| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1976-12-21)21 December 1976 (age 48) Dunedin,Otago, New Zealand |
| Nationality | New Zealand / Australian |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Logan Park (Dunedin, New Zealand) |
| College | UNLV (1996–2000) |
| NBA draft | 2000:undrafted |
| Playing career | 1993–2014 |
| Position | Point guard |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1993–1996 | Otago Nuggets |
| 1998 | Wellington Saints |
| 2000 | North Harbour Kings |
| 2000–2002 | Victoria Titans |
| 2002 | Wellington Saints |
| 2002–2003 | Fenerbahçe |
| 2003 | Otago Nuggets |
| 2003 | Telindus Oostende |
| 2004 | Fenerbahçe |
| 2004–2005 | Erdemirspor Belediyesi |
| 2005–2006 | Lokomotiv Rostov |
| 2006–2007 | WTK Anwil Włocławek |
| 2007 | Maroussi B.C. |
| 2007–2008 | Brose Baskets Bamberg |
| 2008 | Mutlu Akü |
| 2009–2010 | Trikala 2000 B.C. |
| 2010–2011 | Sydney Kings |
| 2011 | Southland Sharks |
| 2012–2014 | Otago Nuggets |
| As coach: | |
| 2015–2018 | Canterbury Rams |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Mark Robert Dickel (born 21 December 1976) is a former professional basketball player and coach in New Zealand-Australian.
Dickel attendedLogan Park High School inDunedin, New Zealand.[1] In 1993, he joined the Otago Nuggets of the New ZealandNational Basketball League and played there until 1996, when he left for college in the United States.
In 1998, off-season, following the conclusion of his sophomore season, Dickel joined the Wellington Saints for the 1998 New Zealand NBL season.
Dickel playedcollege basketball at theUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas, from 1996 to 2000, tying for the team lead in assists his freshman year of 1996–97 and leading the team in that category in his remaining three seasons. In his senior year of 1999–2000, his 9.0 assists per game ledNCAADivision I men's basketball, and he finished his career third on the school's all-time list for total assists. In 2000, Dickel was named an Associated Press All-American.[2][3]
After going undrafted in the 2000 NBA draft, Dickel returned to New Zealand and joined theNorth Harbour Kings for the last two games of the 2000 New Zealand NBL season. Later that year, he signed with theVictoria Titans for the2000–01 and 2001–02 NBL seasons. In 2002, he re-joined the Wellington Saints for the 2002 New Zealand NBL season. Later that year, he signed withFenerbahçe of Turkey for the 2002–03 season, where he led the league in assists with 5.6 per game. He then re-joined the Otago Nuggets for the 2003 NZNBL season.
In mid-2003, he signed withTelindus Oostende of Belgium for the 2003–04 season. In December 2003, he left Oostende. In January 2004, he re-joinedFenerbahçe for the rest of the 2003–04 season.
In mid-2004, he signed withErdemirspor of Turkey for the 2004–05 season. In 24 games, he averaged 19.3ppg, 4.1rpg, and 8.7apg.
In 2005, he signed a two-year deal withLokomotiv Rostov of Russia.[4]
In August 2006, Dickel returned a positive drug test for cannabis use and was suspended by Basketball New Zealand for two matches againstQatar.FIBA imposed an additional 10-day suspension, meaning Dickel missed the first three matches of the2006 FIBA World Championship.[5] The suspension subsequently made Lokomotiv terminate the second year of his two-year contract, and in September 2006, he signed withWTK Anwil Włocławek of Poland for the 2006–07 season.[4] In January 2007, he left Włocławek and signed withMaroussi B.C. of Greece. However, after just one game, he was forced to leave after a season-ending back injury.
In July 2007, Dickel signed with reigning GermanBBL championsBrose Baskets Bamberg.[6] In January 2008, Dickel left Brose Baskets Bamberg following the end of Euroleague play and returned to Turkey, signing withSelçuk Üniversitesi BK for the rest of the 2007–08 season.[7]
In January 2009, Dickel signed with theTrikala 2000 B.C. of Greece for the rest of the 2008–09 season. In 14 games, he averaged 7.1 points per game to help Trikala avoid relegation.[8]
In December 2009, Dickel re-signed with Trikala for the rest of the 2009–10 season.[9]
In November 2010, Dickel signed with theSouthland Sharks for the2011 New Zealand NBL season, which saw him play under his brother,Richard.[10]
In December 2010, Dickel signed with theSydney Kings for the rest of the2010–11 NBL season.[11] His debut with the Kings was delayed until 8 January 2011 due to a calf injury. On 30 January 2011, he tore his calf in the final quarter of a 94–91 away loss to the Gold Coast Blaze.[12] He returned on 6 March 2011 and played a further five games.[13]
In September 2011, Dickel signed a two-year deal with theOtago Nuggets. He also took up the role of Basketball Otago's director of development.[14] In January 2014, he was appointed player-coach of the Nuggets for the2014 season.[15]
Dickel was the head coach of theAlbania national team from 2010 to 2011.[16]
On 15 August 2014, Dickel was named the head coach of theCanterbury Rams, effectively ending his 21-year playing career after signing a two-year deal with the club.[17] Dickel and his Mainland Eagles' staff coaches were able to facilitate US basketball scholarships to 10 players. On 29 April 2016, he signed a four-year contract extension with the club.[18]
Following the 2018 season, he left the Rams and joined thePBA'sTNT KaTropa coaching staff[19]
In January 2020, Dickel was named interim coach of thePhilippine national team for the first window of the2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.[20]
Dickel was first selected for theNew Zealand national basketball team in 1994. In 1995, he was both junior and senior Tall Blacks player of the year. In 1997, he played in the World Under 23 championships in Melbourne and averaged 16 points and 6 assists, being recognised as a top-five player at the tournament.
He represented New Zealand in the2000 Sydney Olympics and the2004 Athens Olympics. He played in the2002 FIBA World Championship, finishing the tournament ranked third in assists per game. Due to a drug suspension, he played only two matches in the2006 FIBA World Championship.[5]
Dickel played for the Tall Blacks for more than 100 games.[21]
Dickel and his wife Ashley have three children: Jalen, Madden, and Boston.[22]
Dickel's father,Carl, playedfirst-class cricket forOtago and was theNew Zealand women's national basketball team head coach for 10 years and coached the Otago Nuggets for four years from 1994 to 1997.[23] Dickel's brother,Richard, is a basketball coach and has coached in New Zealand and Australia. Dickel's nephew, Luke Aston, also plays in the New Zealand NBL.[24]
