 campaign by winning the Nordic Cup Championship.[6] In season 2013-14 Uppsala Basket won a club record 11 straight games, however they were defeated by two-time champions Södertälje Kings 4-3 in their best of seven game semi-final series. Södertälje would go on to win their third consecutive SM Guld. After 37 matches Rush averaged 14.6ppg, 5.2rpg and 1.1apg. His shooting read 40% three-point line and 87% from the charity-stripe.
In November 2014, and after only 8 matches, Rush would be forced to sit out the remainder of the 2014-15 season due to a debilitating knee injury. Rush was averaging 17.5ppg, 8.4rpg, 2apg and 1.4bpg. Uppsala Basket made their first grand final appearance in history, only to lose 4 games to 3 to the Södertälje Kings.
Australian National Team
In August 2009, Rush represented Australia in Shanghai alongside teammates Matthew Dellavedova, James Harvey and Damian Martin. The Boomers won gold in the Stanković Cup for the first time without be handed a single defeat.
Other
Pre-Professional Career State Basketball League (SBL)
In 2000, Rush was a member of Lakeside Lightning's inaugural team in the Western Australian State Basketball League. In just their first season, the Lightning finished runners up champions to the Geraldton Buccaneers. The following season saw Rush elevated to the starting lineup where he returned season averages of 17ppg and 8rpg. That same season he was named a Perth Wildcats Rising Star by club legend Andrew Vlahov. In 2002, Rush was named to the SBL All-Star Five and was honoured the Cockburn Cougars Most Valuable Player. Rush again made the SBL grand final in 2003, this time with the Cockburn Cougars, however they were beaten by the Perry Lakes Hawks.
Post Basketball
Throughout his Professional Basketball career, Rush continued his studies and received;
- Certificate 4 in Management
- Certificate 4 in Marketing Management
- Diploma in Sales and Marketing
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management.
Rush is now retired from professional basketball and resides back in his homestate of Western Australia in the city of Perth. He speaks English and Swedish and also holds both an Australian and Irish Passport.