Three-time champ proud to reach 200 at Flames

Featured image: @drewmolodstov.media

Paris Duffield is rightfully proud of her family roots and their sporting history, but she wanted to carve her own path in basketball and now reaches 200 NBL1 West games having won championships at three clubs with Rockingham Flames always home.

Duffield did most of her growing up in Bunbury and on her path to 200 NBL1 West games this Thursday night when the Flames take on the Perry Lakes Hawks at Bendat Basketball Centre, she did head back to play with the South West Slammers in 2023 having started there in 2012 to be part of their championship team.

In between, she played with the Willetton Tigers, Lakeside Lightning and the Flames, winning championships at Lakeside in 2018 and Rockingham in 2019.

Older brother Ryan was a standout cricketer including playing 19 Sheffield Shield matches for Western Australia while cousin Paul played 171 AFL matches with Fremantle and another 86 in the WAFL with South Fremantle including the 2005 premiership.

Her dad, Brett, has always been her biggest supporter too and her uncle, Mark, is one of WA's finest journalists. It's fair to say sport was always in her veins and now she deserves to be proud to be about to become a 200-game, three-time championship winner in the SBL/NBL1 West.

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Family means everything to Duffield and she couldn’t be prouder what they've all achieved and the support she's always received, but she's also glad she was able to make her own path in basketball.

"It’s very cool and really special to come from such a sporty family," Duffield said.

"My oldest brother played state cricket for WA, and my older cousin played AFL for the Dockers, so I’m incredibly proud of them both and everything they’ve achieved.

"I actually started playing basketball after watching my middle brother, Liam, play social basketball, and from there my love for the game just kept growing.

"I think I chose basketball because I wanted something that was my own. I wanted to create my own path and make my own name rather than follow in my family’s footsteps.

"Looking back, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Basketball has given me so much more than just a sport—it has introduced me to incredible coaches, amazing teammates, lifelong friendships and opportunities that I’ll always be grateful for."

Coming out of 'retirement'

Duffield did think that she was done playing at an NBL1 level by the end of the 2023 season when she went back to play with the Slammers and she did step away in 2024.

However, there were those at the Flames including short-lived head coach Lukas Carey and current president Jo Clossick who knew she had too much left to offer and lured her back in.

They were certainly right because her last two seasons with Rockingham have been terrific and going into her 200th game on Thursday, she's fresh off a season-best 19 points in her 199th game with four three-point bombs.

"It was actually a couple of people who brought me back. I got a call from Lukas Carey, our head coach, who wanted to have a long and funny chat about the possibility of coming out of retirement," Duffield said.

"Then Jo Clossick, our president, pretty much told me to get my butt back on the court! That’s the short version of how it all happened.

"Looking back now, I’m really grateful they reached out because it’s been such a rewarding experience to be part of this group again."

Rockingham feels like home

Now coming into her 200th game in the league, 88 of them will have been played with Rockingham. While she will always cherish her time with the Slammers, Tigers and Lightning, it is the Flames that is going to be where she feels is her basketball home.

"I’m incredibly grateful for every club I’ve been fortunate enough to play for because each one has played a part in my journey and helped shape me into the player and person I am today," Duffield said.

"But Rockingham is definitely home. There’s just something special about pulling on a Flames singlet and playing in front of the Flames family at the Hot House.

"The support from the community is unreal, and it’s a place where I’ve built lifelong friendships and created some of my favourite basketball memories.

"I’ve been lucky enough to experience different clubs, but nothing compares to the feeling of representing Rockingham. This club has always felt like home, and I’m proud every time I get the opportunity to wear the Flames colours."

Enjoying championship success

Most of Duffield's career has also seen her being part of championship contending teams including still as a junior but part of the Slammers title winning squad in 2012 and then winning championships at Lakeside in 2018 and Rockingham Flames in 2019.

There's every reason to think she could add to that with the Flames team of 2026 current right in the hunt as finals approach.

"I’m incredibly lucky to have been part of championship teams," Duffield said.

"As the only member of my family to have won one (sorry Dad and Ryan), being fortunate enough to win a couple is something I’m really proud of.

"But the 2019 championship with the Flames will always be right at the top. To come from seventh on the ladder and go on to win it all was an unforgettable achievement.

"Sharing that journey with such an amazing group of girls, Keegs (Keegan Crawford, youngest ever winning coach), and the entire Rockingham community is something I’ll cherish forever."

Proud to reach 200 games

Duffield has never been a player to look for the limelight, but she is deservedly proud to reach 200 games just like one of her closest friends, Chelsea Petrik, on her way to 305 in her career including the pair sharing that 2019 championship together.

Having started playing in the SBL at the Slammers in 2012, there's been plenty of bumps in the road along the way and the obvious highlights, but she's glad to get there especially when it looked decidedly unlikely a couple of years ago.

"Reaching 200 games is something I’m incredibly proud of. It’s a real privilege to have had the opportunity to represent the club for that many games, and it’s definitely a moment that makes you reflect on the journey," Duffield said.

"Looking back, I think about all the teammates, coaches, staff, family and supporters who have been part of it. There have been plenty of highs and challenges along the way, and they’ve all helped shape me.

"To reach this milestone is something I’ll always be grateful for, and I’m excited to keep contributing and hopefully finish the season off with a championship."

Prospects of 2026 Flames team

Duffield couldn’t think of a better team to be reaching the milestone with either whether that's long-time rival but now fellow co-captain Shani Amos or two-time MVP Teige Morrell, new gun import Sara Puckett or Rockingham products like Ava Davies, Ava O'Neill, Emily Steven, Ruby New and Sally Moore.

The Flames are currently third at 12-4 but look to be more than capable of contending for what would be a second championship in three years.

"I’m really enjoying being part of this group and feel really proud to be able to be a co-captain with Shani Amos," Duffield said.

"We’ve got an amazing team that has gelled really well, both on and off the court. We keep each other accountable, always have each other’s backs, and everyone is willing to do whatever it takes for the team.

"It’s an exciting group to be a part of, but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves. We know there’s still plenty of work to do, and our focus is on continuing to improve each week and taking it one game at a time.

"If we keep doing that, we’ll give ourselves every chance to be there at the end of the season."

Support of the family

Duffield has no doubt that she wouldn’t have been able to have the career that she's had without the support of her family starting with her parents, her brother and then the extended family.

Then at the same time, sharing the journey with them has made it all the more special too.

"My family has been my rock throughout my entire career," Duffield said.

"They’ve been there through every high and low, and I’m incredibly grateful for the love and support they’ve given me over the years.

"Mum and dad spent countless hours at long training sessions when I was younger, and they’ve made endless drives to and from games and training so I could keep trying to put this ball into a hoop.

"My parents have never missed a beat—they’ve always been there for me, no matter what."

A new No. 1 supporter

While Paris' No. 1 fan in the family was always her older brother Ryan, he has now been surpassed in recent years by his and wife Siobhan's son Eddie.

He's now seven years old and loves the fact that he gets to watch his Aunty out on the basketball court while always holding her account to making her missing shots.

So having Eddie and his younger brother Patrick only adds to how much Paris is now enjoying playing still to share it all with the newer members of the Duffield family.

"Ryan has also had a huge impact on me because he’s someone I can always talk to. He understands the athlete’s perspective, so having someone who truly gets the challenges that come with sport has meant a lot," Duffield said.

"Ryan can be tough at times, but with the warmth of my amazing sister-in-law to balance it out, he’s helped keep me grounded and on track, while also being someone I’ve always looked up to.

"That said, I think they’ve all been knocked off the top spot by my nephew, Eddie! He’s definitely my biggest supporter.

"He has every Flames Duffield singlet, gives me honest feedback after every game (even asking why I missed a shot), and in his eyes, I’m a superstar and the coolest aunty going around.

"That means more to me than he’ll probably ever know. It’ll be really special to have as much of my family there as possible for my 200th game. They’ve been such a huge part of this journey, so being able to share this milestone with them will make it even more memorable."