Casey Frank

Casey Frank
No. 43 – Super City Rangers
Position Power forward
League NZNBL
Personal information
Born October 23, 1977
Port Jefferson, New York
Nationality American / New Zealand
Listed height 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight 240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school North (Phoenix, Arizona)
College Northern Arizona (1995–1999)
NBA draft 1999 / Undrafted
Pro career 1999–present
Career history
1999–2000 Paris SG
2001 La Crosse Bobcats
2001–2002 Sallen Basket
2002–2009 Auckland Stars
2003 New Zealand Breakers
2005 West Sydney Razorbacks
2005 New Zealand Breakers
2006–2007 Wollongong Hawks
2007–2009 Gold Coast Blaze
2010–2013 Wellington Saints
2014 New Zealand Breakers
2014 Waikato Pistons
2015–present Super City Rangers
Career highlights and awards
  • 3x NZNBL All-Star five (2005, 2006, 2008)
  • 4x NZNBL champion (2004, 2005, 2010, 2011)
  • 2x First team All-Big Sky Conference (1998, 1999)

Casey Frank (born October 23, 1977) is an American-New Zealand professional basketball player who currently plays for the Super City Rangers of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He played college basketball for Northern Arizona University.

The 2.03 metre tall power forward played professionally in the United States, France and Sweden, before landing at the Auckland Stars in 2002. He helped Auckland to NBL titles in 2004 and 2005, and Wellington Saints in 2010 and 2011. Frank has been Outstanding Forward and selected to the All-Star five three times each. He was an import with the New Zealand Breakers in their debut season until he was cut mid-season, and has also played for the Wollongong Hawks and Gold Coast Blaze in the ANBL, but is now better known as a colour commentator for SKY’s Breakers coverage. Frank debuted for the Tall Blacks in China in 2005 and gained New Zealand citizenship for inclusion in the 2006 Commonwealth Games silver medal team. Eight years later, he remains the Tall Blacks’ sole naturalised player, and has now attended two FIBA World Championships in Japan and Turkey, and a FIBA World Cup in Spain.[1]

Professional career

Frank went undrafted in the 1999 NBA draft. He was tested by different teams in Spain, France and Australia in 1999–2000.[2]

In January 2001, he signed with the La Crosse Bobcats of the CBA.[3] The next month, he was placed on the injured reserve list.[4] In 9 games, he averaged 4.7 points, 5.3 rebounds 1.8 assists per game.[5]

In 2001, he signed with Sallen Basket of Sweden for the 2001–02 season.

In 2002, he joined the Auckland Stars of the New Zealand NBL where he played 8 seasons, winning 2 championships (2004 & 2005) and many individual awards. In 2006, he gained New Zealand citizenship, allowing him to play for the Tall Blacks and as a Kiwi in the NZNBL and the ANBL.[2]

In mid-2003, he signed with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian NBL for the club's debut season. In November 2003, after 12 games, he was released by the Breakers.

On September 5, 2005, he signed with the West Sydney Razorbacks of the Australian NBL as an injury-replacement for Nick Horvath.[6] Later that month, he left the Razorbacks after just 3 games. In November 2005, he re-joined the New Zealand Breakers as an injury-replacement, but had to be let go after just 2 games due to the return of Adrian Majstrovich from injury.[7]

In March 2006, he signed a two-year deal with the Wollongong Hawks of the Australian NBL.[8] He finished his first full season in the ANBL, playing 33 games and averaging 11.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.

In April 2007, he signed with the Gold Coast Blaze.[9][10] In November 2009, he re-signed with the Blaze as a short-term injury replacement for Greg Vanderjagt.[11] He left the Blaze after three games.

In early 2010, he signed with the Wellington Saints for the 2010 New Zealand NBL season. In February 2011, he re-signed with the Saints for the 2011 season.[12]

In January 2012, he again re-signed with the Saints for the 2012 New Zealand NBL season.[13]

In October 2012, he again re-signed with the Saints for the 2013 New Zealand NBL season.[14]

On 8 January 2014, Frank signed with the New Zealand Breakers as an injury replacement for Alex Pledger.[15][16] On 10 January 2014, in his first game for the Breakers, Frank recorded 9 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in just under 16 minutes playing time in a 93-87 win over the Melbourne Tigers. On 17 January 2014, in his second game for the Breakers, Frank recorded 3 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist in a 72-97 loss to the Perth Wildcats. In the loss, he lasted just over seven minutes before fouling out in club record time.[17][18]

On 11 February 2014, Frank signed with the Waikato Pistons for the 2014 New Zealand NBL season, joining his former Saints coach, Pero Cameron, at the Pistons.[19][20]

On 13 February 2015, Frank signed with the Super City Rangers for the 2015 New Zealand NBL season.[21][22]

Personal

Frank's partner is South African-born actress, Mia Pistorius.[23] The pair have been together since 2002 when Frank first arrived in New Zealand.[24]

In August 2013, Frank graduated with a Master of Business Administration (MBA).[17]

In 2015, Frank played the role of a villain in the Bollywood film Mohenjo Daro starring Hrithik Roshan.[22]

References

External links