Getting’ Saucy – Broekhoff from NBA to Phoenix

>>Listen to the full episode 4 via Spotify, Apple Podcast and Souncloud

Broekhoff, who was a former Dallas Mavericks’ guard, Australian Boomer and South East Melbourne Phoenix player, joined the Gettin’ Saucy podcast this week to detail the battles he suffered throughout his career. 

A glittered career that included NBA court-time, a starting spot with the national team and countless other accolades succeeded a childhood ravaged by abuse and harrowing stories.

But Broekhoff isn’t one to dwell on the past, he looks well into the future, a future where he hopes children can live happily and freely without mental pain.

>>Listen to the full episode 4 via Spotify, Apple Podcast and Souncloud

Though an open and honest Broekhoff told Alan Williams how being cut from a roster, given false hope by franchises and a time in basketball purgatory led him to withdraw from the Boomers’ 2020 Olympic tilt on mental health grounds.

[The Dallas owners] sat me down and said, ownership's gone different direction. Thank you for your time. It's not against you sort of thing,” Broekhoff told Gettin' Saucy.

“Everything else kind of goes a little bit numb, I kind of took the long drive home and just sort of thought about, okay, what's, what do I do next? And is this sort of the end?”

Being removed from the Mavericks after knocking back an offer with the Philadelphia 76ers, Broekhoff then missed an opportunity with the Houston Rockets, all while COVID-19 was in its early stages across the globe.

It was at this ebb that he opted out of competing at a second-straight Olympic Games.

But it wasn't all gloom and doom with Broekhoff finding him and his family back home in Melbourne and landing at South East Melbourne Phoenix.

"The opportunity to come back here with the Phoenix just seemed like the perfect opportunity to come back home, play, have some stability. Family life was kind of sick of moving around and living in suitcases with a young kid and seeing friends and family.

"And sort of help the Phoenix and help build the basketball in the southeast."

Broekhoff continues to advocate for mental health initiatives and works closely with the Phoenix community programs in retirement.

>>Listen to the full episode 4 via Spotify, Apple Podcast and Souncloud

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