Andrew Gaze makes history as first basketballer to earn Legend Status in Sports Australia Hall of Fame

Jed Wells

Andrew Gaze makes history as first basketballer to earn Legend Status in Sports Australia Hall of Fame  image

Andrew Gaze has made history throughout his basketball career, and he has done so once again, following his elevation to Legend Status in the Sports Australia Hall of Fame.

The 60-year-old has become the first basketball player to ever be awarded this honour, and just the 53rd Aussie athlete to be elevated in this way 20 years after he was initially inducted. 

His elevation to Legend Status recognises Gaze's role as a true icon of Australian basketball, both as a player, coach, and now media member and ambassador. 

Andrew Gaze earns Legend Status in Sports Australia Hall of Fame 

Andrew Gaze is the first basketball player to recieve Legend Status in the Sports Australia Hall of Fame, announced by the HOF Monday. 

After he was inducted in 2005, Gaze has now gone one step further, an honour that he has dedicated to his father and fellow HOF member Lindsay Gaze. 

"It’s very humbling and came as a big shock of course. To be alongside my Dad (in the Hall of Fame and to now be elevated) is more a credit to him than it is me because if it not for him then I would not have had this opportunity," Gaze said.

"I’m incredibly grateful for him, what he’s done for me as a father but also for his incredible contribution to the sport.

"Growing up, through my Dad, I was educated about the Olympic Games, spirit of competition and the values associated with representing your country at the Olympics along with the spirit of the Games and everything that goes with it.

"Those values were instilled in me at a very early age, so my dream was always to play for Australia and compete at an Olympics."

After 297 games for Australia, as well as a storied NBL career, Gaze is considered one of, if not the greatest Boomer of all time, which has been reflected in this announcement. 

Jed Wells

Jed is a writer and social media producer, who has a keen interest in the intersection of sports and popular culture, especially basketball.