Michael Vigor

Michael James Vigor (born 17 September 1990) is a Scottish-born Australian professional basketball player for the Willetton Tigers of the NBL1 West. He grew up in Perth, Western Australia, where he attended Wesley College and played for the Perth Redbacks as a junior. In 2011, he joined the Perth Wildcats as a development player, spending three seasons with the team in that role. After two seasons playing in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) for the Bendigo Braves, Vigor ventured to England to play for the Plymouth Raiders, before joining the Bristol Flyers in 2016. In September 2017, he helped the Redbacks win the SBL championship, and in April 2018, he represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.
Early life.
Vigor was born in Westhill, Scotland, to an English father and a Scottish mother. He lived there for the first five years of his life before being raised in Australia. Vigor attended Wesley College in Perth, Western Australia, where he played for the school's basketball team. He also played in the Western Australian Basketball League (WABL) for the Perth Redbacks as a junior.
Professional career.
Perth Redbacks / Wildcats (2008–2014).
Vigor debuted in the State Basketball League (SBL) for the Perth Redbacks in 2008. He played six seasons for the Redbacks and won the SBL Most Improved Player Award in 2012. In August 2011, Vigor joined the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL) as a development player. He played three games in 2011/12, seven games in 2012/13, and three games in 2013/14. The Wildcats were NBL Grand Finalists all three years, and won a championship in 2013/14.
Bendigo Braves (2014–2015).
In November 2013, Vigor signed with the Bendigo Braves of the South East Australian Basketball League for the 2014 season. Vigor averaged 14.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in his first season with the club, but the Braves failed to make the play-offs for the first time since 2004.
In November 2014, Vigor re-signed with the Braves for the 2015 season. Vigor took control under the rim with 12.7 points and 5.4 boards while averaging less than 25 minutes a game. The Braves finished the regular season as the second seed in the South Conference with a 16–8 record, and made it through to the conference final, where they lost to the Mount Gambier Pioneers.
Plymouth Raiders (2015–2016).
In July 2015, Vigor signed with the Plymouth Raiders of the British Basketball League for the 2015/16 season. Vigor made 32 appearances for the Raiders in 2015/16, averaging 11.5 points per game on 33% shooting from behind the three-point-line.
Perth Redbacks (2016–2018).
Vigor returned to the Perth Redbacks for the 2016 season. He was named the Redbacks MVP in 2016, and in 2017, he helped the Redbacks win their first SBL Championship in 20 years. In 21 games for the Redbacks in 2017, he averaged 11.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. On 5 February 2018, he re-signed with the Redbacks for the 2018 season.
Bristol Flyers (2016–2019).
On 29 June 2016, Vigor signed with the Bristol Flyers for the 2016/17 season. Vigor made 33 appearances in 2016/17, averaging 9.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
On 31 May 2017, Vigor penned a new one-year deal with the Flyers, with an option to extend for a further year. He joined the Flyers in 2017/18 as team captain. Vigor made 32 appearances in 2017/18, averaging 8.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.
On 21 August 2018, Vigor re-signed with the Flyers on a one-year deal, agreeing to re-join the club in December for the second half of the 2018/19 season. In 15 games, he averaged 6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
Lakeside Lightning and Libertas Altamura (2019–2020).
In May 2019, Vigor joined the Lakeside Lightning for the rest of the 2019 SBL season.
In September 2019, Vigor joined Italian team Libertas Altamura of the Lega Basket Serie C. In 18 games during the 2019/20 season, he averaged 16.1 points per game.
Vigor re-joined the Lightning in 2020 for the West Coast Classic.
Willetton Tigers (2021–present).
In February 2021, Vigor signed with the Willetton Tigers for the 2021 NBL1 West season.
National team career.
In January 2018, Vigor received his first international call-up for Scotland ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. He was a surprise addition to the final 12-man squad, after qualifying to play for Scotland through his mother's Scottish heritage. He helped Scotland reach the bronze medal game at the Commonwealth Games, as they finished the tournament in fourth place.