Mitch Creek

Mitchell Creek (born 27 April 1992) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

He is also contracted with the South East Melbourne Phoenix of the National Basketball League (NBL).

Between 2007 and 2009, Creek played 21 games for the Horsham Hornets in the Big V.

In 2009, Creek played a leading role in Victoria Country's campaign at the Under-18 National Championships, trained with the Australian under-19 squad, and earned a place at the prestigious Nike All-Asia Camp in Beijing, China.

In June, he received a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) men's basketball program in Canberra.

To conclude 2009, he played one game for the AIS in the SEABL, before playing 14 games in the SEABL for the AIS in 2010.

He began his NBL career in 2010 and played his first eight seasons with the Adelaide 36ers.

In addition to playing for the AIS in 2010, Creek also guided Victoria Country to a gold medal at the Under-20 National Championships, and had a fairytale international debut, leading the Australian under-19 team to its first gold medal at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Mannheim, Germany.

Creek was subsequently crowned the tournament's most valuable player after averaging 17 points per game and finishing second in efficiency on plus 20.

Creek joined the Adelaide 36ers for the 2010–11 NBL season.

He made his NBL debut on 3 December 2010, recording seven points and three steals in 21 minutes off the bench in a 92–79 win over the Townsville Crocodiles.

In 20 games as a rookie, Creek averaged 5.8 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.

He remained in Adelaide following his rookie season and played for the South Adelaide Panthers of the Central ABL.

In 2011, Creek helped Victoria Country win back-to-back gold medals at the Under-20 National Championships, as they were victorious in defeating Queensland in the final, winning 77–70.

He subsequently won the Bob Staunton Award for tournament MVP after averaging 19 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3 assists per game.

In 2011–12, Creek appeared in all 28 games for the 36ers, averaging 5.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

He again played in the Central ABL during the 2012 off-season, appearing in five games for the Woodville Warriors.

Creek's 2012–13 season was cut short after rupturing his Achilles tendon on 15 December against the Crocodiles in Adelaide.

In 12 games, he averaged 5.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.

He returned to action in 2013–14, helping the 36ers reach the NBL Grand Final, where they lost to the Perth Wildcats in three games.

In 33 games, Creek averaged 7.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.

During the 2014 off-season, Creek played in the SEABL for the Nunawading Spectres.

Creek had a career-best season in 2014–15, averaging 11.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 26 games.

During the 2015 off-season, he played for the Woodville Warriors.

In 2015–16, Creek averaged 9.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 26 games for the 36ers.

During the 2016 off-season, Creek helped the Southern Tigers win the Premier League championship.

He was named Grand Final MVP after recording 29 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, two steals and three blocks in an 85–66 win over the Sturt Sabres.

He was also named league MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-Star Five honours.

After signing a three-year contract extension with the 36ers in May 2016, Creek was named team captain for the 2016–17 season.

On 16 October, he was ruled out for eight weeks after sustaining a stress fracture in his right foot against Melbourne United two days earlier.

Creek returned to action on 10 December, scoring 14 points off the bench in a 102–92 win over the New Zealand Breakers.

Creek went on to help the 36ers win the minor premiership with a 17–11 record.

In 21 games, he averaged 12.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game.

Despite suffering a broken hand following the 2016–17 season, Creek was invited to participate in a free agent mini-camp run by the Utah Jazz before joining the Jazz's Summer League team.

In 2017–18, despite missing three weeks with a hamstring injury, Creek was named the NBL Fans MVP and earned All-NBL Second Team honours.

After a stint in Germany in 2018, he joined the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League.

During the 2018–19 season, he had stints in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves.

He joined the Phoenix in 2019.

Creek was born and raised in Horsham in country Victoria.

He attended St Brigid's College, where he earned induction into the school's hall of fame.