Mark Worthington

For the British journalist, see Mark Worthington (journalist).
Mark Worthington
No. 33 Cairns Taipans
Position Power forward / Small forward
League NBL
Personal information
Born (1983-06-08) 8 June 1983
Bunbury, Western Australia
Nationality Australian
Listed height 203 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Listed weight 107 kg (236 lb)
Career information
High school Australind Senior
(Australind, Western Australia)
College Metro State (2001–2005)
NBA draft 2005 / Undrafted
Playing career 2005–present
Career history
As player:
2005–2008 Sydney Kings
2008–2009 South Dragons
2009–2010 Melbourne Tigers
2010 Brose Baskets
2010–2012 Gold Coast Blaze
2011 Mets de Guaynabo
2011 Piratas de Quebradillas
2012–2013 Radnički Kragujevac
2013–2015 Melbourne Tigers/United
2015–present Cairns Taipans
As coach:
2016–present Cairns Dolphins
Career highlights and awards

Mark Worthington (born 8 June 1983) is an Australian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Cairns Taipans of the National Basketball League (NBL).

On 10 October 2013, Worthington was named in the Sydney Kings 25th Anniversary Team.[1]

College career

Worthington played college basketball at the Metropolitan State College of Denver under coach Mike Dunlap from 2001 to 2005. He won the NABC Division II Player of the Year award in 2004–05.

Professional career

After a standout career at Metro State, Worthington made his debut with the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League, winning the NBL Rookie of the Year award in 2005–06. He played three seasons with the Kings, before signing with the South Dragons for the 2008–09 season. The Dragons went on to win the 2009 NBL championship. However, the Dragons folded following 2008–09, and Worthington signed with the Melbourne Tigers for the 2009–10 season.

Following the conclusion of the 2009–10 NBL season, he signed with Brose Baskets of Germany for the remainder of the 2009–10 BBL season.[2]

In September 2010, he signed with the Gold Coast Blaze for the 2010–11 season. Following the NBL season, he joined Mets de Guaynabo of Puerto Rico, before switching to Piratas de Quebradillas in May 2011, before returning to the Blaze for the 2011–12 season.

In July 2012, Worthington signed with Serbian team Radnički Kragujevac.[3] He suffered a season-ending injury in December 2012, forcing him to eventually leave Kragujevac in February 2013.[4] He played 14 games, averaging 10.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

On 18 July 2013, Worthington signed with the Melbourne Tigers, returning to the club for a second stint.[5] In May 2014, the Tigers changed their name to United.

On 7 July 2015, Worthington signed a two-year deal with the Cairns Taipans.[6] On 13 January 2016, he played his 300th NBL game.[7]

National team career

Worthington made his debut for the Australian national team in 2005 at the FIBA Oceania Championship. He has since played for them at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, and four years later in London, as well as at the FIBA World Championship in 2006 and 2010.

Coaching career

In February 2016, Worthington was appointed head coach of QBL women's side, the Cairns Dolphins.[8]

Personal

Worthington's father, Greg, is a basketball coach who has been involved with the South West Slammers. His brother, Trent, is also involved with the Slammers as he plays for the senior SBL team.[9]

Worthington and his wife, Andrea, have two sons, Taz and Axel.[10]

In August 2012, it was announced that Worthington was considering a switch to play Australian rules football for the West Coast Eagles. His uncle, Kevin Worthington played for the Collingwood, Claremont and Perth football clubs in the 1970s and 1980s.[11]

References

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