Michael Vigor

Michael James Vigor (born 17 September 1990) is a Scottish-born Australian professional basketball player for the Lakeside Lightning of the State Basketball League (SBL) competing in the West Coast Classic. He grew up in Perth, Western Australia, where he attended Wesley College and played for the Perth Redbacks in the SBL. In 2011, he joined the Perth Wildcats as a development player, spending three seasons with the team in that role. After two seasons playing in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) for the Bendigo Braves, Vigor ventured to England to play for the Plymouth Raiders, before joining the Bristol Flyers in 2016. In September 2017, he helped the Redbacks win their first SBL Championship in 20 years, and in April 2018, he represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.

Michael Vigor
Vigor in June 2018
No. 25 – Lakeside Lightning
PositionPower forward / Centre
LeagueState Basketball League
West Coast Classic
Personal information
Born (1990-09-17) 17 September 1990
Westhill, Scotland
NationalityAustralian / British
Listed height206 cm (6 ft 9 in)
Listed weight98 kg (216 lb)
Career information
High schoolWesley College
(Perth, Western Australia)
Playing career2008–present
Career history
2008–2013Perth Redbacks
2011–2014Perth Wildcats
2014–2015Bendigo Braves
2015–2016Plymouth Raiders
2016–2018Perth Redbacks
2016–2019Bristol Flyers
2019–presentLakeside Lightning
2019–2020Libertas Altamura
Career highlights and awards

Early life

Vigor was born in Westhill, Scotland, to an English father and a Scottish mother.[1] He lived there for the first five years of his life before being raised in Australia.[1][2] Vigor attended Wesley College in Perth, Western Australia, where he played for the school's basketball team.[3] He also played in the Western Australian Basketball League (WABL) for the Perth Redbacks as a junior.[3]

Professional career

Perth Redbacks / Wildcats (2008–2014)

Vigor debuted in the State Basketball League (SBL) for the Perth Redbacks in 2008. He played six seasons for the Redbacks and won the SBL Most Improved Player Award in 2012.[4] In August 2011, Vigor joined the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL) as a development player.[5] He played three games in 2011/12, seven games in 2012/13, and three games in 2013/14.[6] The Wildcats were NBL Grand Finalists all three years, and won a championship in 2013/14.

Bendigo Braves (2014–2015)

In November 2013, Vigor signed with the Bendigo Braves of the South East Australian Basketball League for the 2014 season.[7][8] Vigor averaged 14.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in his first season with the club, but the Braves failed to make the play-offs for the first time since 2004.[9]

In November 2014, Vigor re-signed with the Braves for the 2015 season.[9] Vigor took control under the rim with 12.7 points and 5.4 boards while averaging less than 25 minutes a game.[10] The Braves finished the regular season as the second seed in the South Conference with a 16–8 record, and made it through to the conference final, where they lost to the Mount Gambier Pioneers.[10]

Plymouth Raiders (2015–2016)

In July 2015, Vigor signed with the Plymouth Raiders of the British Basketball League for the 2015/16 season.[11][12] Vigor made 32 appearances for the Raiders in 2015/16, averaging 11.5 points per game on 33% shooting from behind the three-point-line.[13]

Perth Redbacks (2016–2018)

Vigor returned to the Perth Redbacks for the 2016 season.[14] He was named the Redbacks MVP in 2016,[15][16] and in 2017, he helped the Redbacks win their first SBL Championship in 20 years.[17] In 21 games for the Redbacks in 2017, he averaged 11.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.[18] On 5 February 2018, he re-signed with the Redbacks for the 2018 season.[19]

Bristol Flyers (2016–2019)

On 29 June 2016, Vigor signed with the Bristol Flyers for the 2016/17 season.[13] Vigor made 33 appearances in 2016/17, averaging 9.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.[20]

On 31 May 2017, Vigor penned a new one-year deal with the Flyers, with an option to extend for a further year.[20] He joined the Flyers in 2017/18 as team captain.[16][21] Vigor made 32 appearances in 2017/18, averaging 8.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.

On 21 August 2018, Vigor re-signed with the Flyers on a one-year deal, agreeing to re-join the club in December for the second half of the 2018/19 season.[22][23] In 15 games, he averaged 6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

Lakeside Lightning and Libertas Altamura (2019–present)

In May 2019, Vigor joined the Lakeside Lightning for the rest of the 2019 SBL season.[24]

In September 2019, Vigor joined Italian team Libertas Altamura of the Lega Basket Serie C.[25][26] In 18 games during the 2019/20 season, he averaged 16.1 points per game.[27]

Vigor re-joined the Lightning in 2020 for the West Coast Classic.[28]

National team career

In January 2018, Vigor received his first international call-up for Scotland ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. He was a surprise addition to the final 12-man squad, after qualifying to play for Scotland through his mother's Scottish heritage.[1][29] He helped Scotland reach the bronze medal game at the Commonwealth Games, as they finished the tournament in fourth place.[22]

References
  1. Osborne, Joel (17 January 2018). "VIGOR'S PRIDE AT GOLD COAST CALL-UP". bristolflyers.co.uk. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  2. Woods, Mark (18 January 2018). "Jonny Bunyan follows brother Keith to Commonwealth Games". scotsman.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018. ...fortified by Bristol Flyers forward Mike Vigor, born in Aberdeen but raised in Australia...
  3. "Michael Vigor Bio". performancebasketball.com.au. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  4. "BWA Annual Dinner - SBL Award Winners". SportsTG.com. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  5. "Vigor Selected as Wildcat". SportsTG.com. 22 August 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  6. "Player statistics for Michael Vigor – NBL". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  7. King, Travis (25 November 2013). "Braves sign Perth Wildcats tall, chasing imports". bendigoadvertiser.com.au. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  8. "BRAVES SIGN PERTH REDBACKS CENTRE MICHAEL VIGOR". SEABL.com.au. 26 November 2013. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  9. "Vigor returns to Braves". bendigoadvertiser.com.au. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  10. "2015 SEABL REPORT CARDS- BENDIGO". Basketball.net.au. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  11. "Plymouth Raiders sign Mike Vigor". talkbasket.net. 25 July 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  12. "Centre Vigor becomes latest Australian to join Plymouth Raiders". plymouthsportsgazette.com. 25 July 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  13. "VIGOR COMPLETES FLYERS SWITCH". bristolflyers.co.uk. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  14. Pike, Chris (18 March 2016). "Men's SBL Season Preview – Perth Redbacks". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  15. "2016 SBL Award Winners". perthredbacks.asn.au. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  16. "VIGOR KEEN TO RETURN TO BRISTOL WITH AN SBL CHAMPIONSHIP". SBL.asn.au. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  17. "REDBACKS TURN IT ON TO END SBL CHAMPIONSHIP DROUGHT IN STYLE". SBL.asn.au. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  18. "Player statistics for Michael Vigor – SBL". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  19. "Welcome Back!". SportsTG.com. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  20. "MIKE VIGOR PENS NEW DEAL WITH BRISTOL FLYERS". bristolflyers.co.uk. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  21. Gains, Bradley (6 November 2017). "Bristol Flyers star Mike Vigor: We must keep our feet on the ground". dailystar.co.uk. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  22. "Vigor to return to Bristol following rest". bbl.org.uk. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  23. Osborne, Joel (21 August 2018). "VIGOR TO RETURN TO FLYERS FOLLOWING REST". bristolflyers.co.uk. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  24. "Suns vs Lightning". FIBALiveStats.com. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  25. Osborne, Joel (2 September 2019). "Thank you, Mike Vigor". bristolflyers.co.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  26. Arsenis, Damian (18 September 2019). "Aussies in Europe: 2019/20". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  27. "VIGOR MICHAEL". playbasket.it (in Italian). Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  28. "Tigers vs Lightning". FIBALiveStats.com. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  29. Osborne, Joel (17 January 2018). "VIGOR TO REPRESENT SCOTLAND AT 2018 COMMONWEALTH GAMES". bristolflyers.co.uk. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
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