Mitch Norton Explained

Mitch Norton
Position:Point guard
Height Cm:184
Weight Kg:90
League:NBL
Team:Brisbane Bullets
Number:8
Birth Date:1993 4, df=yes
Birth Place:Townsville, Queensland, Australia
High School:Pimlico State
(Townsville, Queensland)
Career Start:2011
Years1:2011–2016
Team1:Townsville Crocodiles
Years2:2012–2015
Team2:Townsville Heat
Years3:2016–2017
Team3:Southland Sharks
Years4:2016–2018
Team4:Illawarra Hawks
Years5:2018–2023
Team5:Perth Wildcats
Years6:2023–present
Team6:Brisbane Bullets
Years7:2024–present
Team7:Southern Districts Spartans
Highlights:

Mitchell Robert Norton (born 1 April 1993) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Brisbane Bullets of the National Basketball League (NBL). He is also contracted with the Southern Districts Spartans of the NBL1 North. He began his 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,[1] where he attended Currajong State School[2] and Pimlico State High School.[3] [4] He played junior basketball for Blackstars Basketball Club.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7] A foot injury limited him to five games.[8] [9] In his second season in 2012–13, Norton appeared in all 28 games for the Crocodiles.[10]

For the 2013–14 season, Norton was named the Crocodiles' Defensive Player of the Year and earned the Players' Player award.[11] He earned the Players' Player award again in 2014–15.

In November 2015, Norton played his 100th NBL game.[12]

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.[13] [14] He helped the Hawks reach the 2017 NBL Grand Final series, where they lost 3–0 to the Perth Wildcats.[15] He missed six weeks during the 2017–18 season after undergoing surgery on a fractured thumb.[16]

Perth Wildcats (2018–2023)

On 23 April 2018, Norton signed a three-year deal with the Perth Wildcats.[17] 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.[18] In March 2019, he was a member of the Wildcats' championship-winning team.[19] In March 2020, he was crowned an NBL champion for the second straight year.[20] [21]

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.[22] He averaged 8.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.[23] 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.[24] For the season, he was a finalist for the NBL Best Defensive Player Award.[25]

On 1 July 2021, Norton re-signed with the Wildcats on a three-year deal.[26] He was ruled out for the first month of the 2021–22 NBL season with a knee injury.[27] [28] On 10 March 2022, he scored a career-high 26 points in a 97–87 win over Melbourne United.[29] [30] Later that month, he was ruled out for two to three weeks with a low grade hamstring strain.[31]

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.[32] [33]

On 14 April 2023, Norton parted ways with the Wildcats.[34]

Brisbane Bullets (2023–present)

On 19 April 2023, Norton signed a two-year deal with the Brisbane Bullets.[35]

On 10 April 2024, Norton extended his contract with the Bullets until the end of the 2026–27 season.[36] He was named team captain for the 2024–25 NBL season.[37]

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,[38] where he won the QBL U23 Youth Player of the Year award in 2015.[39]

In 2016, Norton moved to New Zealand to play for the Southland Sharks in the New Zealand NBL.[40] [41] [42] [43] He returned to the Sharks for the 2017 season.[44]

Norton is set to join the Southern Districts Spartans of the NBL1 North for the 2024 season.[45] [46]

National team career

In July 2012, Norton helped Australia earn the silver medal at the Stanković Cup in China.[47] [48]

In June 2013, Norton was named in the Australian squad for the Stanković Cup[49] and World University Games.[50] Australia went on to win gold and silver respectively.[51]

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.[52]

In February 2021, Norton was named in the Boomers' Olympic squad.[53]

In August 2022, Norton was named in the Boomers' World Cup Qualifiers team.[54] He re-joined the team for the next qualifying window in February 2023.[55]

Personal

Norton is the son of Paul and Anita Norton, and has a younger brother named Max.[56] While playing for the Townsville Crocodiles, Norton was studying a business degree at James Cook University.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Townsville Basketballer Mitch Norton Has Been Inducted As A Local Legend. triplem.com.au. 29 June 2018. live. https://archive.today/20200713100849/https://www.triplem.com.au/story/townsville-basketballer-mitch-norton-has-been-inducted-as-a-local-legend-99335. 13 July 2020.
  2. Web site: Lubicz. Carly. Meet Mitch Norton. thegotownsville.com.au. 24 November 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160315174136/https://thegotownsville.com.au/2014/11/meet-mitch-norton/. 15 March 2016.
  3. Web site: Norton to miss final games of regular NBL season. townsvillebulletin.com.au. 28 January 2019. 13 July 2020. subscription. Norton may be unlikely to be fit for finals, but the former Pimlico High School student has pushed through adversity before....
  4. Web site: BOY MITCH 'CAN BE A CROC GREAT'. australia.basketball. 26 May 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200713100202/https://australia.basketball/blog/2010/05/26/boy-mitch-can-be-a-croc-great/. 13 July 2020. ...the Year 12 Pimlico High School student....
  5. Web site: Mitch Norton. nbl.com.au/crocodiles. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111013173941/http://www.nbl.com.au/crocodiles-home/team/playing-roster/mitch-norton/. 13 October 2011.
  6. Web site: Mitch Norton - Round 12 QBL Player of the Week. Townsville Basketball Association. 8 August 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200713102025/https://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=0-4762-0-0-0&sID=225501&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=20179460. 13 July 2020.
  7. Web site: Townsville Crocodiles Playing Roster. nbl.com.au/crocodiles. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111013172251/http://www.nbl.com.au/crocodiles-home/team/playing-roster/. 13 October 2011.
  8. Web site: Mitch Norton to play in Adidas EUROCAMP. crocodiles.com.au. 1 June 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130411113554/http://www.crocodiles.com.au/article/id/1np4rohhkav4x14qobsjifd7d0. 11 April 2013.
  9. Web site: Player statistics for Mitchell Norton – 2011/12. NBL. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200713102957/https://websites.sportstg.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=194020294&client=0-189-88242-193068-11143963. 13 July 2020.
  10. Web site: Norton extends future with the Crocodiles. crocodiles.com.au. 2 April 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130411012735/http://www.crocodiles.com.au/article/id/1c32ifp21cqjr1q0qhxvc3103t. 11 April 2013.
  11. Web site: Award Winners. crocodiles.com.au. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151120215504/http://www.crocodiles.com.au/history/award-winners/. 20 November 2015.
  12. Web site: Mitch Norton: Living the Dream. NBL.com.au. 19 November 2015. 13 July 2020.
  13. Web site: HAWKS SNAP UP CROCS CAPTAIN MITCH NORTON. hawks.com.au. 21 April 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160423235808/http://www.hawks.com.au/featured-news/hawks-snap-crocs-captain-mitch-norton/. 23 April 2016.
  14. Web site: O'Neil. Rohan. Ex Croc Mitch Norton finds new NBL home with Illawarra Hawks. townsvillebulletin.com.au. 22 April 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200713105956/https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/ex-croc-mitch-norton-finds-new-nbl-home-with-illawarra-hawks/news-story/41d0d46368e772e584f09b7c30b53900. 13 July 2020.
  15. Web site: NBL grand final: Perth Wildcats clean sweep finals series against Illawarra Hawks to claim title. abc.net.au. 5 March 2017. 13 July 2020.
  16. Web site: Cohen. Mitch. Norton faces long stint on the sidelines. illawarramercury.com.au. 7 December 2017. 13 July 2020.
  17. Web site: Wildcats sign Aussie point guard Mitch Norton. Wildcats.com.au. 23 April 2018. 23 April 2018.
  18. Web site: Mitch Norton Injury Update. Wildcats.com.au. 28 January 2019. 28 January 2019.
  19. Web site: O'Donoghue. Craig. Nine thoughts on the Perth Wildcats ninth NBL title. TheWest.com.au. 18 March 2019. 18 March 2019.
  20. Web site: Perth Wildcats Back-to-Back NBL Champions. Wildcats.com.au. 19 March 2020. 19 March 2020.
  21. Web site: Perth Wildcats Crowned NBL20 Champions. NBL.com.au. 19 March 2020. 19 March 2020.
  22. Web site: Norton to play 250th NBL game. Wildcats.com.au. 17 April 2021. 17 April 2021.
  23. News: Uluc . Olgun . NBL Free Agency: who's on the move . 29 June 2021 . . 26 June 2021.
  24. Web site: O'Donoghue. Craig. Perth Wildcats put a contract offer to Mitch Norton as suitors line up to recruit the free agent. TheWest.com.au. 27 June 2021. 28 June 2021. subscription.
  25. Web site: Bryce Cotton Claims Third Andrew Gaze MVP Trophy. NBL.com.au. 16 June 2021. 16 June 2021.
  26. Web site: Mitch Norton re-signs. Wildcats.com.au. 1 July 2021. 1 July 2021.
  27. Web site: Norton to miss first month of season. Wildcats.com.au. 29 November 2021. 29 November 2021.
  28. Web site: Mitch Norton is back. Wildcats.com.au. 30 December 2021. 30 December 2021.
  29. Web site: Wildcats defeat league-leaders in Melbourne. Wildcats.com.au. 10 March 2022. 10 March 2022.
  30. Web site: Wildcats Heat Up Top Spot Battle with Win Over United. NBL.com.au. 10 March 2022. 10 March 2022.
  31. Web site: Mitch Norton sidelined with hamstring injury. Wildcats.com.au. 23 March 2022. 23 March 2022.
  32. Web site: O'Donoghue. Craig. Perth Wildcats vice-captain Mitch Norton's defensive skill shows why he's going to be key finals performer. TheWest.com.au. 10 February 2023. 11 February 2023.
  33. Web site: Woods. Dan. Norton Impact Throwback to Wildcats' Dynasty. NBL.com.au. 10 February 2023. 11 February 2023.
  34. Web site: Perth Wildcats Thank Mitch Norton and Todd Blanchfield. Wildcats.com.au. 14 April 2023. 14 April 2023.
  35. Web site: Bullets add experienced guard Mitch Norton. brisbanebullets.com.au. 19 April 2023. 19 April 2023.
  36. Web site: Core quartet signs on with Bullets. NBL.com.au. 10 April 2024. 10 April 2024.
  37. Web site: Bullets announce leadership group for NBL25. brisbanebullets.com.au. 20 August 2024. 20 August 2024.
  38. Web site: Mitch Norton. australiabasket.com. 20 February 2024. subscription.
  39. Web site: 2015 QBL Season Awards . QABL.basketball.net.au . 27 August 2015 . 27 August 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150915182402/http://www.qabl.basketball.net.au/index.php?id=127&tx_ttnews%5Byear%5D=2015&tx_ttnews%5Bmonth%5D=08&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1591&cHash=49a6302ef43e0546303e23ecb5a25baf . 15 September 2015.
  40. Web site: Mitch Norton to replace crocked Jordair Jett for Southland Sharks. Stuff.co.nz. 7 April 2016. 7 April 2016.
  41. Web site: Savory. Logan. Southland Sharks after yet another NBL import with Australian Mitch Norton the latest to go. Stuff.co.nz. 15 April 2016. 15 April 2016.
  42. Web site: Savory. Logan. Southland Sharks grab revenge against Canterbury Rams in NBL. Stuff.co.nz. 16 April 2016. 16 April 2016.
  43. Web site: Savory. Logan. Southland Sharks cut import Demetrius Miller for remainder of season. Stuff.co.nz. 5 May 2016. 5 May 2016.
  44. Web site: Southland Sharks re-sign Australian duo for 2017 National Basketball League season. Stuff.co.nz. 14 February 2017. 14 February 2017.
  45. Web site: Southern Districts Spartans NBL1 North Signing 2024. facebook.com/SouthernDistrictsSpartans. 20 February 2024. 20 February 2024.
  46. Web site: Two-time NBL champion joins Spartans. NBL1.com.au. 20 February 2024. 20 February 2024.
  47. Web site: STANKOVIC CUP TEAM NAMED . Basketball.net.au . 5 July 2012 . 4 March 2014.
  48. Web site: AUSTRALIANS FINISH SECOND IN STANKOVIC CUP . Basketball.net.au . 11 July 2012 . 4 March 2014.
  49. Web site: EMERGING BOOMERS TALENT READY FOR STANKOVIC CUP . Basketball.net.au . 27 June 2013 . 12 February 2014.
  50. Web site: AUSTRALIAN TEAMS NAMED FOR 2013 WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES . Basketball.net.au . 27 June 2013 . 12 February 2014.
  51. Web site: Nagy . Boti . Boomers squad – without Jason Cadee and Chris Goulding – 'best in years' . HeraldSun.com.au . 5 August 2013 . 12 February 2014.
  52. Web site: O'Donoghue. Craig. Perth Wildcats recruit Mitch Norton happy to play for Boomers anywhere, any time following brawl. TheWest.com.au. 10 July 2018. 13 July 2020. Norton has won gold medals with the Boomers at both the Asia Cup and Commonwealth Games....
  53. Web site: AUSTRALIAN MEN'S BASKETBALL OLYMPIC SQUAD REVEALED . australia.basketball . 3 February 2021 . 3 February 2021.
  54. Web site: Boomers Team Announced for Fourth Window of FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.. australia.basketball. 11 August 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220826054731/https://australia.basketball/boomers-team-announced-for-fourth-window-of-fiba-world-cup-qualifiers/. 26 August 2022.
  55. Web site: Boomers ready to hit the burbs. australia.basketball. 22 February 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230414074712/https://australia.basketball/boomers-ready-to-hit-the-burbs/. 14 April 2023.
  56. Web site: Take 40: Mitch Norton. NBL.com.au. 4 March 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150722190019/http://www.nbl.com.au/article/id/kc2qyy5iridu12cn9zxd9w6vz. 22 July 2015.

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