Australian basketball legend signs with Willetton

Australian basketball legend Mark Worthington has signed with the Willetton Tigers for the 2023 NBL1 West season. 

Worthington was inducted into the Basketball WA Hall of Fame last year, and now will return to the court at the age of 39 with the Tigers. 

Worthington is a two-time Olympian, Commonwealth Games gold medallist, a 335 NBL game veteran, NBL Champion and a four-time member of the All-NBL First Team. 

Yep, @PerthWildcats fans. @Wortho33 had agreed to come back to the Wildcats in 2013.

But, as he says.. the rest is history.

Full Rewind podcast with Mark Worthington ?
Watch: https://t.co/1fMGAK7DWw
Listen: https://t.co/g327OUZf4h pic.twitter.com/AISEvpBgYS

— NBL (@NBL) September 4, 2020

Last playing in 2017 with the Cairns Taipans in a Semi-Finals loss, Worthington will bring a wealth of experience and one of the greatest resumes in Australian basketball to the Tigers. 

“I’m happy to be back playing high-level basketball. I’m hoping to help the younger guys by passing on my knowledge, as well as being a supportive teammate,” Worthington said. 

“Excited and grateful to be playing, and look forward to the challenges ahead.”

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Coach Adam Nener is equally as excited to have Worthington back on the court. 

“The opportunity to bring someone of Mark’s calibre into the club was too good to turn down,” he said.

"His experience, basketball IQ, and leadership will help our program as we look to go deep into the playoffs this year.” 

Worthington was the head coach of the South West Slammers during the 2021 NBL1 West season, famously calling multiple timeouts to allow both teams to watch the Boomers claim bronze in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Worthington now joins Brisbane Bullets player Gorjok Gak for the Willetton Tigers’ men’s squad for the 2023 NBL1 West season. 

The NBL1 West starts on March 31, see the full fixture here.