Froling: "Sky's the limit"

Harry Froling isn’t just back on a basketball court, he’s coming for his spot in the NBL.

Now playing with the Taranaki Airs in the NZNBL, the 26-year-old big man is laser-focused on one thing: returning to Australia’s top league after a life-threatening brain injury in 2023.

“To me, it’s not a gamble on myself. I know what I can do and I know my mindset and how I am. The sky’s the limit for me,” Froling said.

Froling is no stranger to the big stage. He was named NBL Rookie of the Year in 2019 and has played for several clubs, including the Townsville Crocodiles, Adelaide 36ers, Illawarra Hawks and Brisbane Bullets.

With over 150 NBL games under his belt, his résumé speaks for itself.

“I love playing and I love hooping,” he said.

After suffering an epidural hematoma, caused by an unprovoked assault, Froling’s career and life were hanging in the balance. A delayed diagnosis and 12-hour flight home made survival a miracle in itself.

“The neurosurgeons were shocked I was alive,” he said. “It could’ve been lights out mid-air.”

But he’s not dwelling on the past. With a new perspective and renewed discipline, Froling is thriving in the NZNBL.

“I’ve got routine in my life now, I’m comfortable in my own skin, I’m just happy to be playing again, and I know everything will fall into place.”

That shift in mindset has been key.

“Old Harry would’ve walked into a gym and tried to step on toes,” he said.

“Now, I’ve found that belief again, but it’s a grounded belief. I’ve done the work, I’ve been through hell, and now, I just want to hoop.”

He’s also aware of how quickly careers can be forgotten in professional sport, and that adds fuel to his fire.

“You’re pretty quickly forgotten. But with the potential I have now, and the mindset I have, and how I look after myself, the sky’s the limit.”

With his eyes set firmly on the NBL and his game speaking volumes, Harry Froling’s comeback isn’t just inspiring, it’s only just beginning.