Hero Starling Makes Young Fan's Day

Photo: Picture It Sport Photography

If Alex Starling’s journey to the pinnacle of Australian basketball hadn’t endeared him to fans enough, his desire to become a hero to the next generation of hoops fans will only see him go up in the estimation of fans nationwide.

Starling recently met Noah Hallam – an eight-year-old who lives with craniosynostosis – during one of the young fan’s numerous trips to Adelaide for medical appointments.

Noah hails from Whyalla, a small town almost 400km north of South Australia’s major city and Noah’s mum, Bree, says her son’s opportunity to meet Starling made this particular trip to Adelaide a special one.

“He lives and breathes basketball,’ Ms Hallam told ABC. “He goes to bed with basketball cards in his top pocket or under his pillow.”

“I always told myself if I ever had the chance to become that hero, any time I had to spend with children that next generation, I would do more than anything to give them that time,” Starling said.

The 34-year-old Starling will undertake his first season of professional sport with the 36ers this season, after initially arriving in Australia in 2011 as an international rookie with the Sydney Swans in the AFL.

Since finishing his footballing career Starling has become a legend of South Australian basketball and has won two NBL1 Central MVP titles.

For the full story head to >> Basketball fan Noah, 8, treated to surprise meet with Adelaide 36ers recruit Alex Starling.