GAME CENTRE
In a milestone moment, John Martin will be elevated to LEGEND status, joining the elite ranks of just eight others previously honoured with this distinction. Alongside Ebzery and Davidson, other inductees include, Players Donna Ritchie PLY, Michele Austin, Kim Perry, and Mark Dalton OLY; Referees Brett Hogan and Matthew Beattie.
Katie-Rae Ebzery OLY
For over 15 seasons, Newcastle’s Katie-Rae Ebzery was a commanding presence in Australian basketball. A dynamic guard with composure, leadership, and scoring prowess, Ebzery’s career in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) and on the international stage is one of remarkable consistency, growth, and achievement.
Ebzery made her WNBL debut in 2005 as a teenager with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), showcasing her potential early with 65 games under her belt by the age of 18. After a season with the Dandenong Rangers and a brief break from the league, she returned stronger than ever in 2010, joining the Sydney Uni Flames, a move that marked the beginning of a standout period in her career.
By 2014–15, Ebzery had surpassed 200 WNBL games and was named Flames Club MVP, averaging 16.8 points per game, the sixth-highest in the league. Her impact was further recognised when she was selected for the WNBL All-Star Five in the 2015–16 season.
Seeking new challenges, Ebzery took her talents overseas in 2016–17, playing with Dynamo Moscow in Russia. She returned to the WNBL the following season, rejoining the Flames before signing a two-year deal with the Perth Lynx in 2018.
Her time in Perth was marked by further excellence. In 2019–20, Ebzery was named to the WNBL All-Star First Team and repeated the feat in the 2020 WNBL Hub season, where she finished fourth in league scoring (18.0 points per game) and ninth in assists (3.6 per game). When she retired in October 2021, she left behind a legacy of 304 WNBL games, three All-WNBL First Team selections, and a reputation as one of the most respected players in the league.
Ebzery’s talent extended well beyond domestic basketball. She made her international debut for Australia at the FIBA U19 World Championship in 2007, and went on to wear the green and gold with pride throughout her career. She won bronze at the World University Games in 2011 and 2013, and was a bronze medalist at the inaugural FIBA 3×3 World Championships in 2012.
Her senior debut with the Australian Opals came in 2015, winning gold at the FIBA Oceania Championship. She went on to represent Australia at two Olympic Games, Rio 2016 & Tokyo 2020, and added Commonwealth Games Gold (2018), FIBA Asia Cup Silver (2017) and FIBA World Cup Silver (2018) to her impressive international resume.
Katie-Rae Ebzery’s career is a story of longevity, leadership, and elite performance. Whether lighting up the scoreboard in the WNBL or wearing the green and gold on the world stage, she has been a shining example of professionalism and pride in Australian basketball.
LARRY DAVIDSON
For more than 40 years, Larry Davidson has been a pillar of the Australian basketball community. A player, coach, mentor, and quiet achiever whose legacy has been shaped not by personal accolades, but by the lives he’s changed and the programs he’s helped flourish.
While Davidson’s playing career saw him represent Australia at the Under 20 Men’s Team in 1977 and again in the Australian Youth Team in 1981 as well as playing for the Newcastle Falcons in the NBL and the Newcastle Hunters in the SEABL, it’s his extraordinary work as a coach, particularly with athletes with an intellectual impairment, that defines his enduring contribution to the game.
Davidson began coaching in 1984, taking on key roles with Newcastle and Maitland, leading NSW State Teams and Australian University squads, and earning multiple Coach of the Year awards along the way. His service to Newcastle Basketball was honoured with Life and Life Playing Membership, a testament to his commitment and leadership at the community and state levels.
But it was in 1997 that Davidson found his true coaching calling, joining the Australian Pearls, Australia’s national women’s team for athletes with an intellectual impairment as an Assistant Coach. By 2000, he was appointed Head Coach, a position he has held with distinction for over two decades.
Under Davidson’s leadership, the Pearls have been a dominant force in international competition, medaling at every major event they’ve entered, an extraordinary achievement in both 5×5 and 3×3 formats. His coaching record includes:
World Championships & Global Games – 5 on 5 Competition
- Gold: 2010, 2011
- Silver: 2006, 2008, 2009
- Bronze: 1998, 2002, 2004
Asia & South Pacific Basketball Championships
- Gold: 1999
European Basketball Championships
- Bronze: 2003
World Championships & Global Games – 3×3 Competitions. Managing the responsibility of coaching two teams and still achieving the highest results.
- Gold: 2015, 2017,
- Silver: 2017, 2019, 2023
- Bronze: 2015, 2019, 2023
2022: Oceania Asia Games. Three teams coached.
- Gold: 2022
- Silver: 2022
- Bronze: 2022
Beyond the medals, Davidson has played a transformational role in the evolution of the Pearls program guiding the successful shift from 5×5 to 3×3 basketball, while continuing to foster an environment built on inclusion, discipline, and pride. His coaching philosophy has always focused on developing not just better athletes, but better people instilling confidence, structure, and resilience in every player who’s worn the green and gold under his watch.
Known for his patient, methodical approach, Davidson has become a trusted mentor for generations of athletes. He is as committed to the growth of his players off the court as he is to their performance on it. And while the results speak for themselves, Davidson has never sought the spotlight, always preferring to celebrate team achievements rather than his own.
For his lifelong dedication to coaching and his transformative impact on inclusive sport, Larry Davidson is a truly deserving inductee into the Basketball NSW Hall of Fame. His name may not always make headlines but his legacy will forever be etched in the history of Australian basketball.
This year’s Hall of Fame Dinner will be held on the 29th of November 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Terrigal, bringing together the basketball community to recognise and celebrate the remarkable individuals selected for induction.
