Andrew Gaze AM - 2002 VU Sport Hall of Fame inductee

Andrew Gaze AM is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players Australia has produced and holds a special place in Victoria University history as the inaugural inductee into the VU Sport Hall of Fame.

Born in Melbourne in 1965, Andrew grew up immersed in basketball at Albert Park Stadium, where his father Lindsay served as general manager. His talent quickly became evident and, at just 18, he joined the Melbourne Tigers in the National Basketball League.

Andrew won NBL Rookie of the Year in 1984 after averaging 29 points per game. Over the next 22 seasons he built one of the most remarkable careers in league history. He became the NBL’s all-time leading scorer with 18,908 points, won seven MVP awards, secured 14 scoring titles and was selected in the All-NBL First Team for 15 consecutive years.

He led the Melbourne Tigers to NBL championships in 1993 and 1997 and became one of the most recognisable figures in Australian sport.

Internationally, Andrew represented Australia with distinction. He competed at five Olympic Games, carried the Australian flag at the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics and played 297 games for the Boomers. He remains one of the highest-scoring players in Olympic and FIBA World Cup history.

His professional career also included playing in Italy and Greece, as well as a stint in the NBA where he was part of the San Antonio Spurs’ 1999 championship team.

Following retirement, Andrew moved into coaching and media, serving as head coach of the Sydney Kings and Melbourne Tigers and becoming a popular basketball commentator and ambassador for the sport.

His induction as the first member of the Victoria University Sport Hall of Fame recognises a career defined by extraordinary achievement and lasting influence on Australian basketball.