ANGUS Glover has gone through a number of setbacks, but now the talented basketballer is back on the court and doing what he loves. Glover opened up how he first got into playing basketball and how it all started.

“At the age of six or seven, I wanted to start learning more about the game and mum was happy to oblige and start sending me to clinics and camps and other daily activities to try help me understand the game of basketball more and playing with local comp. I started playing the game a bit  young but  that’s how I got involved with it,” he said.

“Growing up, everyone has their own association that they play for. “I learnt a lot from coaches growing up and as a player, you try and take a bit of everything from every coach you have. “That was important and got taught that at a young age and that’s why I implement myself and wanted to carry it forward with me which has served me quite well up to this point.”

Whilst Glover had a successful junior career, whether that was making national championships, exploring other parts of the world and representing Australia and making junior teams, Glover described his journey as “privileged” and that carried that over to playing in the NBL competition.

Whilst accomplishing his 50th game milestone this season, Glover shared from game one to game 50, it took over 1980 days and how special it meant to him.

“After the game, it sunk in. Any milestone is pretty cool to have and for a lot of people to think that I would sit and say, “it’s only 50,” Glover said. “A lot of people do know my story and do understand it’s a bit more meaningful. “It’s not just my 50th, it’s my whole family and my family is apart of it and the whole journey and I’d like to say they are also apart of my journey too and hopefully there is more to come.”

Glover has had to overcome plenty of setbacks, coming back from three anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee surgeries, Glover first had his first major surgery at the age of 16 to 17, he shares that anyone who has a major setback and has doubts shares how normal it is to go through the emotions and how the mental preparation between each of the surgeries Glover has had changed each time. Glover shares his insights and emotions going through those rehabs.

“I think anyone who’s had a major injury has doubts at certain times during their rehab and that’s normal,” Glover said. “I’ve come back from three but on everyone on that I’ve experienced, being told no or ‘you’re not gonna be as good when you come back. “That gave me motivation and gave me that motivation to keep going.

“I wanted to prove that person or group of people or anyone that doubted me wrong. It’s crazy what it can do and play tricks on you and there’s that change. That’s really motivated me and that’s what I tried to do.

“I was always on the training court or rehab courts next to the team and the guys at training every day. “When I was able to shoot and started doing my running patterns, that was always a motivator for me. My thoughts were ‘I’m sick and tired of this court, I want to get into that court type thing’. I’ve always wanted to have the experience playing in the green and gold at the junior level and I’ve always had dreams to play with the Boomers.

“I really wanted to come back and show that I can do that and that’s definitely one of the biggest and highest motivators for me.”

Fast forward to the current season with the Kings, Glover is enjoying getting back on the basketball court. With injuries being a challenge at the start of the season, Glover shared his role, whether he’s scoring or coming off the bench, he is committed and wants to give 110 per cent every time he is on the court. With the Kings having a tremendous winning streak at the moment, Glover shared how enjoyable the team has been.

“We’ve got a really good group of guys and the best thing is everyone likes to hang around the change room and trash talk a bit of rubbish after training or before and it’s a really good environment to be around,” Glover said. “There’s plenty of jokers on the team, which is always good. “It’s always nice when you are winning and we’ve experienced some ups and downs, especially at the start of the season. It shows that true character that we’re a tightening group because we stay together and turned it around and we’re in the top four.”

With Chase Budford in his first season with the Sydney Kings, Glover has enjoyed the coaching style Budford has brought to the team, including that NBA and G-League style of play.

“At the end of the day, that style of play suits me and Chase wants to play that up and down transition style, playing fast and defend and that’s what I like to do. I like to use my athleticism and Chase allow me to do that. He doesn’t say no to anyone and anyone in the team is open, they can shoot the ball. It’s a real team environment and it’s a really good culture we’ve got going right now and it starts at the top with him and it’s been great.”

Whilst Glover has embraced playing in a team sport, being in a fun team environment and the sport of basketball meaning a lot to him, he shared what motivates him to get up in the morning and train.

“I like it because you’ve got really good mates out of it and your friends for life. “In Sydney, there’s always clubs around it, like reunions and catching up down the track and that’s always pretty cool. That’s the best part that can happen. Later in life, there’s always great guys to be around.”  

“I love going to training and it doesn’t take much to get out of bed everyday. Basketball is my job and I’m lucky to play sport as my job. Knowing what I’m going to do for the day, go out and attack and give 110%.”

“I go back and watch the film back, talk to coaches like what we do every week. Because we play games every week, we’ve got to move on pretty quickly and get back on the training court and work on things I need to work on, not only as a team, but as an individual. I mostly forget about it and get back out there and move on quickly. If you dwell on it too much, it affects you long term with basketball, affect you off the court and play mind games. You’ve got to learn to move on quickly and get ready for the next opposition.”

“The sport of basketball means a lot and it’s obviously been in my family for a long time. All my cousins that I’m close to play it and basketball runs in the family. I can’t say too much because they love it. Everyone that you see playing in the NBL or any other professional league enjoy it too. Some people put markets perception that we do it because it’s our job and we all love what we do as players. Hopefully for myself, I play a little bit longer. Whether I’m playing or not in the future and a lot older, I still want to be involved in the sport because I love it that much. Whether that’s coaching or helping with junior associations or helping my own kids in the future, I want to help them play basketball or get there whatever it is when I finish playing.”

David Andersen is a player Glover has looked up to over the years. After playing together at the Illawarra Hawks, Glover shared how a legend like Anderson took him under his wing and someone who helped did those extra gym sessions and exercises off the training court.

“After training, whether I was health or unhealthy with my rehab, he always made time for me, getting extra reps and things in and made sure I was doing the right things, such as eating well. I can’t ask much more than from someone like him in this category in the sport.”

Lastly, Glover shared his words of wisdom to those currently going through a tough rehab and how to get through it, as well as those wanting to improve their game.

“Stay the course. Feel free to reach out and talk to someone,” he said. “For someone like myself, I’ve done that multiple times and that always made me feel better, whether that’s your parents, brother, sister, psychiatrist visit, or whoever it is you want to talk to. If things aren’t going right in your rehab or if you’re over your rehab because it could be a long journey. It’s ok to let it  out and I let it out along during my rehab and you get exhausted sitting on the sidelines.”

“Feel free to talk to someone and there’s always going to be someone who’s going to listen to you, especially family or friends. “There’s always someone that is going to listen to you and make sure that you are doing ok. “You always feel 10 times better when you get stuff out of your chest.

“You can only do so much whether that’s getting into the stadium and getting shots up. Depending on your age, maybe hitting the gym. Always strive to improve. Even whether it’s going for a run. The one thing I did as a kid, on Christmas Day, every basketball stadium is closed. I tried to do some home weights or go for a run because I wanted to try and getting better, whether that’s my cardio or my strength. I’d spend an hour out of my day and then the rest of the day to enjoy Christmas. Try and do little things every day, whether that’s stretching daily,  helping mobility or going to a court, ball handling, anything like that.

“If it’s team training session, put all your work into what you’re trying to do and listen to everyone in your team, especially your coaches. Listening is a big thing that everyone should do. It’s probably the most important skill for basketball, but also that support. Listen, take it in and you’ll get better.”