Ben Madgen (born 7 February 1985) is an Australian former professional basketball player.

Ben Madgen
Personal information
Born (1985-02-07) 7 February 1985 (age 39)
Williamstown, South Australia
NationalityAustralian
Listed height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Listed weight92 kg (203 lb)
Career information
High schoolFaith Lutheran College
(Tanunda, South Australia)
CollegeAugusta (2006–2010)
NBA draft2010: undrafted
Playing career2005–2020
PositionShooting guard / small forward
Career history
2005–2007Eastern Mavericks
2010–2011Eastern Mavericks
2010–2015Sydney Kings
2015–2016Verviers-Pepinster
2016–2017Lietkabelis Panevėžys
2017–2018Lietuvos rytas Vilnius
2018–2019Crailsheim Merlins
2019–2020South East Melbourne Phoenix
Career highlights and awards

Early life and career edit

Born in Williamstown, South Australia, Madgen played basketball at Faith Lutheran College[1] in Tanunda, South Australia and was a member of the 2002 state championship winning team.[2] In 2005, he debuted in the Central ABL for the Eastern Mavericks. For the 2005–06 NBL season, he was a member of the Adelaide 36ers as a development player, but did not play. He re-joined the Mavericks for the 2006 season and then had a short stint again with the Mavericks in 2007.[3] He also played for the Mavericks in 2010 and 2011.[3]

College career edit

Madgen played four years of college basketball for Augusta State University from 2006 to 2010. Upon completing his college career in 2010, he was the all-time leading scorer for the Jaguars and the Peach Belt Conference with 2,306 points.[4] On 3 March 2010, his No. 1 jersey was retired, becoming the only active Jaguars player to have his jersey retired.[5]

Professional career edit

Sydney Kings edit

Madgen signed with the Sydney Kings for the 2010–11 NBL season and won the NBL Rookie of the Year.[6][7] In 2012–13, Madgen was named the NBL Most Improved Player and earned All-NBL First Team honours.[8] He led the NBL in scoring in 2012–13 with 17.9 points per game.[9][10]

On 10 October 2013, Madgen was named in the Sydney Kings 25th Anniversary Team.[11]

On 20 March 2014, Madgen re-signed with the Kings on a two-year deal.[12] On 15 May 2015, he exercised an option in his contract in order to leave the club and pursue playing opportunities in Europe.[13]

Belgium edit

On 14 August 2015, Madgen signed with VOO Wolves Verviers-Pepinster of Belgium for the 2015–16 season.[14] In 30 games, he averaged 19.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Lithuania edit

On 18 August 2016, Madgen signed with Lietkabelis Panevėžys of the Lithuanian League.[15] He helped Lietkabelis reach the LKL finals and the Lithuanian Cup final, losing in both to BC Žalgiris.

On 17 June 2017, Madgen signed with Lietuvos rytas, returning to Lithuania for a second stint.[16] Madgen once again played in the LKL finals and the Cup final, but once again lost both to Žalgiris.

Germany edit

In August 2018, Madgen signed with the Crailsheim Merlins of the Basketball Bundesliga.[17] He was the leading scorer and rebounder for the Merlins.[18]

South East Melbourne Phoenix edit

On 19 February 2019, Madgen signed with the South East Melbourne Phoenix, a franchise entering the NBL for the 2019–20 season.[19]

On 13 July 2020, Madgen announced his retirement from playing basketball to focus on his family.[20]

National team career edit

After being selected in the Boomers squad for the Sino-Australia Challenge against China in June 2013,[21] Madgen sustained a right ankle subtalar dislocation during training only a day after game one of the four-game series.[22]

Personal edit

Madgen is the son of Gene and Deborah Madgen, and has a brother, Jack, and two sisters, Carly and Tess. His brother Jack originally played basketball before switching to football.[23][24] His sister Tess also plays basketball.[25]

In May 2014, Madgen married Bria Kirk.[26]

In 2014, Madgen was studying a Master of Business Administration.[25]

In 2021, after receiving his second Pfizer vaccine, he was diagnosed with pericarditis.[18][27]

In March 2022, Madgen joined the Sydney Comets as their development manager[28] and was later appointed the club's CEO.[29][30] He remained in the CEO role as of January 2024.[31]

References edit

  1. ^ "Ben Madgen". aug.edu. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  2. ^ SA High School Winning Schools
  3. ^ a b "Ben Madgen". australiabasket.com. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  4. ^ Gay, Chris (17 May 2010). "Augusta State's Madgen reflects on college career". chronicle.augusta.com. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  5. ^ "Jaguars in the Pros". jaguarsroar.com. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  6. ^ NBL Rookie of the year – andthefoul.net
  7. ^ Co-captain Ben Madgen rising to Kings' challenge
  8. ^ "NBL Award Winners". Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  9. ^ "Madgen becomes latest signing for new SE Melbourne Phoenix". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 February 2019. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022.
  10. ^ NBL leading scorer Ben Madgen joins Melbourne Phoenix
  11. ^ Sydney Kings 25th anniversary team honour heals the wounds for Shane
  12. ^ Sydney re-sign Madgen, Garlepp
  13. ^ MADGEN TO PURSUE EUROPE
  14. ^ Verviers-Pepinster signs Ben Madgen and Darrell Williams
  15. ^ Ben Madgen inks with KK Lietkabelis
  16. ^ "Lietuvos Rytas inks Ben Madgen". Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  17. ^ Ben Madgen moves to Germany, signs with Crailsheim Merlins
  18. ^ a b Chung, Frank (6 December 2021). "NBL star Ben Madgen diagnosed with pericarditis after Pfizer vaccine". news.com.au. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  19. ^ "South East Melbourne Sign Ben Madgen". NBL.com.au. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  20. ^ "Ben Madgen Announces Retirement". NBL. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  21. ^ BOOMERS TEAM NAMED FOR SINO-AUSTRALIA CHALLENGE
  22. ^ Boomers star Ben Madgen out of China series with ankle injury
  23. ^ 14 Jack Madgen
  24. ^ Jack Madgen – collingwoodfc.com.au
  25. ^ a b Take 40: Ben Madgen
  26. ^ Kings wed their Queens
  27. ^ "Ben Madgen on Twitter". Twitter. 5 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  28. ^ "Ben Madgen Joins the Sydney Comets". sydneybasketball.com.au. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  29. ^ "FOUR CLUBS JOIN THE NBL1 EAST". NBL1.com.au. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  30. ^ "Madgen reignites Sydney hoops". NBL1.com.au. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  31. ^ "NBL champion returns home to Sydney". NBL1.com.au. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.

External links edit