Feeling invincible: McKay on 1986 NBL title

In a special three-part series, we sat down with Hall of Fame member Mike McKay to chat about basketball, life and his love for the Adelaide 36ers.

PART TWO: THE INVINCIBLES

Adelaide 36ers Hall of Fame inductee Mike McKay said the 1986 Invincibles were created from the heartbreak of the 1985 grand final decider.

The 36ers lost to the Bullets in Brisbane and McKay said the infamous ‘bus chat’ sparked the greatest NBL season played in the history of the league.

“We didn’t want to have that feeling again, and all of us made that pact to come back and work harder and see what we can achieve,” McKay said.

“And we nearly achieved the perfect season.”

Adelaide in 1986 had a 24-2 regular season record, losing both games on the buzzer, before getting revenge on the Bullets with a grand final victory in a tough three-game series.

McKay’s first three seasons in the NBL ended with two grand final defeats, and he said the passion during those formative years sparked his fire for the seasons ahead.

“It all started with that ’82 group and seeing all that hard work pay off, it was something we really wanted to come together and enjoy it,” he said.

“We had that taste of it, then to go so close in ’83 and the ‘85 loss, well the rest is history.”

McKay said the 36ers had a core group which stayed together and should have had a lot more success than just the 1986 title.

“We all loved playing together and we all knew each other’s abilities, we were able to push each other in a way that if we knew someone wasn’t right there, we could say ‘hey, pull your finger out’,” McKay said.

“We were probably in a space where we could have set up a dynasty if everything had fallen the right way, but it just wasn’t to be.

“As a team, a group, an organisation before the 90s started, we could have four or five championships.”

FROM APOLLO TO THE POWERHOUSE

In 1992, the 36ers moved their home court from Apollo Stadium to the brand new Findon surrounds of the Clipsal Powerhouse.

McKay said the first few seasons at the Powerhouse the team felt like rockstars.

“It was the hottest ticket in town, everyone wanted to come to watch the Sixers play,” McKay said.

“Everyone wanted to go to the Powerhouse, it was bigger than AFL, soccer, you would rock up and just the amount of people outside who have come to watch you play a sport you love.

“It was a job, but geez it was a job you loved to do.”

CATCH UP ON PART ONE: SPECIAL HONOUR HERE

The first game against North Melbourne Giants was memorable and still rates up with one of the most iconic moments in club history.

“Coming from Apollo, to a stadium like the Powerhouse, the amount of people that were still wanting to come and support us after a few down seasons, that first game you went from 3000 people to over double that amount,” McKay said.

“I still remember the crowd in ’86 after we lost game two and Brisbane taught us a lesson.

“We stayed in the changeroom for quite a while and the amount of people who stayed a lined up for those tickets for the Sunday, that’s an image I always remember.”

DREAM TEAM COMES TRUE

As well as his distinguished 16-year NBL career, McKay reached the World Stage and represented his country at the Olympic Games and two World Championships.

McKay said the experience of being in Barcelona for the 1992 Olympics was something he will cherish forever.

“Barcelona was very, very special, but the first tour I had with the junior team in 1984 was a moment I’ll never forget, your first Australian guernsey is a special,” McKay said.

“The 1990 World Champs, the 1994 World Champs, Barcelona was the ultimate of what any sportsperson wants to achieve.”

The 1992 Olympics was the first time the USA sent professionals to the basketball tournament, with the Dream Team headlined by Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

“Even though we didn’t get to play them, the first official one, we went and watched them play,” McKay said.

“I have photos at home of them sitting on the bench, you have Bird, Johnson, Jordan, (Patrick) Ewing, all of the greats.

“Lucky they didn’t come up against us.”

PART THREE: ONE CLUB REGRETS - ON SATURDAY