Big-time Blanchfield: NBL champion to join 450-game club

The past 24 months have been nothing short of amazing for Todd Blanchfield.

From an NBL25 title in Illawarra to leading his hometown Mackay Meteors to the NBL1 North crown and snagging the NBL1 East MVP in 2025, Blanchfield has been on one of the hottest runs in Australian hoops.

Now the 34-year-old is set to bring up another accolade when his Illawarra Hawks host New South Wales rivals Sydney on Sunday.

Blanchfield, who currently sits on the same number of matches played as Melbourne Tigers legend Warrick Giddey, will become just the 32nd player in NBL history to play 450 games.

"[The milestone] is special," Blanchfield said.

"I remember when I started back in 2008, when I was a 17-year-old bookkeeper in Townsville, and Cam Tovey said to me on the first day of pre-season to make the most of every day during the season because once it gets going, you blink your eyes and the season's over.

"Here we are in year 17 and that's 100 per cent true.

"I've been fortunate with injuries [throughout my career], as touch wood, they play such a big role in sport and are the reason why many people choose to retire when they do.

"Over my journey, I've figured out what my body needs to compete at the highest level each day, which I feel is the key to my longevity."

The Mackay junior first debuted in the NBL during the 2009-10 season with Townsville, which was the first of six seasons with the Crocodiles.

"I can still remember the Crocs and Trevor Gleeson giving an opportunity straight out of the Australian Institute of Sport," Blanchfield said.

"I was never really interested in the college route, so for the club to give me that opportunity is something I can't thank them enough for because I feel like getting that foot in the door to show what you can do is the hardest part."

But Blanchfield's six-year stint in Townsville, which included All-NBL Second Team honours in 2015, came to an abrupt end.

"I remember in Townsville waking up one morning, getting a phone call from our GM telling me the Crocs were going into liquidation as they couldn't afford to stay afloat," Blanchfield said.

"Then 10 minutes later, eating breakfast sitting on the couch, I saw the news on Fox Sports News and was in shock.

"At that time, it was being said the league was in trouble and didn't know what the future held.

"But since then, the league has had a complete turnaround, which has been really cool to be a part of and experience first hand.

"I feel privileged to have been part of this league, which is well known around the world, for so long, especially as it's now exploding with NBA and EuroLeague games."

Following his time with the Crocs, the Queensland product spent time with Melbourne (two seasons), Sydney (one season), Illawarra (two seasons) and Perth (three seasons), before ultimately returning to the Hawks ahead of the NBL24 season.

The forward acknowledges that none of this on-court success, including the NBL title which he calls his 'career highlight', would have been possible without his loved ones and the people he's met along his hoops journey.

"My wife has been there through all the highs, lows and everything in between," the Australian Boomer said.

"For example, my son was born the day after game three of last season's Championship Series. That was a rollercoaster period for us all but my wife was incredible throughout it, as she's been my whole career.

"Then my parents, who have been there every step of the way, putting me in basketball camps at a young age and driving me wherever I needed to be to play. It was so special to have them, my wife and two kids all there for the championships last season.

"That was a moment players and their loved ones collectively work their whole careers for, so to share that with them is something I'll never forget.

"[Further to that] the relationships you make over your career is another aspect I really cherish.

"It's always special to stay in touch and catch up with people like Mitch Norton in Brisbane or Jesse Wagstaff in Perth, who are teammates that will now be lifelong friends because of basketball."

Brisbane Bullets captain Norton, who met Blanchfield as a 13-year-old at the Queensland Academy of Sport before playing alongside him in Townsville, Illawarra and Perth, had high praise for the milestone man ahead of Sunday's all-NSW fixture at the WIN Entertainment Centre.

"We're no spring chickens anymore, but I've seen the sacrifices he and his amazing young family have made to get him to 450 games," Norton said.

"It was a great honour to lace them up beside him for as long as I did.

"He's the ultimate teammate, who is extremely generous and hard working, while being one of the competition's deadliest shooters.

"We were both very lucky early in our careers to have someone like Olympian Peter Crawford to work out with and show the standards that are needed to succeed in the NBL.

"I've enjoyed watching your career unfold and seeing the transitions you've made as a player.

"Congrats on the milestone Todd, enjoy the moment."

Sunday's Adrian Hurley Cup fixture tips off at 2.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN and Channel 10.