NBLC Alumni: Tony Bennett
6'1
Guard
From Chicago, Illinois
Tenure: 2013-17
2015 NBLC Champion
A basketball journeyman, Tony Bennett played in several different leagues and countries before being welcomed to the NBL Canada, where his work ethic and consistent high-scoring made him a highly valued player during his time in the league.
Bennett's basketball journey began at Westinghouse Vocational School in Chicago and he then graduated to Kansan NJCAA team the Pratt Beavers. After two years he transferred to the Bradley Braves, for whom he was the leading stealer and second-best scorer in his first season on the team.
In his senior year, Bennett was once again one of the leading scorers for Bradley and helped them to reach the third round of the 2006 NCAA Championship - the team's best finish in the tournament for decades. He started in every game during his tenure with the Braves.
Leaving the Braves, Bennett made his professional debut in 2006 for North Dakotan Continental Basketball Association team, the Minot SkyRockets. He then played a season each with Ura in Finland, in Mexico for Chihuahua and Nogales, and in the French NM2 for Basket Le Puy.
In 2010, he signed with the Halifax Rainmen, then in the Premier Basketball League, with whom he was named to the league's All-Defensive team. He then made the move to the Independent Basketball Association, playing for Chicago Redline, with whom he was named to the 2012 All-Star Game. The following season he joined the Kankakee County Soldiers, winning the 2013 IBA Fall Season and the Finals MVP award.
After a brief stint with the Rochester Razorsharks in the PBL, Bennett started the 2013-14 season playing for Lietkabelis in Lithuania, but left the team early on and joined the London Lightning in the NBL Canada. In his first season in Canada he started in 35 out of 39 games and averaged 14.7 points and 6.0 assists, reaching the Central Division finals with the team, where they lost to eventual champions, the Windsor Express.
The following season he joined the Express where he posted a career-best 16.9-point scoring average on the season, and after a hard-fought playoff run the team emerged as NBLC champions for the first time. Bennett remained in Windsor for the next season, starting in 41 out of 45 games and averaging 14.2 points and 6.8 rebounds en route to leading Windsor to the Central Division finals.
The 2016-17 season he split between Indios de Juarez in Mexico and Windsor, where they swept the KW Titans in the Central Division semi finals but were then swept by the London Lightning in the next round. Bennett last played for Always A Brave (a team of former Bradley Braves) in The Basketball Tournament.
While not the most decorated NBL Canada alumnus, Tony Bennett's contributions have left a lasting impact on the league, one that he will be remembered for.
Picture: Nick Brancaccio
