Timms first came to prominence in the 1980’s as a driving force behind the Nunawading Spectres dynasty that dominated the WNBL’s first decade as she helped them win a record four consecutive titles from 1986-89.
The guard went on to amass an incredible career in the WNBL, totalling 285 games while also playing for the Bulleen Boomers, Sydney Uni and Perth Breakers with which she won another Championship in 1992.
Named in the All-WNBL team seven times (1988-92, 94, 96), Timms sits third for all-time assists, third for steals, third for three-pointers made, eighth for finals games played and 12th for total points scored.
During that WNBL career, Timms became a trailblazer on the international scene when she signed with German basketball club, Lotus Munchen in the 1989 off-season, becoming the first Australian basketballer to play overseas as a professional.
She also had a distinguished career in the WNBA with the Phoenix Mercury, retiring as the club’s assist leader and her number 7 jersey became the first ever retired by the club in 2002.
Her performances on the court led Timms to be named the International Women’s Player of the Year twice in 1994 and 1996.
While her accomplishments in the WNBL and overseas are outstanding, Timms was never better than when she played for the Australian Opals.
She first represented her nation at the 1986 World Championships, her first of four World Champ campaigns (1990, 94 and 98 when she won a bronze medal in Germany) before she debuted at the Olympics in 1992.
Timms was then a part of the historic 1996 Opals squad, the first Australian national team to win a medal when they defeated Ukraine in the bronze medal game.
The guard led Australia in scoring for the tournament with 15 points per game and finished seventh overall in steals with more than two per game in a dominant all-around performance.
Four years later, she moved into the captain’s role and led the Opals to their best ever result in front of a home crowd, winning the silver medal at the Sydney Olympics.
Advancing to the final undefeated, Australia fell by 22 points to the USA but Timms ensured Australian women’s basketball was put on the map in what proved to be her swan song to the international game.
Once the body gave out, Timms transitioned into coaching where amongst several overseas stints, including time as an assistant coach with the Chinese national women’s basketball team, she became the first female assistant coach hired by an NBL club, working for the South Dragons.
Timms’ appointment as a Basketball Australia legend follows her induction into the Hall of Fame in 2006 and her Sport Australia Hall of Fame induction in 2003 while earlier this year, the superstar also became the first female Australian player to be inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame.
The 2016 Australian Basketball Hall of Fame Class:
ATHLETES
Perry Crosswhite AM
Jean Forster
Liesl Tesch AM
Jenny Whittle
COACH
Patrick Hunt AM
CONTRIBUTORS
Ron Harvey CVO AM
Ken Watson BEM
LEGEND
Michele Timms
