Dual Olympian Mark Worthington to be inducted into Basketball WA Hall of Fame

Craig O'DonoghueThe West Australian
Camera IconMark Worthington will be inducted into the Basketball WA Hall of Fame. Credit: Simon Santi/The West Australian

There’s an irony that it’s taken retirement for Mark Worthington to understand how much he is loved in WA.

A dual Olympian, Commonwealth Games gold medallist, NBL championship winner and four-time All-NBL First Team selection, Worthington played his entire professional career outside of Perth and became public enemy number one whenever he returned home.

But there was no doubting the genuine respect he had in this state when he walked off RAC Arena after his final NBL game for Cairns Taipans to a standing ovation from Perth Wildcats fans and his name being chanting throughout the stadium.

That respect and admiration will again be evident on Saturday night when he is inducted in the Basketball WA Hall of Fame.

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“I think I had a love-hate relationship with a lot of fan bases,” Worthington laughed.

“My dad said to me in my first year playing professionally that the day they stop booing me is the day I should retire, because booing means I’m doing something good for my team. I always kept that message in my head.

“It was good entertainment while I was playing. I did get a kick out of it.

Camera IconMark Worthington had an outstanding career but never got the chance to play professionally in his home state. Credit: Simon Santi/The West Australian

“I still believe I had the greatest send of in NBL history. I wasn’t sure how it would play out on the night because we were trying to win a final. But, once the game was over, it was surreal that a fan base I never played for showed me so much support.

“This Saturday will be my chance to address my appreciation for all the people over here.”

Worthington’s outstanding career made him a man in demand. Having grown up in Australind, he played for the Bunbury Slammers before earning an opportunity play college basketball in the US.

Then his NBL career saw him win a championship with South Dragons and also play for the Sydney Kings, Melbourne Tigers, Gold Coast Blaze, Melbourne United and Cairns Taipans throughout more than 300 matches. Along the way he won a title in Germany and also played in Puerto Rico and Serbia.

Camera IconMark Worthington’s love-hate relationship with fans became pure adulation upon retirement. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

But it was his time wearing the green and gold which Worthington holds closest to his heart.

His passion for the Boomers was on show for everyone to see last year when he called back-to-back time-outs while coaching a NBL1 West game so his players could witness the historic finals moments of Australia winning the bronze medal at the Olympics.

“To me, playing for Australia was the greatest honour you could have,” Worthington said.

Camera IconMark Worthington loved playing for Australia. Credit: Mal Fairclough MXF/WA News

“Whether it was an exhibition game or at the Olympics, playing for Australia was the greatest thing you could do. Having the opportunity to do that for over a decade was really special for me.

“I love the Boomers culture. It brought me to tears seeing them win a bronze medal because I was so happy for the journey of guys like Patty Mills and Joe Ingles. Playing for the Boomers meant everything to me.

“So when we had the NBL1 game, one of the commentators had the game going on his phone and he told me what was going on because he knew what it meant to me. That was why I called those time-outs. I wanted the players to experience that moment and what it meant. I started crying.”

Camera IconMark Worthington competing against LeBron James at the Olympics. Credit: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

Being part of the second year of Hall of Fame inductees will also be an emotional occasion. Worthington said it was still difficult to fathom joining players such as Luc Longley, Andrew Vlahov and Mike Ellis, along wit this year’s other inductees Melissa Marsh and Justin Everson.

“I’m really not sure how my emotions will be on Saturday. So many people have helped me. I’m really humbled,” Worthington said.

“Luc and Andrew were my idols. They were the two people I looked up to most as a junior.

“And there’s Mike Ellis too. I was a massive Wildcats fan, so it was all about Mike and Andrew doing their thing. Being part of that group now is surreal for me. I’m not sure how to even take it.

“I’m a kid from Bunbury. But it does feel like I helped to open the world up for country kids to know that if you put your head down and went to work, anything is possible.”

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