Shane Heal

“Basketball as with many indoor sports uses an incredible amount of energy to keep the stadiums running. I hope that basketball clubs and organisations get on to the S4E website and start developing a plan of attack” 
Shane Heal - Basketball


With two World Championships and four Olympic Games to his name, Shane Heal will long be remembered as one of Australia’s finest athletes.

Renowned for his athleticism and sheer determination on court, Heal played a major role in Australia’s arrival on the international basketball scene.

Heal’s rise to basketball fame dates back to 1988, when the plucky point guard lined up for his first professional season with the Brisbane Bullets, winning NBL Rookie of the Year honours in his debut year.

From there Heal shifted south to the Geelong Supercats, where he stayed for three seasons before making a return to Brisbane. He later went on to represent the Sydney Kings and now plays for the Melbourne-based South Dragons.

Throughout his 19-year career, Heal has risen through the ranks to become one of the most respected and widely recognised athletes on the Australian and international circuits.

In addition to his on-court efforts, Heal made the headlines for going toe-to-toe with NBA legend Charles Barkley in a practice game between Australia and the US Dream Team prior to the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

He again made international news by scoring 28 points against Barkley, Gary Payton and the Dream Team that went on to win the 1996 gold medal.

Following his appearance in Atlanta Heal fielded offers from six NBA teams, and after nine seasons in the NBL became the first Australian to be signed direct out of the local competition by an NBA franchise, the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After two years with the Timberwolves Heal relocated to Greece to represent Near East Athens, before returning to home soil to join Sydney for season 2000/01.

In 2003 he captained the Kings to their first NBL Championship, then announced his retirement from full-time basketball on April 6 of that same year.

Exactly three years to the day since his retirement from the game, Heal announced his return to the floor as captain of the Melbourne-based South Dragons.

Five games into the 2006/07 season Heal stepped into the role of player-coach; in his debut year he averaged 20 points, three boards, five assists and guided the team to a 15-14 win-loss record.