Darryl McDonald

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Darryl McDonald
Position	Guard
Nickname	D-Mac
Height	192cm
Weight	89kg
Team	Melbourne Tigers (NBL)
Nationality	Australia
Born	June 17, 1964 New York, USA
College/University	Texas A&M University
NBL Debut	1994
Previous NBL Clubs	North Melbourne Giants 1994-98 Victoria Titans/Giants 1999-2003
NBL Championships	1994, 2006
Career Highlights	All NBL First Team 1994-96 NBL Good Hands Award 1994-97 NBL All-Star Game MVP 1996, 2006 NBL Best Sixth Man 2004 NBL leader in steals 1994-97, 1999-2001, 2003

Darryl McDonald (born June 17, 1964, New York) is an Australian (born in USA) professional basketball player currently playing in Australia's National Basketball League. He attended Texas A&M University.

Known as "D-Mac", the veteran currently plays for the Melbourne Tigers, and formerly played with the now defunct North Melbourne Giants, Victoria Titans and Victoria Giants. His form has belied his advanced age in the 2005/06 season.

Growing up on the streets of Harlem, McDonald learnt the game on tough New York playground courts such as the famous Rucker Park. Known as 'Mr. Excitement', he battled against New York playground legends such as The Terminator, Master Rob and Pookie Wilson as well as future NBA stars like Rod Strickland and Mario 'The Jedi' Elie. Coach Shelby Metcalf, from Texas A&M University received a tip on D-Mac, despite McDonald having only played one year of organised basketball at Westchester College.

Metcalf ventured up to New York to check out D-Mac and was thoroughly impressed. "He sure was the playground king. People would come out and watch him. He was really a big thing. And he could flat play."

D-Mac's early years in Texas were frustrating for coach Metcalf, as he sometimes had to curb his creative game to learn the team game. His supreme instincts led to many steals with D-Mac filling the passing lanes, however, one-on-one defense was often a problem for him. In 1987, D-Mac led the Aggies to an end of season flurry, and a NCAA tournament berth against Duke. After losing a tough game against Duke, it would take Texas A&M another 19 years before returning to the NCAA tournament.

After playing in the relative obscurity of the CBA, with his flamboyant game never allowing him to make the leap to the NBA, a chance encounter led D-Mac's career Down Under. Brett Brown, at the time coach of the North Melbourne Giants, was watching a tape of a CBA game to scout a different player. As soon as he saw D-Mac, he knew that was the player he wanted. D-Mac led the Giants to the championship in his first year in the league in 1994, as well as leading the league in assists and steals. D-Mac continued to remain in Melbourne, with the Giants merging into the Victoria Titans in 1999 under coach Brian Goorjian, and then becoming a member of the Victoria Giants after the Titans folded in 2002.

After the 2003 season, D-Mac was sacked by the Giants as they decided they wanted to move in a younger direction. The Melbourne Tigers gladly picked him up, and he served as a backup to Andrew Gaze and Lanard Copeland for two seasons. The 2005-06 season saw D-Mac return to the starting lineup, and his play saw many sporting commentators wonder how his 42 year old body was able to sustain his elite level of play and athleticism. D-Mac helped lead the Tigers to the 2006 championship, outclassing many of his younger opponents along the way. He has signed a contract extension which will see him leading the Tigers past his 44th birthday.

He has seven children, with one from a previous marriage, all of whose names start with D. His oldest son is currently playing for the Knox Raiders, and McDonald is hoping that his final seasons will give him an opportunity to play professional basketball with his son, which would be a first in professional basketball.

D-Mac was able to play with his son in the Tiger's pre-season competition, the Singapore Cup.