Nick Kay

Nicholas Colin Kay (born 3 August 1992) is an Australian professional basketball player who last played for Shimane Susanoo Magic of the Japanese B.League. He played college basketball for the Metro State Roadrunners before beginning his professional career in the National Basketball League (NBL). He won two NBL championships with the Perth Wildcats in 2019 and 2020. He also won a New Zealand NBL championship and league MVP honours with the Wellington Saints in 2019. In 2021, he won a bronze medal with the Australian national team at the Tokyo Olympics.

Early life
Kay was born and raised in Tamworth, New South Wales. At age 17, he moved to Sydney to attend Newington College. He averaged 13 points and 14 rebounds for Newington, leading the school to finish second in Australia's all-schools tournament and won the New South Wales all-school tournament. He also represented the New South Wales state team.

College career
In 2011, Kay moved to the United States to play college basketball for the Metropolitan State University of Denver in the NCAA Division II.

As a freshman in 2011–12, Kay played in all 32 games for the Roadrunners, making 15 starts and averaging 6.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. He became the first Metro State freshman since 1995 to record a double-double on debut, recording 14 points and 13 rebounds in a start against Bemidji State on 11 November 2011. He had a season-high 24 points against Colorado Christian on 7 January 2012.

As a sophomore in 2012–13, Kay was named third-team all-RMAC after leading Metro State to the national title game and the RMAC regular season and tournament championships. He started 33 of 34 games and averaged 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. He had a season-high 19 points three times. He had 10 points and seven rebounds in the national championship game loss to Drury.

As a junior in 2013–14, Kay started all 34 games and helped the Roadrunners to the RMAC regular season and tournament championships and the semifinals at the NCAA tournament. He averaged 15.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, and was named NABC first team all-district and first-team all-RMAC. He had a season-high 24 points against UC-Colorado Springs on 1 March 2014, helping Metro State finish the regular season as the third team in RMAC history to go undefeated. He was named the most valuable player of the RMAC Tournament.

As a senior in 2014–15, Kay started all 32 games and averaged 20.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He was named NABC first team all-district and first-team all-RMAC for the second straight year. He led the Roadrunners to their third consecutive RMAC regular season championship and a fourth-straight appearance in the NCAA tournament. He scored a career-high 33 points against Arkansas-Fort Smith on 15 November 2014. He had a career-high 17 rebounds along with 21 points against CSU-Pueblo on 27 February 2015.

Professional career

Northside Wizards (2014–2015)
In 2014, in between his junior and senior college seasons, Kay played for the Northside Wizards of the Queensland Basketball League (QBL). In nine games, he averaged 15.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

Kay returned to the Wizards for the 2015 QBL season and averaged 22.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 13 games.

Townsville Crocodiles (2015–2016)
In July 2015, Kay signed with the Townsville Crocodiles of the National Basketball League (NBL). He appeared in all 28 games for the Crocodiles in 2015–16 and ranked top-20 in the NBL for minutes played (28.11 per game). He averaged 10.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game, while scoring in double figures on 16 occasions, recording three double-doubles and finishing as the league leader in offensive rebounding (3.0). He was subsequently named NBL Rookie of the Year.

Southland Sharks and Illawarra Hawks (2016–2018)
Following the NBL season, Kay joined the Southland Sharks for the 2016 New Zealand NBL season. In 19 games, he averaged 17.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

In May 2016, Kay signed with the Illawarra Hawks. He helped the Hawks reach the grand final in the 2016–17 NBL season. In 34 games, he averaged 9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals per game.

Following the NBL season, Kay re-joined the Sharks for the 2017 New Zealand NBL season. In 20 games, he averaged 14.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

With the Hawks in the 2017–18 NBL season, Kay averaged 11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals in 28 games.

Perth Wildcats and Wellington Saints (2018–2020)
On 20 April 2018, Kay signed a three-year deal with the Perth Wildcats. In the 2018–19 NBL season, he was named in the All-NBL First Team and helped the Wildcats win the championship. In 34 games, he averaged 14.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

Following the NBL season, Kay joined the Wellington Saints for the 2019 New Zealand NBL season. He helped the Saints win the championship and earned league MVP honours. In 20 games, he averaged 15.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

With the Wildcats in the 2019–20 NBL season, Kay was named to the All-NBL First Team for the second straight year and helped the team win back-to-back championships. In game three of the grand final series against the Sydney Kings, Kay had a career-best game with 30 points and seven 3-pointers to go with 12 rebounds and four assists in a 111–96 win. In 34 games, he averaged 15.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

On 4 May 2020, Kay opted out of the final year of his contract with the Wildcats to pursue international opportunities after the NBL implemented salary cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spain and Japan (2020–2023)
On 5 July 2020, Kay signed with Real Betis of the Liga ACB. In 36 games in the 2020–21 ACB season, he averaged 7.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 steals per game.

On 1 July 2021, Kay signed with Shimane Susanoo Magic of the Japanese B.League. In 56 games in the 2021–22 B.League season, he averaged 13.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

On 22 June 2022, Kay re-signed with Shimane. In 63 games in the 2022–23 B.League season, he averaged 15.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

National team career
Kay debuted for the Australian under 19 national team in 2010.

Kay was named to the Australian national team for the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup. In 2018, he won a gold medal with Australia at the Commonwealth Games. In 2019, he was awarded the Gaze Family Medal alongside Nathan Sobey for performances at the World Cup Qualifiers and the Commonwealth Games.

In February 2021, Kay was named in the Boomers' Olympic squad. He went on to help the Boomers win the bronze medal. He averaged 11.0 points and 6.3 rebounds in six games.

In February 2022, Kay was named in a 17-man Australian Boomers squad ahead of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Japan. He re-joined the team for proceeding qualifying windows in August 2022 and February 2023.

References

External links

Shimane Susanoo Magic profile
Illawarra Hawks profile
Metro State Roadrunners bio
"Workmanlike Perth Wildcats forward Nick Kay belongs in MVP conversation" at thewest.com.au
"Kay Ready for #NBL20 Fireworks" at nbl.com.au

1992 births
Living people
2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup players
Australian expatriate basketball people in Japan
Australian expatriate basketball people in New Zealand
Australian expatriate basketball people in Spain
Australian expatriate basketball people in the United States
Australian men's basketball players
Basketball players at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
Basketball players at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Basketball players from New South Wales
Centers (basketball)
Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia
Commonwealth Games medallists in basketball
Illawarra Hawks players
Liga ACB players
Medallists at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Metro State Roadrunners men's basketball players
Olympic basketball players for Australia
Olympic bronze medalists for Australia
Olympic medalists in basketball
Sportspeople from Tamworth, New South Wales
People educated at Newington College
Perth Wildcats players
Power forwards (basketball)
Real Betis Baloncesto players
Shimane Susanoo Magic players
Southland Sharks players
Townsville Crocodiles players
Wellington Saints players
Sportsmen from New South Wales
2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup players