Madgen Reflects on Phoenix Journey

Retiring NBL star Ben Madgen has reflected on his time at the South East Melbourne Phoenix, where he spent the final year of his basketball career.

In an entertaining chat on former Phoenix teammate Adam Gibson’s podcast, Gibbo Goes One on One, the 35-year-old spoke glowingly on his time at the club during its inaugural season.

(Madgen played a key role as starting shooting guard at the Phoenix)

Madgen recently called time on his glittering career, which included an NBL scoring title at the Sydney Kings and success abroad in Germany, Belgium and Lithuania before making the move to the Heartland.

“When I walked in, I remember (Operations boss) Rohan Short said, ‘Look Benny, we really want to make this feel like it’s an established club, you come in and everything is set up’. I thought that would be pretty hard for a first-year club but it really did,” Madgen said.

“Angelo as our chef; the coaching; the facilities; everything was just right on point.

“I think we started the season really well and probably a few injuries and some chemistry things that you build up over time with a couple of years together would’ve really helped us finish the season strong.

“It was still a really big success with the support base and everything else going on at the club and the community is a fantastic stepping stone and I know you guys will do really well this year.

“It’s going to be a tough competition when you look at all the teams across the league but with another year together, you’ve got the core together now and some good new recruits so I’ll be watching closely.”

A major factor in the decision to retire was to look after his young family and be there for his son Xavier, who has been diagnosed with Autism among other health issues.

(Madgen is a true family man)

Despite his off-field commitments and incredible amount of work he did in the community over the season, Madgen still put together an impressive farewell NBL campaign for the Phoenix, averaging the third-most points in the team while providing elite leadership and tenacious defence.

He says the Phoenix organisation made life easier for him last season while juggling father duties with shooting buckets.

“I thought it was so professional,” Madgen said.

“Anything you needed was never too much of an ask or some family issues here and there for me; they’d let me go sort out my family out first and come back the next day or whatever it was. It was really, really good.

“That’s why I think the foundations are set at the Phoenix.”

Madgen also spoke about European GM’s erupting in the half time locker room, his gruesome ankle injury, playing across Europe and how much his community work means to him and his family.

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Sam Bunn for Phoenix Media (7/8/2020)