Ben Madgen
{{short description|Australian basketball player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Ben Madgen
| image =
| caption =
| position = Shooting guard / small forward
| height_cm = 193
| weight_kg = 92
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1985|2|7}}
| birth_place = Williamstown, South Australia, Australia
| high_school = Faith Lutheran College
(Tanunda, South Australia)
| college = Augusta (2006–2010)
| draft_year = 2010
| career_start = 2005
| career_end = 2020
| years1 = 2005–2007
| team1 = Eastern Mavericks
| years2 = 2010–2011
| team2 = Eastern Mavericks
| years3 = 2010–2015
| team3 = Sydney Kings
| years4 = 2015–2016
| team4 = Verviers-Pepinster
| years5 = 2016–2017
| team5 = Lietkabelis Panevėžys
| years6 = 2017–2018
| team6 = Lietuvos rytas Vilnius
| years7 = 2018–2019
| team7 = Crailsheim Merlins
| years8 = 2019–2020
| team8 = South East Melbourne Phoenix
| highlights =
- All-NBL First Team (2013)
- NBL Most Improved Player (2013)
- NBL scoring champion (2013)
- NBL Rookie of the Year (2011)
- Peach Belt Player of the Year (2010)
- 2× First-team All-Peach Belt (2009, 2010)
- Peach Belt Freshman of the Year (2007)
- No. 1 jersey retired by Augusta Jaguars
}}
Ben Madgen (born 7 February 1985) is an Australian former professional basketball player.
Early life and career
Born in Williamstown, South Australia, Madgen played basketball at Faith Lutheran College{{cite web|url=http://www.aug.edu/athletics/sports/mbasketball/bios/ben%20madgen.htm|title=Ben Madgen|work=aug.edu|accessdate=12 September 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528141318/http://www.aug.edu/athletics/sports/mbasketball/bios/ben%20madgen.htm|archivedate=28 May 2010|df=dmy-all}} in Tanunda, South Australia and was a member of the 2002 state championship winning team.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130506034730/http://decd.sa.gov.au/sport/files/links/Basketball.pdf SA High School Winning Schools] In 2005, he debuted in the Central ABL for the Eastern Mavericks. For the 2005–06 NBL season, he was a member of the Adelaide 36ers as a development player, but did not play. He re-joined the Mavericks for the 2006 season and then had a short stint again with the Mavericks in 2007.{{cite web|url=https://basketball.australiabasket.com/player/Ben-Madgen/Australia/South-East-Melbourne-Phoenix/79388|title=Ben Madgen|work=australiabasket.com|access-date=6 December 2021}} He also played for the Mavericks in 2010 and 2011.
College career
Madgen played four years of college basketball for Augusta State University from 2006 to 2010. Upon completing his college career in 2010, he was the all-time leading scorer for the Jaguars and the Peach Belt Conference with 2,306 points.{{cite web|last=Gay|first=Chris|url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/sports/college/asu/2010-05-17/augusta-states-madgen-reflects-college-career|title=Augusta State's Madgen reflects on college career|work=chronicle.augusta.com|date=17 May 2010|accessdate=12 September 2013}} On 3 March 2010, his No. 1 jersey was retired, becoming the only active Jaguars player to have his jersey retired.{{cite web|url=http://www.jaguarsroar.com/information/jags-pros|title=Jaguars in the Pros|work=jaguarsroar.com|accessdate=12 September 2013}}
Professional career
=Sydney Kings=
Madgen signed with the Sydney Kings for the 2010–11 NBL season and won the NBL Rookie of the Year.[http://andthefoul.net/NBLwiki/index.php?NBL%20Rookie%20of%20the%20year NBL Rookie of the year – andthefoul.net][http://www.news.com.au/sport/basketball/co-captain-ben-madgen-rising-to-kings-challenge/story-fndkzqrr-1226494006668 Co-captain Ben Madgen rising to Kings' challenge] In 2012–13, Madgen was named the NBL Most Improved Player and earned All-NBL First Team honours.{{Cite web |url=http://andthefoul.net/archives/5789 |title=NBL Award Winners |access-date=27 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022144753/http://andthefoul.net/archives/5789 |archive-date=22 October 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} He led the NBL in scoring in 2012–13 with 17.9 points per game.{{cite web |title=Madgen becomes latest signing for new SE Melbourne Phoenix |date=18 February 2019 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223203732/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/basketball/madgen-becomes-latest-signing-for-new-se-melbourne-phoenix-20190207-p50wf4.html |archive-date=23 December 2022 |url-status=live |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/basketball/madgen-becomes-latest-signing-for-new-se-melbourne-phoenix-20190207-p50wf4.html}}[https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/basketball/nbl-leading-scorer-ben-madgen-joins-melbourne-phoenix/news-story/908f9657e407e882086ce217a0b7322d NBL leading scorer Ben Madgen joins Melbourne Phoenix]
On 10 October 2013, Madgen was named in the Sydney Kings 25th Anniversary Team.[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/basketball/sydney-kings-25th-anniversary-team-honour-heals-the-wounds-for-shane/story-fni2upxm-1226737970275 Sydney Kings 25th anniversary team honour heals the wounds for Shane]
On 20 March 2014, Madgen re-signed with the Kings on a two-year deal.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140320125645/http://www.nbl.com.au/article/id/1caapk83gtu5q1b1hu5e3y5vwz Sydney re-sign Madgen, Garlepp] On 15 May 2015, he exercised an option in his contract in order to leave the club and pursue playing opportunities in Europe.[http://www.nbl.com.au/nbl-team-news/madgen-to-pursue-europe/ MADGEN TO PURSUE EUROPE]
=Belgium=
On 14 August 2015, Madgen signed with VOO Wolves Verviers-Pepinster of Belgium for the 2015–16 season.[http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/belgium/172692/verviers-pepinster-signs-ben-madgen-and-darrell-williams.html Verviers-Pepinster signs Ben Madgen and Darrell Williams] In 30 games, he averaged 19.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
=Lithuania=
On 18 August 2016, Madgen signed with Lietkabelis Panevėžys of the Lithuanian League.[http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/lithuania/209787/ben-madgen-inks-with-kk-lietkabelis.html Ben Madgen inks with KK Lietkabelis] He helped Lietkabelis reach the LKL finals and the Lithuanian Cup final, losing in both to BC Žalgiris.
On 17 June 2017, Madgen signed with Lietuvos rytas, returning to Lithuania for a second stint.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/lithuania/237399/lietuvos-rytas-inks-ben-madgen.html |title=Lietuvos Rytas inks Ben Madgen |access-date=17 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707073225/http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/lithuania/237399/lietuvos-rytas-inks-ben-madgen.html |archive-date=7 July 2017 |url-status=dead }} Madgen once again played in the LKL finals and the Cup final, but once again lost both to Žalgiris.
=Germany=
In August 2018, Madgen signed with the Crailsheim Merlins of the Basketball Bundesliga.[https://pickandroll.com.au/ben-madgen-moves-to-germany-signs-with-crailsheim-merlins/ Ben Madgen moves to Germany, signs with Crailsheim Merlins] He was the leading scorer and rebounder for the Merlins.{{cite web |last=Chung |first=Frank |title=NBL star Ben Madgen diagnosed with pericarditis after Pfizer vaccine |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/basketball/nbl-star-ben-madgen-diagnosed-with-pericarditis-after-pfizer-vaccine/news-story/ba7e83526a7a064ba310fb5861f5f887 |website=news.com.au |access-date=6 December 2021 |date=6 December 2021}}
=South East Melbourne Phoenix=
On 19 February 2019, Madgen signed with the South East Melbourne Phoenix, a franchise entering the NBL for the 2019–20 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbl.com.au/news/article/south-east-melbourne-sign-ben-madgen|title=South East Melbourne Sign Ben Madgen|work=NBL.com.au|date=19 February 2019|accessdate=19 February 2019}}
On 13 July 2020, Madgen announced his retirement from playing basketball to focus on his family.{{cite web |title=Ben Madgen Announces Retirement |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/ben-madgen-announces-retirement |website=NBL |accessdate=13 July 2020 |date=13 July 2020}}
National team career
After being selected in the Boomers squad for the Sino-Australia Challenge against China in June 2013,[http://www.basketball.net.au/boomers-team-named-for-sino-australia-challenge/ BOOMERS TEAM NAMED FOR SINO-AUSTRALIA CHALLENGE] Madgen sustained a right ankle subtalar dislocation during training only a day after game one of the four-game series.[http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/more-sports/boomers-star-ben-madgen-out-of-china-series-with-ankle-injury/story-fnii0hmo-1226660796996 Boomers star Ben Madgen out of China series with ankle injury]
Personal
Madgen is the son of Gene and Deborah Madgen, and has a brother, Jack, and two sisters, Carly and Tess. His brother Jack originally played basketball before switching to football.[http://www.gostatesmen.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2705 14 Jack Madgen][https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/player-profile/jack-madgen Jack Madgen – collingwoodfc.com.au] His sister Tess also plays basketball.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140302022338/http://www.nbl.com.au/article/id/dxl9hfrong9h1ng2hai82q6d9 Take 40: Ben Madgen]
In May 2014, Madgen married Bria Kirk.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140522070615/http://www.nbl.com.au/article/id/1aezdorhsxu951pt88ywsjxb16 Kings wed their Queens]
In 2014, Madgen was studying a Master of Business Administration.
In 2021, after receiving his second Pfizer vaccine, he was diagnosed with pericarditis.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/iMadgen01/status/1467245175864840196|title=Ben Madgen on Twitter|work=Twitter|date=5 December 2021|access-date=5 December 2021}}
In March 2022, Madgen joined the Sydney Comets as their development manager{{cite web|url=https://www.sydneybasketball.com.au/ben-madgen-joins-the-sydney-comets/|title=Ben Madgen Joins the Sydney Comets|work=sydneybasketball.com.au|date=8 March 2022|access-date=4 November 2022}} and was later appointed the club's CEO.{{cite web|url=https://nbl1.com.au/news/four-clubs-join-the-nbl1-east/east/|title=FOUR CLUBS JOIN THE NBL1 EAST|work=NBL1.com.au|date=3 November 2022|access-date=4 November 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://nbl1.com.au/news/madgen-reignites-sydney-hoops|title=Madgen reignites Sydney hoops|work=NBL1.com.au|date=4 November 2022|access-date=4 November 2022}} He remained in the CEO role as of January 2024.{{cite web|url=https://nbl1.com.au/news/nbl-champion-returns-home-to-sydney|title=NBL champion returns home to Sydney|work=NBL1.com.au|date=10 January 2024|access-date=10 January 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.lkl.lt/zaidejai/ben-madgen Lithuanian League profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160510042150/http://scoooreleague.be/en/statistics/players/?id=A51531 Belgian League profile]
- [http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=190395055&client=0-189-88249-327335-19755569 NBL stats]
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{{Sydney Kings 25th Anniversary Team}}
{{NBL Most Improved Players}}
{{NBL Rookies of the Year}}
{{NBL scoring leaders}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Madgen, Ben}}
Category:Augusta Jaguars men's basketball players
Category:Australian expatriate basketball people in Germany
Category:Australian expatriate basketball people in the United States
Category:Australian men's basketball players
Category:BC Lietkabelis players
Category:Crailsheim Merlins players
Category:RBC Pepinster players
Category:South East Melbourne Phoenix players
Category:Basketball players from South Australia