Nathan Adam Sobey (born 14 July 1990) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Brisbane Bullets of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the University of Wyoming's Cowboys. He was a member of the Australian Boomers team that won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
No. 20 – Brisbane Bullets | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Position | Point guard / Shooting guard | |||||||||||||||||||
League | NBL | |||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
Born | (1990-07-14) 14 July 1990 (age 32) Warrnambool, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Listed height | 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) | |||||||||||||||||||
Listed weight | 82 kg (181 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||
Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||
High school |
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College |
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NBA draft | 2014 / Undrafted | |||||||||||||||||||
Playing career | 2010–present | |||||||||||||||||||
Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | Warrnambool Seahawks | |||||||||||||||||||
2014 | Ballarat Miners | |||||||||||||||||||
2014–2015 | Cairns Taipans | |||||||||||||||||||
2015 | Cairns Marlins | |||||||||||||||||||
2015–2019 | Adelaide 36ers | |||||||||||||||||||
2016 | Warrnambool Seahawks | |||||||||||||||||||
2017 | PAOK | |||||||||||||||||||
2018 | Warrnambool Seahawks | |||||||||||||||||||
2019 | SIG Strasbourg | |||||||||||||||||||
2019–present | Brisbane Bullets | |||||||||||||||||||
2020–2021 | Ipswich Force | |||||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Sobey was born in Warrnambool, Victoria.[1] He attended Emmanuel College in Warrnambool[2] and St Patrick's College in Ballarat.[3] He is listed by Emmanuel College as being a member of their Class of 2008,[2][4][5] but sources also indicate he attended and represented St Patrick's College in 2008.[3][6][7] In 2010, he played for the Warrnambool Seahawks in the Big V Division One.[8]
Sobey moved to the United States in 2010 to play college basketball for Cochise College. During his freshman season, he averaged 7.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists.[1] As a sophomore in 2011–12, Sobey averaged 16.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He earned First-Team All-Conference and First-Team All-Region honors.[1]
In April 2012, Sobey signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Wyoming in the NCAA Division I.[9]
As a junior in 2012–13, Sobey appeared in 32 games for the Cowboys and averaged 3.5 points and 1.0 rebounds in 13.3 minutes per game.[1] On 26 February 2013 against Air Force, he scored a season-high 22 points in a career-high 31 minutes.[1]
As a senior in 2013–14, Sobey was one of two Cowboys to start all 33 games. He averaged 9.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 30.2 minutes per game.[1] He scored a career-high 33 points to go with four rebounds and three assists against Colorado State on 8 March 2014.[1]
Sobey joined the Ballarat Miners of the semi-pro South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL), the 2nd-tier level club league in Australia, in 2014.[10] He began his full professional career in the 2014–15 season, with the Cairns Taipans of Australia's top-tier level National Basketball League (NBL). He then moved to the Australian club, the Adelaide 36ers, after he signed a 3 year contract with the them.[11]
He then spent the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons with Adelaide. In the 2016–17 NBL season, with the 36ers, he averaged 15.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He was named the NBL's Most Improved Player in 2017.[12] He was also named to the All-NBL Second Team that season.[13]
In 2016, Sobey led the Warrnambool Seahawks to the Big V Division One championship. He was named league MVP and Finals MVP, and led the league in both points (31ppg) and assists (6apg).[14][15] He played for the Seahawks again in 2018.[16]
He joined Greek Basket League club PAOK in March 2017.[17][18] He extended his contract with the Adelaide 36ers for another two years in April 2017.[19]
Sobey was invited to the Utah Jazz's free agent mini camp in June 2017, and his performance impressed the team's coaching staff. He then signed to play with the Jazz's summer league team at the 2017 NBA Summer League.
On 5 April 2019, Sobey signed with the Brisbane Bullets on a three-year deal.[20]
On 27 April 2022, Sobey re-signed with the Bullets on a three-year deal.[21]
In 2018, Sobey won gold with the Australian Boomers at the Commonwealth Games. The following year he played for the Boomers at the FIBA World Cup.[22]
At the 2019 Australian Basketball Hall of Fame awards night, Sobey was recognised alongside Nick Kay with the 2019 Gaze Family Medal for performances at the World Cup Qualifiers and the Commonwealth Games.[23]
In February 2021, Sobey was named in the Boomers' Olympic squad.[24] He went on to help the Boomers win the bronze medal.[25]
Sobey has two brothers.[1] Sobey was married in 2018.[16]
...with Commonwealth Games Basketball Gold Medallist and member of the Emmanuel College Class of 2008 - Nathan Sobey.
Two members of the class of 2008 Australian basketball player Nathan Sobey...
The 26-year-old has spent the off-season with his home-town Warrnambool Seahawks in the Victorian state league, dominating to the tune of 31 points and 6 assists per game.
Sobey will remain in Warrnambool until May 22 before jetting to America for his June 4 wedding.
Brisbane Bullets current roster | |
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NBL Most Improved Player Award | |
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Australia men's basketball squad – 2020 Summer Olympics – Bronze medal | ||
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