Scott Davie 

Born Theodore Lisle Scott Davie on 15 February 1940, Scott Davie is a living legend of the South Adelaide Basketball Club. His legacy to the sport in general means his imminent induction into the Basketball SA Hall of Fame long has been a foregone conclusion.

Launching his career as a high-scoring and energetic guard with Grange Christian Centre in 1951 in the Uniting Church Basketball Association, Scott remained true to his church basketball roots well after his many successes at state and international level with South Adelaide, South Australia and Australia.

By 1957, Scott was playing at South Adelaide, elevated to the club’s top team in 1958 where his illustrious career with the Panthers would yield a (then) record 583 senior (or district) games, a record only surpassed by Hall of Famer and South teammate Michael Ahmatt with 588.

Scott is second too in career points scoring 6,349 points as a Panther, behind Hall of Fame legend Werner Linde.

As South Adelaide captain from 1962 to 1972 – including a year as playing-coach in 1970 – he led the club through its “golden era” which included winning a record 52 consecutive matches from 1962.

Scott was instrumental in South Adelaide’s breakthrough inaugural championship in 1963 and subsequent state championship wins in 1965, 1966, 1969 and 1973 before his retirement.

Selected 10 times from 1959 to 1969, to represent South Australia at National States Championships, Scott was a key player in SA winning titles in 1959, 1960, 1963, 1964 and 1965 – five championships in a 10-year period.

He was South Australia’s captain in its 1965, 1966 and 1968 campaigns.

His performances at the 1964 Australian championship saw him selected for the Boomers’ landmark 1964 team which competed at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

It was no easy ride either as Australia’s part-timers won their way through the pre-Olympic qualifying tournament, then finished a very credible ninth at the Olympics.

Additionally winning the Church of Christ Association’s best and fairest player award five times. Scott coached multiple Church Basketball teams, fostering the talents of South Australia’s youth, including fellow Hall of Famer and Olympian Darryl Pearce.

Post-playing days, Scott stayed involved at the highest levels as team chaplain of the Adelaide 36ers’ NBL team from 1992 to 2006.

South Adelaide retired his famous #5 uniform in honour of his extraordinary service and contribution to his beloved Panthers club and when the famed Apollo Stadium closed its doors after being Australia’s premier basketball venue from 1969 to 1992, Scott Davie was named in the top 10 men’s players to ever compete at the historic venue.