Ryan Broekhoff Returns to Frankston

South East Melbourne Phoenix swingman Ryan Broekhoff found his way back to the South East of Melbourne after an international career that took him all over the world.

For many players who venture overseas, they refer to coming back to Australia as coming home, but for Broekhoff that statement is literal. Not only has he returned to our shores, he's playing for the team that represents where he is from.

“Being around this area again after being away for so long, it’s good to reconnect,” Broekhoff said in the Fly With Us episode returning to Frankston Basketball Stadium.

(Ryan Broekhoff spent his junior years of basketball at Frankston Basketball Stadium.)

After beginning his representative career with the Frankston Blues, Broekhoff went to the Australian Institute of Sport before heading to USA to play college basketball at Valparaiso University. After a decorated college career he started his professional journey in Turkey, then Russia, before making it to the the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks.

Broekhoff signed with the Phoenix in early 2021 and is now in his second season with the side. 

(Broekhoff representing Australia in the Under 20's, front row 4th person from left.)

“It means a lot, not being in the city but more in the heartland of basketball and being able to play in front friends and family is pretty special,” he said about returning to Melbourne.

Broekhoff spoke about how important it is to have a strong grassroots pathway for basketball in the South East of Melbourne.

(Broekhoff in his Under 14's, front right.)

“Being able to establish that pathway and be relatable to kids, growing up playing here (Frankston), I have been in their shoes, I’ve seen what they have seen, I’ve been in the position they have been in," he said.

“To offer them an insight to what can happen if you commit yourself and things go your way and for them to be able to look up to players like Kyle and myself.

“The pathway is there, and it can happen for anybody, that is a very important piece of why I wanted to come back and play for the Phoenix."

(Broekhoff has found his way back to the Heartland of basketball after years playing internationally.)

He joked that he was still ‘fairly young’ but something he wanted to be able to achieve after his playing career was to give back to kids in basketball at the grassroots level in Victoria and especially in Frankston.

“…helping kids get better and train and improve and for them now to see the pathways to the NBL and elsewhere.

“It is really important for their development and their motivation to keep and stick with it,” he said. 

(Broekhoff hopes to inspire kids in the South East Melbourne that they can play basketball as a career.)

Broekhoff also wants to show kids from Frankston particularly that you can make basketball a career no matter where you are from. He points to what he and  former professional basketball player, David Andersen, who is also from Frankston, have achieved.

“It can happen, yes a kid from Frankston can travel the world and play basketball is possible and Dave was sort of the one who opened my eyes to that and hopefully me and him both can do the same thing for the next generation, the next kids coming through," he said.

“Basketball can be a career and it can be a great experience as well, that it is possible coming from wherever,” commented Broekhoff.

(Now as a father, Broekhoff wants to help his son pursue his passion even if it isn't basketball.)

Along with playing basketball as his career, Broekhoff is now a father to his son, Jackson, with his world now revolving around his son and doesn’t want to force Jackson into basketball but to help and be there for him for whatever he pursues in his life.

“If he takes an interest in basketball, I don’t want to push it upon him just because I played, I want him to be able to find what he loves and what he desires.

“But if it is basketball then I’m sure I won’t have too many reasons to not to come back down here or take him around to all the games that take you here and there and everywhere in Vic. 

“It is something I am looking forward to when (he) gets a little bit older and finds his passions, be able to help him pursue that and whatever it is.”

Phoenix Media (14/1/22)