Froling dreams of return to court

Harry Froling says he “dreams of playing basketball again”, as he continues his recovery from a horrific king-hit in January, 2023.

Froling’s attacker was sentenced to two years and seven months’ jail on Friday, 18 months after an incident outside a nightclub.

The then 24-year-old suffered severe injuries to his head, fracturing his skull and requiring emergency surgery to prevent further bleeding in his brain.

Froling said he still has headaches and issues with his sleep and memory, outside of the physical recovery from his attack. 

“I’m happy it’s finally over,” Froling told ESPN’s Olgun Uluc after the completion of court proceedings. 

“It’s been a long and outstretched process, not knowing anything because I don’t have memory of the night of the incident. I’d been hearing from third parties, accusations, and different things that happened throughout the night, and then now seeing the true facts of what happened, it’s definitely a relief, and knowing I didn’t do anything that warrants getting king hit.”

Froling has struggled with the inactivity during his recovery, having played and trained as a basketballer at a high level for the best part of a decade. 

Limited by his headaches, insomnia and memory, he says he’s gained weight due to his inability to exercise and his routine as a professional athlete being disrupted.

But the former NBL Rookie of the Year still harbours ambitions of a return to the court. 

He re-joined his former club, the Mackay Meteors throughout the 2024 season and participated in their strength and conditioning programs, supporting them through their championship run in the NBL1 North. 

“I do dream of playing basketball again,” Froling said.

“It’s still a ways away, but I’m doing everything I can to get back on top of that. 

“I’m doing what I can. It’s my career. It’s my first love. I want to be in that space in some way. 

“It’s been great being around Mackay Basketball, and those guys helping me out, and just rehab, being with the weights coach, all that sort of stuff; just trying to get healthy and get on top of my general health.

“If I could get back to it and play again, that is a dream of mine. It’s all dependent on how I feel and how my body responds. I guess that’s the difficult thing.

“I may never play again, and that’s the reality of it, but I would love to and doing everything in my power to get as healthy as I can and come back from this.”

Froling has played 154 career NBL games, spending time with the Brisbane Bullets, Illawarra Hawks, Adelaide 36ers and Townsville Crocodiles. 

Read the full story here >> Harry Froling dreaming of NBL return after 'losing my whole life'