Mitch Creek
Mitchell Creek is an Australian professional basketball player for the South East Melbourne Phoenix of the National Basketball League. Creek began his NBL career with the Adelaide 36ers in 2010 and spent eight seasons with the team, helping them reach two grand finals and win one minor premiership. In his final season with the 36ers, Creek earned All-NBL Second Team honours. During the eight-season duration, he had multiple off-season stints in the Australian state leagues. After a stint in Germany in 2018, he joined the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League. During the 2018–19 season, he had stints in the National Basketball Association with the Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Early life and career
Creek was born and raised in Horsham in country Victoria. He attended St Brigid's College, where he earned induction into the school's hall of fame.In 2009, Creek played a leading role in Victoria Country's campaign at the Under-18 National Championships, trained with the Australian under-19 squad, and earned a place at the prestigious Nike All-Asia Camp in Beijing, China. In June, he received a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport men's basketball program in Canberra. Between 2007 and 2009, Creek played 21 games for the Horsham Hornets in the Big V. To conclude 2009, he played one game for the AIS in the SEABL, before playing 14 games in the SEABL for the AIS in 2010.
In addition to playing for the AIS in 2010, Creek also guided Victoria Country to a gold medal at the Under-20 National Championships, and had a fairytale international debut, leading the Australian under-19 team to its first gold medal at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Mannheim, Germany. Creek was subsequently crowned the tournament's most valuable player after averaging 17 points per game and finishing second in efficiency on plus 20.
In 2011, Creek helped Victoria Country win back-to-back gold medals at the Under-20 National Championships, as they were victorious in defeating Queensland in the final, winning 77–70. He subsequently won the Bob Staunton Award for tournament MVP after averaging 19 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3 assists per game.
Professional career
Adelaide 36ers (2010–2018)
Creek joined the Adelaide 36ers for the 2010–11 NBL season. He made his NBL debut on 3 December 2010, recording seven points and three steals in 21 minutes off the bench in a 92–79 win over the Townsville Crocodiles. In 20 games as a rookie, Creek averaged 5.8 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. He remained in Adelaide following his rookie season and played for the South Adelaide Panthers of the Central ABL. In 2011–12, Creek appeared in all 28 games for the 36ers, averaging 5.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He again played in the Central ABL during the 2012 off-season, appearing in five games for the Woodville Warriors.Creek's 2012–13 season was cut short after rupturing his Achilles tendon on 15 December against the Crocodiles in Adelaide. In 12 games, he averaged 5.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. He returned to action in 2013–14, helping the 36ers reach the NBL Grand Final, where they lost to the Perth Wildcats in three games. In 33 games, Creek averaged 7.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game. During the 2014 off-season, Creek played in the SEABL for the Nunawading Spectres.
Creek had a career-best season in 2014–15, averaging 11.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 26 games. During the 2015 off-season, he played for the Woodville Warriors. In 2015–16, Creek averaged 9.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 26 games for the 36ers.
During the 2016 off-season, Creek helped the Southern Tigers win the Premier League championship. He was named Grand Final MVP after recording 29 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, two steals and three blocks in an 85–66 win over the Sturt Sabres. He was also named league MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-Star Five honours.
After signing a three-year contract extension with the 36ers in May 2016, Creek was named team captain for the 2016–17 season. On 16 October, he was ruled out for eight weeks after sustaining a stress fracture in his right foot against Melbourne United two days earlier. Creek returned to action on 10 December, scoring 14 points off the bench in a 102–92 win over the New Zealand Breakers. Creek went on to help the 36ers win the minor premiership with a 17–11 record. In 21 games, he averaged 12.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game. Despite suffering a broken hand following the 2016–17 season, Creek was invited to participate in a free agent mini-camp run by the Utah Jazz before joining the Jazz's Summer League team.
On 12 December 2017, Creek was ruled out for three weeks after scans revealed he had torn a small muscle from the bone in his hamstring. He returned to action in January, and on 27 February 2018, he was named the NBL Fans MVP and earned All-NBL Second Team honours. Creek helped the 36ers reach the 2018 NBL Grand Final series, where they were defeated 3–2 by Melbourne United. In 31 games in 2017–18, he averaged 14.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
Europe and NBA/G League (2018–2019)
On 2 April 2018, Creek signed with BG Göttingen of the German Basketball Bundesliga. In seven games, he averaged 11.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.On 5 June 2018, Creek exercised his European-out clause, thus departing the 36ers after eight years. Two days later, he signed with s.Oliver Würzburg. However, after playing for the Dallas Mavericks' summer league team in July, Creek exercised his NBA-out clause with Würzburg.
On 20 August 2018, Creek signed a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 deal with the Brooklyn Nets. On 12 October 2018, Creek was waived by the Nets after appearing in one preseason game. Ten days later, he was acquired by Brooklyn's NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets. On 25 January 2019, he signed a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets. He made his NBA debut later that day, entering the game against the New York Knicks to take free throws for an injured Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the fourth quarter, making one of them. On 4 February, he signed a second 10-day contract with Brooklyn. On 7 February, he was waived by Brooklyn. During his time with Brooklyn, he was assigned to Long Island four times. Upon being waived, he re-joined Long Island permanently. On 30 March, he signed a 10-day contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. On 9 April, he signed with the Timberwolves for the rest of the season. In July 2019, he played for the Timberwolves at the Las Vegas Summer League.
South East Melbourne Phoenix (2019–present)
On 4 December 2018, Creek was announced as the first marquee signing of the South East Melbourne Phoenix, a franchise entering the NBL for the 2019–20 season. He signed a two-year deal, with a player option for a third year and an NBA-out clause. In July 2019, he committed to the Phoenix for their inaugural season.Creek scored an NBL career-high 32 points in a game against the Cairns Taipans on 26 January 2020. On 6 February 2020, Creek was fined $500 by the NBL for comments he made to Adelaide 36ers owner Grant Kelley following the Phoenix's game against Adelaide on 2 February. He missed the last two games of the season after hyperextending his knee against the Sydney Kings on 9 February.