"The Birdman" Larry Abney played 122 NBL games with Townsville and Cairns where he averaged 17.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
Born in Nyack, New York he attended Fresno State and played beside cult basketball figures Rafer "Skip To My Lou" of AND1 basketball fame and Chris Herren, as well as NBL star Willie Farley.
He also played professionally in Korea, France, Venezuela, Cyprus, Netherlands, Argentina, Mexico, Ukraine, Kosovo and New Zealand.
In 2017, Abney joined the staff of the Los Angeles Clippers as a player development coach and basketball operations assistant under head coach Glenn "Doc" Rivers
In 2018 alongside childhood friends, former teammates, and fellow Rockland, NY natives Steve Canal and Chester Felts, Abney co-founded Rockland Legacy, an organization that provides support and mentorship to help Rockland County's youth achieve their dreams.
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Topics discussed on the podcast include;
Is the Cairns Taipans season finished this season? (2:00)
Why Mitch Creek won't play for the South East Melbourne Phoenix (4:30)
Matthew Dellavedova's resurgence in Cleveland (6:30)
How did Larry Abney become part of the LA Clippers coaching staff? (13:00)
The LA Clippers long-term plans to become the #1 basketball team in Los Angeles (14:30)
Working with NBA legends like Doc Rivers and Jerry West (17:00)
Playing basketball at Fresno State with Rafer Alston aka "Skip To My Lou", Chris Herren, Willie Farley and Coach Jerry Tarkanian (19:00)
The night Larry hauled in 35 rebounds in a college game, still the current NCAA record (27:00)
NBA attention after college (29:00)
Scary moments playing overseas in countries like Korea, Argentina, Syria and Kosovo (31:00)
Arriving in the NBL with the Townsville Crocodiles (33:00)
NBLxNBA when the Clippers faced the Sydney Kings (37:30)
Returning to the NBL in 2012 and retiring from basketball (40:00)
Playing for the Cairns Taipans and the untold story about why he left Townsville despite them offering him "the biggest contract" ever to Townsville player (41:00)
All of this and a whole lot more...
Listen to our previous interviews with the biggest stars in Australian Basketball, head to Aussiehoopla.com. Check out previous podcasts featuring;
Australian Basketball Legends - Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Mark Bradtke, Leroy Loggins, David Andersen, Andrew Vlahov, CJ Bruton, Chris Anstey, Brett Maher, John Rillie, Tony Ronaldson, Brad Newley
Current NBL Stars - Kevin Lisch, Rotnei Clark, AJ Ogilvy, Damian Martin, Daniel Kickert, Thomas Abercrombie, Jason Cadee, Stephen Holt, Bryce Cotton, Chris Goulding, Mitch McCarron, Cam Gliddon
Our Finest Coaching Minds - Brian Goorjian, Joey Wright, Adrian Hurley, Aaron Fearne, Rob Beveridge, Phil Smyth, Ian Stacker, Shawn Dennis, Dean Vickerman, Trevor Gleeson, Lindsey Gaze, Ken Cole
NBA Stars Past & Present - Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Stephen Jackson, Randy Livingston, Torrey Craig, Acie Earl, Josh Childress, Reggie Smith, Todd Lichti
Aussie Basketballers Abroad - Ryan Broekhoff, Brock Motum, Jack White, Ben Madgen, Clint Stiendl, Ater Majok, Rhys Carter, Clint Stiendl
The NBL's Greatest Imports - Darryl McDonald, Ricky Grace, Derek Rucker, Leon Trimmingham, Scott Fisher, Lanard Copeland, Mike Mitchell, Terry Dozier, Isaac Burton, Shawn Redhage, Willie Farley, Al Green, Corey "Homicide" Williams, Andre Moore, Steve Woodberry
And the men who run things - Larry Kestelman, Vince Crivelli, Jeremy Loeliger, Chuck Harmison, Jeff Van Groningen, Bob Turner
All that and much more. Follow @AussieHoopla on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and email at info@aussiehoopla.com
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