Veteran guard Brad Robbins has put his State Basketball League return on hold to make a fairytale comeback for the Perth Wildcats in the National Basketball League grand final series against New Zealand, starting in Auckland on Sunday.

Robbins announced the end of his professional career in December, citing physical and mental fatigue as the major reasons behind his decision.

But he has been refreshed by spending several months away from the day-to-day grind of rigorous training sessions and had been preparing to suit up for Wanneroo in the SBL in recent weeks.

A crazy 48-hour period earlier this week turned that plan on its head.

A severe Achilles injury to first-choice point-guard Damian Martin left a hole in the Wildcats’ roster and Robbins was called out of retirement to fill the role vacated by his close friend.

Robbins and Perry Lakes product Ben Purser – a Wildcats development player – were the only players eligible under NBL rules to be elevated to the main roster in Martin’s absence.

Purser has played 14 games off the bench for the Wildcats this season, but coach Rob Beveridge opted to use Robbins for his experience and ability to provide a like-for-like replacement for Martin.

Robbins played a key role alongside Wildcats teammate Greg Hire in Wanneroo’s 2011 SBL championship team, but his return to the Wolf Pack has naturally been pushed back a few weeks.

“I was going to ease myself into it with Wanneroo over the next couple of weeks, but that’s quickly changed,” Robbins said.

“I’ll play and concentrate on the Wildcats over the next couple of weeks and once the NBL season is finished and all the duties are done here, I’ll go and play for Wanneroo.

“Who knows what could happen after that?”

Robbins said the time out of the game and work with underprivileged youth through the ‘Beyond the Gap’ foundation had given him a new perspective on life.

“It has allowed me to reflect and probably just grow from getting into the ‘real world’ so to speak,” Robbins said.

“Going down a new path, I’ve definitely grown as a person.

“It’s given me more tools that I need to put in the bag and I’m definitely in a better place mentally. I’m so much fresher and the body feels great.”

Robbins left the door slightly ajar for a full comeback next season, pending the results of the next fortnight with the Wildcats and the back half of the SBL season with Wanneroo.

“It’s funny, you come back to practice and you’re around everything and you just get the taste back for it or something,” Robbins said.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to look at how the next two weeks go.”

Wanneroo have split four games this season with wins over Stirling and Perth cancelled out by losses to East Perth and Goldfields.

They meet reigning champions Cockburn in a round-four blockbuster at Wally Hagan Stadium on Friday night.

No doubt they will be eager to get Robbins back into a green singlet when the time is right.

Article by Shayne Hope
Photos by Helen Theoharakis (Hoop Shots)