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Mitch Norton

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Australian basketball player

Mitch Norton
Norton with the Perth Wildcats in 2022
No. 8 – Brisbane Bullets
PositionPoint guard
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born (1993-04-01) 1 April 1993 (age 31)
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Listed height184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Listed weight90 kg (198 lb)
Career information
High schoolPimlico State
(Townsville, Queensland)
Playing career2011–present
Career history
2011–2016Townsville Crocodiles
2012–2015Townsville Heat
2016–2017Southland Sharks
2016–2018Illawarra Hawks
2018–2023Perth Wildcats
2023–presentBrisbane Bullets
2024Southern Districts Spartans
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Australia
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2018 Gold Coast Team competition
FIBA Asia Cup
Gold medal – first place 2017 Lebanon

Mitchell Robert Norton (born 1 April 1993) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Brisbane Bullets of the National Basketball League (NBL). He began his NBL career in 2011 with the Townsville Crocodiles before joining the Illawarra Hawks in 2016 following the collapse of his hometown team. After two seasons with the Hawks, he joined the Perth Wildcats and won two NBL championships in five seasons. He has also played for the Townsville Heat in the Queensland Basketball League and the Southland Sharks in the New Zealand NBL.

Early life and junior career

Norton was born and raised in Townsville, Queensland, where he attended Currajong State School and Pimlico State High School. He played junior basketball for Blackstars Basketball Club. He represented Queensland North at the Australian Under 16 Championships in 2007 and 2008, and the Under 18 Championships in 2009. In 2010, he was selected for Australia to compete at the FIBA Under-17 World Championship, averaging 11.3 points per game. Norton again suited up for Queensland in 2010 for the Australian Under 20 Championships, and again in 2011 where Queensland collected a silver medal. In 2011, he was selected for the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) touring team after securing a scholarship at the AIS, and travelled to Latvia for the FIBA Under-19 World Championship, but was forced to miss the tournament after sustaining a broken foot.

Professional career

Australian NBL

Townsville Crocodiles (2011–2016)

Norton made his debut in the National Basketball League (NBL) for the Townsville Crocodiles during the 2011–12 season. A foot injury limited him to five games. In his second season in 2012–13, Norton appeared in all 28 games for the Crocodiles.

For the 2013–14 season, Norton was named the Crocodiles' Defensive Player of the Year and earned the Players' Player award. He earned the Players' Player award again in 2014–15.

In November 2015, Norton played his 100th NBL game.

Illawarra Hawks (2016–2018)

As a result of the demise of the Townsville Crocodiles following the 2015–16 season, Norton signed a two-year deal with the Illawarra Hawks in April 2016. He helped the Hawks reach the 2017 NBL Grand Final series, where they lost 3–0 to the Perth Wildcats. He missed six weeks during the 2017–18 season after undergoing surgery on a fractured thumb.

Perth Wildcats (2018–2023)

Norton with the Wildcats in December 2022

On 23 April 2018, Norton signed a three-year deal with the Perth Wildcats. On 28 January 2019, he was ruled out for the rest of the 2018–19 regular season with a tear to his left calf muscle. In March 2019, he was a member of the Wildcats' championship-winning team. In March 2020, he was crowned an NBL champion for the second straight year.

Following the retirement of Damian Martin, Norton moved into the starting point guard position for the Wildcats in 2020–21, resulting in a career-best year. He averaged 8.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. In April 2021, he played his 250th NBL game. Norton was inspirational during the NBL finals as the Wildcats finished runners-up, refusing to allow a hip injury to stop him from playing despite being in obvious pain. For the season, he was a finalist for the NBL Best Defensive Player Award.

On 1 July 2021, Norton re-signed with the Wildcats on a three-year deal. He was ruled out for the first month of the 2021–22 NBL season with a knee injury. On 10 March 2022, he scored a career-high 26 points in a 97–87 win over Melbourne United. Later that month, he was ruled out for two to three weeks with a low grade hamstring strain.

In the 2022–23 NBL season, Norton saw his minutes reduce significantly under new coach John Rillie. In the Wildcats' play-in qualifier, he played a crucial defensive role off the bench in a win over the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

On 14 April 2023, Norton parted ways with the Wildcats.

Brisbane Bullets (2023–present)

On 19 April 2023, Norton signed a two-year deal with the Brisbane Bullets.

On 10 April 2024, Norton extended his contract with the Bullets until the end of the 2026–27 season. He was named team captain for the 2024–25 NBL season. In November 2024, he played his 350th NBL game.

QBL, New Zealand NBL, and NBL1 North

Norton played for the Townsville Heat in the Queensland Basketball League (QBL) every year between 2012 and 2015, where he won the QBL U23 Youth Player of the Year award in 2015.

In 2016, Norton moved to New Zealand to play for the Southland Sharks in the New Zealand NBL. He returned to the Sharks for the 2017 season.

Norton joined the Southern Districts Spartans of the NBL1 North for the 2024 season.

National team career

In July 2012, Norton helped Australia earn the silver medal at the Stanković Cup in China.

In June 2013, Norton was named in the Australian squad for the Stanković Cup and World University Games. Australia went on to win gold and silver respectively.

Norton won gold with the Australian national team at the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon and the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

In February 2021, Norton was named in the Boomers' Olympic squad.

In August 2022, Norton was named in the Boomers' World Cup Qualifiers team. He re-joined the team for the next qualifying window in February 2023.

In November 2024, Norton joined the Boomers for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.

Personal life

Norton is the son of Paul and Anita Norton, and has a younger brother named Max. While playing for the Townsville Crocodiles, Norton was studying a business degree at James Cook University.

Norton and his partner Sascha had their first child in 2024.

References

  1. "Townsville Basketballer Mitch Norton Has Been Inducted As A Local Legend". triplem.com.au. 29 June 2018. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020.
  2. Lubicz, Carly (24 November 2014). "Meet Mitch Norton". thegotownsville.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016.
  3. "Norton to miss final games of regular NBL season". townsvillebulletin.com.au. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2020. Norton may be unlikely to be fit for finals, but the former Pimlico High School student has pushed through adversity before...
  4. "BOY MITCH 'CAN BE A CROC GREAT'". australia.basketball. 26 May 2010. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. ...the Year 12 Pimlico High School student...
  5. "Mitch Norton". nbl.com.au/crocodiles. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011.
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  7. "Townsville Crocodiles Playing Roster". nbl.com.au/crocodiles. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011.
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  11. ^ "Award Winners". crocodiles.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015.
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  48. "Two-time NBL champion joins Spartans". NBL1.com.au. 20 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
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  53. Nagy, Boti (5 August 2013). "Boomers squad – without Jason Cadee and Chris Goulding – 'best in years'". HeraldSun.com.au. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  54. O'Donoghue, Craig (10 July 2018). "Perth Wildcats recruit Mitch Norton happy to play for Boomers anywhere, any time following brawl". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 13 July 2020. Norton has won gold medals with the Boomers at both the Asia Cup and Commonwealth Games...
  55. "AUSTRALIAN MEN'S BASKETBALL OLYMPIC SQUAD REVEALED". australia.basketball. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
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  57. "Boomers ready to hit the burbs". australia.basketball. 22 February 2023. Archived from the original on 14 April 2023.
  58. "NBL stars headline Boomers team". NBL.com.au. 30 October 2024. Archived from the original on 16 November 2024.
  59. ^ "Take 40: Mitch Norton". NBL.com.au. 4 March 2014. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015.

External links

Brisbane Bullets current roster
Links to related articles
Perth Wildcats 2018–19 NBL Champions
Perth Wildcats 2019–20 NBL Champions
Australia squad – 2017 FIBA Asia Cup – Gold medal
Australia
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