Ryan Broekhoff

College career

Ryan Broekhoff spent four seasons with the Valparaiso Crusaders, beginning in 2009. After a freshman year in a supporting capacity, he became a starter as a sophomore, posting averages of 10.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. That season, he led the Horizon League in three-point shooting accuracy at 44.8 percent and ranked sixth in the conference with 1.1 blocks per contest. By his junior year, Broekhoff emerged as a top Horizon League player, averaging 14.8 points and a league-best 8.6 rebounds, plus 2.3 assists.

He guided the Crusaders to a regular-season conference title and an NIT appearance, earning Horizon League Player of the Year and an Associated Press honorable mention All-American nod. As a senior, he averaged 15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists over 32.2 minutes per game, leading Valparaiso to a 26-7 record and the top seed in the conference tournament. He hit the decisive shot in the semifinal against Green Bay-Wisconsin, and the Crusaders won the championship game against Wright State to secure an NCAA Tournament berth, where they fell in the opening round.

Professional career

Ryan Broekhoff spent the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons with Beşiktaş in Turkey. In the summer of 2015, he suited up for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Summer League. The next three years were with PBC Lokomotiv Kuban in the VTB United League. During the 2017-18 campaign, he put up 8.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.1 steals across 16 league games.

In the EuroCup that same season, his averages climbed to 12.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists over 16 contests, which earned him a spot on the All-EuroCup First Team. Broekhoff joined the Dallas Mavericks in August 2018. He appeared in 42 games during the 2018-19 NBA season, hitting a personal best of 17 points against the Golden State Warriors in March 2019. He returned for the 2019-20 season but was let go in February 2020 after 17 appearances.

He initially agreed to terms with the Philadelphia 76ers for the league’s restart in June 2020 but never reported to the Orlando bubble. He signed with the 76ers again that November but was waived following training camp. In February 2021, Broekhoff signed with the South East Melbourne Phoenix for the remainder of the NBL season, averaging 7.5 points and 3.5 rebounds. He inked a two-year extension with the Phoenix in June 2021.

A shoulder injury in March 2022 sidelined him for four weeks. Early in the 2022-23 NBL season, a hip issue kept him out for an extended stretch, and a groin injury in January 2023 ended his regular season. He announced his retirement from basketball in July 2023.

National team career

Ryan Broekhoff first represented Australia at the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship and the 2011 Summer Universiade. He tried out for the 2012 London Olympic team and was among the final cuts, making it to the last 14 players before being let go. In 2013, he won gold at the Stanković Cup and silver at the World University Games, and was selected for the Boomers' FIBA Oceania Championship squad that year. He made the Australian team for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where his strong play in warm-ups earned him a starting role.

He started again for the Boomers in the 2015 FIBA Oceania Championship series against New Zealand. Broekhoff competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He chose not to play in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, citing mental health reasons.

Did You Know?

• Broekhoff was born in Melbourne, Victoria, in the suburb of Frankston.
• He grew up playing for the Frankston Blues as a junior.
• In 2008 and 2009, he played in the SEABL for the Australian Institute of Sport.