Former Melbourne Tigers champion Lanard Copeland will be inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame on May 10, along with several others; (including past Tiger’s WNBL player Allison Tranquilli, nee Cook). The US native, who now resides permanently in Australia, played 14 of his 17 NBL seasons with the Tigers and has left a lasting legacy.
Over his 14 seasons at the Tigers, Copeland averaged over 21 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds per game and is currently ranked fifth all time in total NBL points. Additionally, he was a two time NBL champion with the Tigers including a grand final MVP in 1997, a 7 time NBL all star and a two time All-NBL first team player. Copeland is not only a Tigers legend but one of the greatest NBL players of all time. It is therefore only fitting that he is elevated to hall of fame status, despite not being Australian born.
The lasting impact that Lanard Copeland left on basketball in Australia is still going today, with Copeland recently serving as an assistant coach for the Sydney Kings, as well as currently working with emerging, young Australian basketballers at the Australian College of Basketball.
Lanard will join other Melbourne Tiger’s legends in Lindsay Gaze (as coach 2004), Andrew Gaze (2004), Mark Bradtke (2013), Ray Tomlinson (as coach 2006) and Betty Watson (as contributor, 2006).
This Sunday, 12th May, Lanard Copeland will be honoured at the NBL1 Tigers Men’s game which starts at 3pm in the MSAC show courts – Tiger’s NBL1 Women tip-off at 1pm. Come along and show your appreciation to Lanard for the many highlights that he provided Tiger’s fans over the years!