Skip to main content

Chicago Bulls plays walk on the court in front of a large crowd- Jordan, Pippen, Longley and Rodman
Longley (centre 13) played alongside NBA greats such as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman.(Getty Images: Steve Woltmann)

Luc Longley wears a tshirt and cap holding the 1996 NBA championship trophy and a bottle of champagne
Longley remains the only Australian to win multiple titles in the NBA.(Getty Images: David E Klutho/Sports Illustrated)

Bulls number 13 Luc Longley lifts his leg in action on the court as a Jazz player approaches
Longley grabs a rebound against Greg Ostertag of the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City, Utah in June 1998.(Getty Images: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE)

Young Luc on boat
Longley was always tall so basketball was a natural fit, but he never dreamed of a career in the sport.(Supplied: Luc Longley)
]
A young boy with flaming red hair
Longley says he never planned for sport to be a "big deal" in his life.(Supplied: Luc Longley)

Black and white photo of a young Luc Longley and Andrew Vlahov
Andrew Vlahov got his friend Luc Longley in front of US college basketball scouts.(Supplied: The West Australian)

Luc at Uni of New Mexico - Sue
Australian Luc Longley (centre seated) in a promo photo for the UNM Lobos basketball team.(Supplied: UNM)

a bulls player blocks a knicks player
New York Knicks' Patrick Ewing runs up against Longley, December 9, 1997, as Michael Jordan looks on at left. (Reuters: Reuters photographer)
Longley slam dunks
Longley smashes a slam dunk against Orlando Magic.(Supplied: Luc Longley)

A group of male basketball players in red Chicago Bulls sweat shirts huddle
The Chicago Bulls team huddle before hitting the court.(Supplied: Luc Longley)

Michael Jordan and Luc Longley walking and smiling on basketball court in bulls uniforms
Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan jokes with teammate Luc Longley as they walk across the court in the second quarter of game against the Philadelphia 76ers, in Chicago April 7, 1997.(Reuters: Reuters photographer)
Michael Jordan wears a blue polo shirt seated in interview chair
Jordan tells Australian Story that he had to give Longley a little "tough love" to improve his game.(Australian Story)

Loading...

Loading...

Chicago bulls 1998 winning team sit on stage with championship trophies michael jordan front
The Bulls "crawled across the line" to achieve an extraordinary second three-peat.(Reuters: Anne Ryan/ USA Today)
View from the stage looking over a large crowd of Chicago Bulls fan. Luc Longley looks back at camera
Longley looks back fondly on his time with the Bulls.(Supplied: Luc Longley)
Dennis Rodman pours champagne on the head of Michael Jordan
Rodman and MJ go wild in the locker room celebrating their victory over Utah Jazz in the 1998 championship.(Reuters: Reuters photographer)
Fans lean over to give items to bulls player luc longley to sign
Fans would clamber to get a piece of Bulls history. Longley signs autographs in Portland, Oregon in January 1998.(Getty Images: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE)

Luc Longley of the Chicago Bulls jumps in the air pushing on Shaquille O'Neal from Orlando Magic as they chase the ball
Longley's size came in handy to take on the big man of the NBA, Orlando's Shaquille O’Neal.(Getty Images: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE)

Chicago Bulls players Luc Longley and Scottie Pippen smile wide sitting courtside and wearing tracksuits
Pippen says he still considers Longley a friend, 30 years on.(Supplied: Luc Longley)
Scottie Pippen
Pippen tells Australian Story Longley was more likely to help you up than knock you down.(Australian Story: Timothy Myers)

Basketballer Dennis Rodman wears a a leopard print hat while being interviewed by Jay Leno
Longley puts his time with Rodman down to "life experience".(Reuters)
Chicago bulls player luc longley escorts dennis rodman off basketball court
Longley escorts Rodman off the court after he was ejected from a game with New Jersey, March, 1996.(Reuters: Reuters Photographer)

Lakers player Glen Rice and Phoenix player Luc Longley battle for basketball
Playing for the Phoenix Suns, Luc Longley battles for a rebound with Los Angeles Lakers forward Glen Rice in Phoenix, April 2, 1999.(Reuters: JT/JP)

wide and low photo of a basketball court at the 2000 olympics with a crowd present
Longley played for Australia at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games  two years after the Bulls' three-peat victory.(AAP: Dean Lewins)
An Australian basketballer slam dunks, two Canadian players look up and watch on underneath
Longley sinks a slam dunk in a game against Canada at the Sydney Olympics.(AAP: Dean Lewins)
Luc Longley has a pained face as he holds his injured ankle
Longley's ankle injury dashed the Boomers' chances of winning a medal.(AAP: Julian Smith)

Loading...

a man looks into the distance sitting on the floor of an empty basketball stadium
Former Chicago Bulls player Luc Longley, who played at the height of the NBA team's success in the 90s, has gone on to coach and mentor Australian players.(Australian Story: Simon Winter)

Luc and Anna
Longley and Anna reconnected and eventually married after having known each other since high school.(Australian Story: Marc Smith)

A young man with flaming red hair plays basketball wearing an Australia singlet
Longley was stil in college in the US when he played for the Boomers at the 1988 Olympics.(Supplied: Luc Longley)
Luc mentoring in college
Longley shows his brother Sam a few pointers.(Supplied: UNM)
Four male Boomers staff stand with their arms on each other's shoulders, all wearing  black polo shirts
Longley worked as an assistant coach at the Boomers, alongside coach Andrej Lemanis (right).(AAP: Julian Smith)

Luc Longley on a quad bike on the sand at a beach with his dog on the seat in front of luc
Life in Denmark, WA is a change of pace from the whirlwind years playing in the US in the 1990s.(Supplied: Luc Longley)
Luc Longley surfing
Surfing has always been one of Longley's favourite pastimes.(Supplied: Luc Longley)
A man wearing glasses leans in for a 'kiss' from his dog as a woman laughs. The pair sit on a deck
At home in Denmark with Anna and dogs Milo and Hubert.(Australian Story: Marc Smith)
A labrador dog
Loyal companion Hubert.

Man wearing purple and black check shirt and glasses
 Longley says he is proud of his NBA career, even though it wasn’t "perfect".(Australian Story: Marc Smith)

Posted , updated 
Share