Who remembers Ray Borner?
Posted by Ashley Proud on November 15, 2008
How could any basketball fan from the 80’s and 90’s forget Ray Borner? For those who don’t know, Ray Borner was a institution on the Australian basketball scene and played 518 games over 22 years in the NBL. He also represented Australia in four Olympic Games (84, 88, 92 and 96) and various world championships (82, 86, 90 and 94). Ray grew up in Ballart and since that he was the perfect combination for Australian basketball players (big and talented) he represented Australia on many different occasions throughout his junior career as well. For a full analysis of his olympic career click here.
When he was named league MVP in 1985, he became the first-ever Australian to win the award in a major breakthrough for local basketballers. He won an NBL title in 1989 with North Melbourne and was a five-time NBL All-Star (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995). When he joined North Melbourne from Illawara, he was the final piece to the championship puzzle for coach Bruce Palmer. I still remember reading a story about how Ray had a knee injury and he had to be driven from NSW to Victoria in the back of the car. I was a huge Giants fan in the late 80’s and was right into the whole Scott Fisher / Tim Dillion (god that guy was good!) thing. Borner was the final piece to the puzzle that lead us to the promised land and he helped us defeat the evil empire of the Canberra Cannons and their huge monster centre Willie Simmons.
Obviously he started to slow down later in his career but he coached Ballarat in the SEABL. I remeber that there was a bit of controversy when he left and this article indicates that. He is still involved in the Big V as a board member along with another legend (Larry Sengstock). If you are keen you can still get his playing card which is exciting to say the least!
My friend Grandmaster Funk from League 4 FNBL fame, thinks that Ray Borner looks like Alf Stewart from Home and Away. You be the judge:
