Damon Ballantyne continues to prove himself an ultimate versatile guard at the Goldfields Giants having made the move from Mandurah five years ago and while he's open to future career options, bringing an NBL1 West championship back to the Goldfields is his focus.
Even though Ballantyne grew up in Mandurah and his family has such a history of being part of the Magic community, once things didn’t work out for the emerging guard in college largely thanks to Covid back in 2019, he was open to new possibilities.
He now couldn’t be happier with the home he has found with the Goldfields Giants first making the move in 2020 and settling ever since becoming one of the best, and most versatile, local guards across the league along the way.
Ballantyne might be a natural point guard, but he prides himself on being able to play any position except the five spot and contributing to his team strongly at both ends of the floor in whatever way he's asked to.
While the 24-year-old is open to any options that might present for him to continue to further his basketball career now that he is about to complete his mechanical apprenticeship, he is open to whatever the future may hold.
However, that's all in the future. Right now Ballantyne's sole focus is on making this a successful NBL1 West for the Giants and he is playing a key role on them now having won five straight and to be on the verge of breaking into the top four.
The move to the Goldfields
When things didn’t quite work out at Green Mountain College for Ballantyne, he wasn’t quite sure what path to next pursue both in terms of his basketball and as a career.
However, things couldn’t have worked out better having moved to Kalgoorlie in 2020 even if Covid hitting at the same time made that a challenge.
He did end up starting to play with the Giants in that West Coast Classic season, though, and has remained ever since. He is now also about to complete an apprenticeship that he started at the same time under Paul Burgess at Burgess BLA.
It was a huge life decision for Ballantyne that has paid off and before he decides what his future might hold in 2025, he would love nothing more than to help the Giants win a first championship since 2008 over the next couple of months.
"Moving up to Kalgoorlie was mainly for basketball. I returned from college in the US in 2019 where my college shutdown financially making it difficult for me to find another college to go back to especially with Covid hitting," Ballantyne said.
"Ash McCormick connected me to Wayne Creek and he recruited me up here to play for him also getting me a fantastic apprenticeship with Burgess BLA – shutout to Paul!
"Mark Bartle was also really instrumental in getting me here and helping me find my feet. I’m finishing my apprenticeship at the end of the year and I'm very open to exploring options within NBL1 West, interstate and even potentially overseas if anyone in Asia is looking for an elite oversized guard – hit me up!
"However right now the goal is to focusing on winning the championship this season and bringing the flag back to the Goldfields. The board here, with Tags and Mike Worthington this year have been amazing and I want to bring them a championship– after that I am an open book to opportunities."
Taking pride in versatility
Ballantyne might be a natural point guard and have all the qualities you'd want in someone playing that position with his ball handling and playmaking abilities along with his tenacious defence and then the way he can attack the basket and shoot to keep the opposition honest.
However, what makes him an even more valuable weapon is the fact that at 6'5 he has size on his side too where he can step up to play the two, three and four spots as well either on defence and offence.
That versatility is something he takes great pride in and feels is one of his great strengths as a player.
"Yeah I take a lot of pride in being a versatile guard that can do a bit of everything on the offensive end and then I take pride in being able to guard the one through four," he said.
"Being this type of player is great because I can cause plenty of mismatches on the offensive and defensive end, and I have been very fortunate that this helps me seamlessly slot into any team or line up."
Thankful for opportunity with key role
While Ballantyne plays a variety of positions and on this Giants team any number of players can play the role as point guard, what he's thankful for is that Goldfields have trusted him to fill a role that a lot of other clubs look to an import for.
"Yeah I’m always thankful to the club and coaches that back me to play an important role in the team," he said.
"I am playing a combo role between the one to four spot this year with Randy, Kon and I have been rotating positions this season as we are all versatile guards.
"I’m enjoying the role coach Matt has given me and always love adding value to my group whether it be as the point guard, on the wing or helping us go small in the four spot."
Momentum building for Giants
While the Giants did lose six of the first 10 games of the 2024 season, it's not unrealistic to think they could have won all 10 considering that included an overtime loss to the Geraldton Buccaneers after a miracle Aaron Ralph shot and a host of other near misses.
However, the Giants remained confident they had the team that could be successful and that the results would start to turn their way. That's now happened with a five-game winning streak ahead of hosting the second placed Willetton Tigers this Saturday night.
The Giants are knocking on the door of the top four now at 9-6 and Ballantyne couldn’t be happier with how thing are coming together with the addition of imports Randy Bell and De'Sean Parsons, the return of Kon Anguik, and continuing performance of Mayo Malek and Jerome Reid.
"We are going great right now!" Ballantyne said.
"We're heading in the right direction, still have a few things to work on to get to our best, but we are all locked in moving forward and a real tight unit – everyone enjoys each other's company.
"It’s a credit to coach Matt (Van Pelt) and our staff who have held the group together during a lot of adversity this year. We are all starting to gel and understanding our roles within the team and everyone is bought in. Most fun I have had in a team in a while.
"We know we could have won them all, and also every other team is solid and we could have lost them all. It’s a tight league this year and I respect all our opponents.
"There are a lot of great head coaches in the league doing a great job with their squads and every game is tough. We need to Keep this win streak going and keep buying into our goal which is to bring a championship back to the Goldfields."
Forming bonds with teammates and captain
One of the unexpected benefits of the move to Kalgoorlie for Ballantyne has been the bond he has been able to form with a whole host of people involved with the club, and now especially some of his teammates over the past five years.
It's different than a team back in Perth or Mandurah where everyone just comes together to train a couple of times a week and then plays on weekends, but then largely goes about their lives on their own outside of that.
But for the Giants just because of the location the playing group often form a much closer bond and that's something Ballantyne has embraced, especially the connection now he has with 200-plus game captain Jerome Reid.
"Playing with Jerome has been great! Been playing with him for four seasons now and I have loved every minute of it, he has become a lifelong friend," Ballantyne said.
"The sacrifices and commitment he has made to the club and the Kalgoorlie-Boulder community has been amazing and everyone loves him for it. He leads by example always, and puts the team ahead of himself.
"Witnessing his 200th game where he caught fire and really won us the double OT game is one I will remember forever. He has always been the x-factor for the Giants and every year he just keeps getting better (has another 200 games to go minimum!!)."
Family connection at Mandurah
While Damon is happy with his home at the Giants right now and his sister Morgan has carved out a fine career for herself at the Perry Lakes Hawks, there will always be that natural family history and bond at the Mandurah Magic.
His parents Paul and Noelene have put in a power of work within the Mandurah Basketball Association as has older brother Matt, but he couldn’t be happier with where he's ended up while not forgetting where it all started.
"Morgan and I haven’t played for Mandurah for over five years now, hard to believe how quickly time flies. Like every other team, we love to play and compete against them," Ballantyne said.
"Morgan loves being at Perry Lakes. She always talks about how much she enjoys playing with her teammates and coaching staff and the culture they have there.
"Morgan is an elite on-ball defender and can do a bit of everything on the offensive end, it’s always good to watch her play and I am glad she is respected there and feels a part of that group.
"I enjoyed my junior career with Mandurah, with Coach Trahair taking me in and giving me an opportunity to play SBL at such a young age and I’m thankful for that.
"However, I’ve really enjoyed my time at the Giants and I’m glad I get to share this experience with lifelong friends from Mandurah and Perth that are here with me, while meeting new ones like our Captain Jerome and playing alongside quality imports."
