Dillon Stith – Athlete Interview
From the hardwood courts of Virginia to the bright lights of the NBL, Dillon Stith’s journey has been anything but ordinary. A 2× Big V MVP and Champion, NBL player, PAC Player of the Year, gold medallist at the 3×3 Asia Cup, and now an adopted Aussie, Dillon’s story is one that all hoopers can learn from. Earlier this month we sat down with him to talk about his journey, lessons for young athletes, his time at SRA, and what’s next for 3×3 basketball.
Background & Journey
Junior Basketball Career
Dillon, you’ve had an incredible basketball journey — from America to Ireland, the NBL, Big V, and now representing Australia in 3×3. When you look back, what moment stands out as the turning point in your career?
The career moment that stands out for me the most would be being named all American in college and how it increased my confidence and led me on a pursuit of professional Basketball.
You’ve played in so many different countries and basketball systems. How has this shaped you both as an athlete and as a person?
Playing in different places is one of the most special things that comes with the professional Basketball pursuit. It shaped me by just having gratitude for every day that I get to do my dream job.
In 2014, you were named PAC Player of the Year averaging a double-double. What did that season teach you about your potential?
That season I wasn’t too much of a focal point of the offence to be honest hunting offensive rebounds is what got me more points and I learned if I hustle it could double my output I led the conference in offensive rebounds and was one of the top offensive rebounders in the country for division three and it taught me to hustle and create second chance opportunities. I began my pro journey with that being my best attribute.
The NBL & Professional Career
You’ve played for both the Cairns Taipans and Melbourne United in the NBL. What are the biggest differences between the NBL and other leagues you’ve played in?
The biggest difference with the NBL versus other leagues that I have played in is the size of the front court (bigs). There are many talented guards around the world with a lot of speed and a ot of great shooting but seven footers with the agility to protect the rim and sprint the court and finish only come in the highest of leagues. It is a game changing component. You have to be able to finish over them or rotate and protect the floor against them.
The grind of professional basketball is something many people don’t see. What’s the hardest part about being a pro athlete that young players might not expect?
The hardest part about being a pro athlete that many people may not expect is the uncertainty and the challenges of the everyday grind. How you have to become very disciplined in your own career advancement from a social standpoint and an athlete standpoint responsibility of the highest order is of the most importance.
SRA Experience
You’ve been part of SRA for the last 6 months. Tell us about your experience and how the program has helped you as an athlete:
One of the best things about SRA is working with Shaun and being in an environment with other high performing athletes, it teaches you accountability and how you can hold others accountable while simultaneously being held accountable but simply being surrounded by people with high goals in mind creates a very productive and fun training environment. Something that I’m very appreciative of.
Is there a particular session, training habit, or piece of advice from Shaun that has stuck with you?
A particular training habit that has indeed stuck with me from Shaun is the diligence in the pre-work mobility. I’ve always valued stretching and taking my time to prep the body for lifting but a real focus on a few things like hip mobility and hip range as well as back rolling. I find these are huge advantages for me at this stage in my career and things that can proactively prolong it for even more years to come and that comes with. Talking with Shaun having a full body scan understanding strengths, understanding, potential weaknesses and getting ahead of them before they happen, very thankful for Shaun.
Representing Australia & Citizenship Journey
Winning gold at the 3×3 Asia Cup in Singapore — what was going through your mind in that final game?
Winning gold for Australia and having a very close, down to the wire gold medal game was a thrilling moment. What was going through my head? If I had to say anything it would be to protect the three and don’t let your teammates down. It was a chaotic finish down the stretch and definitely a hunt to 21 in a traditional 3X3 game and the Chinese team were very good. We were able to make a late play and I drew a foul to win the game on a clutch free throw.
As an American-born athlete now with Australian permanent residency, what has the journey toward becoming a nationalised person been like?
The journey was a long one moving to Australia in 2015 and being a part of such a huge growth of Basketball in the past decade. It’s been special to have residency and then citizenship and now representing the country for 3X3 a sport that I have grown to value so highly in a country that has meant so much to me in my adult life.
What does representing Australia mean to you personally?
It is a very proud feeling to put on the green and gold representing your country at any moment at any time for anything is something that is often a dream and never realised but the experience lets me know that sometimes putting your head down and doing the work first and committing to becoming a better player, better teammate, each and every day can lead to mountain tops that may seem out of reach and unexpected but are very much on the horizon.
The Future of 3×3 Basketball
3×3 is exploding globally. Where do you see the format in the next 5–10 years?
In the next 5 to 10 years, 3×3 will undoubtedly be one of the biggest growths of any sport around the world, It will have had several Olympics under its belt which in many countries around the world means a lot more funding which also means a lot more grassroots and groundwork development. It’s a fast paced game with a lot of opportunity for young players to grow and learn. Parents and guardians will love putting their young ballers in the sport and it’ll be an exciting thing in future Aussie sports and around the world.
How different is the mindset and skillset needed for 3×3 compared to the traditional 5-on-5 game?
The mindset and skillset that are both quite different. From a mindset perspective you have to be elite at getting over mistakes quickly, you have to stay stoic in your demeanour because your emotions can quickly become your strength or your weakness… From a skill set perspective you have to be a Swiss Army knife, someone who can guard the perimeter, protect the rim, be physical, make the open shot, finish through contact, make great passes, and just pretty much do everything really good, and fast. Best part as a young player, you can’t hide so go get buckets and get stops.
Advice for Young Athletes
If you could give one piece of advice to your 15-year-old self, what would it be?
If I had to give one bit of advice to my 15 year-old self it would be don’t be nervous about what’s to come. Don’t be anxious about the unknown, just stay present. Put 1 foot in front of the other, put one training in front of the next, and continue to put in the best work you can and most importantly continually build your confidence because one day moments will come and all the prep that you put in will show and tell!
What’s one habit or mindset that separates great players from everyone else?
The one habit or mindset that separates great players from everyone else from all of my encounters are the best of the best are the biggest critics and their own biggest fans finding a balance of critically viewing their past performances or practices while simultaneously carrying the confidence to know when they get the opportunity again they will lead the team to victory. That’s a balance that only the greatest half. You don’t wanna beat yourself up too much and you don’t want to blindly be confident when you haven’t put in the work a balance of mental strength is the sign of the greatness from what I’ve seen.
Many young athletes face setbacks — injuries, missing out on teams, self-doubt. How do you personally push through those moments?
Pushing through all of these setbacks injuries missing out on teams self-doubt it goes to what was said previously essentially you’re in a race against yourself and comparison is a thief of joy. You must run your own race be in your own journey and find a way to maintain the mental balance and allow all the training that you put in all the weights that you lift all the basketballs you dribbled all the coaches that you trust let all of that be with pushes you through moments of adversity. Know that everyone from Michael Jordan to Diana Taurasi to any player who plays the game has been through adversity, how you respond to adversity is the true measure of a champion.
Off the Court & Looking Ahead
You’ve made Australia your home. What do you love most about living here compared to the U.S.?
Australia, especially Melbourne, has one of the best sporting scenes in the entire world. They love their sport. They support their teams and compared to back home It’s more predictable and safer on the streets ha ha.
How do you see the next chapter of your career unfolding, both on and off the court?
I still feel I have a lot to give on the court but post career. I absolutely have some special things in order in which I will be giving back to the sporting community and the Basketball community in Australia that I am so grateful for, so watch this space.
When your playing days are over, how do you want people to remember you as a player and a person?
Most importantly when my playing days are over the most important thing is I want to be remembered as a player who may have not been the best at listening to his coaches when he was younger but grew to be a student of the game and I also want to be remembered as a great teammate that the group always found confidence from sharing the court with me as a brother.
Quickfire Round (for social media cut-downs)
- Favourite court you’ve ever played on? Staples Center against Clippers
- Toughest opponent you’ve faced? OKC Thunder with PG13, Russ, Melo
- Go-to post-game meal? Homemade Chicken Pesto Pasta
- Most underrated skill in basketball? Transition sprints. Rather filling lanes on offense to open up secondary sprinters. Or sprinting back to protect the rim. Players who commit to sprints change games for the their O trans and D trans.
- One song that gets you hyped before a game? Anything G Herbo. If you know you know straight up!
- One non-negotiable across your week? Getting in with Shaun at SRA
- Favourite team mate & why? Adi Tomada. We’ve won one chip together 6 yrs ago and we’re going to win another.
Shaun Atkins – Director of SRA Sports Therapy