Sports star confronts deadly diagnosis and reshapes family world
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When you think of Aussie sporting legends, it’s easy to imagine them as the picture of health—resilient, powerful, and untouchable.
But real life doesn’t always follow that script, and even the strongest can face sudden, life-altering challenges.
One athlete’s unexpected health scare now highlights just how crucial a single moment of action can be.
Paul Maley, known to many as ‘The Mailman’ for his reliable basketball court performances, has spent decades in the limelight.
From his early days as a standout at Yale University, where he was crowned Ivy League Player of the Year, to his celebrated career in Australia’s NBL, Maley’s life has been a testament to athletic excellence.
He played for teams like the Westside Melbourne Saints, North Melbourne Giants (with whom he won the 1994 NBL championship), Victoria Titans, and Adelaide 36ers, racking up impressive stats and a loyal fan base along the way.
After hanging up his boots, Maley didn’t stray far from the sport he loved. He moved into basketball administration, eventually becoming Executive General Manager at Basketball Australia, where he helped shape the game's future and oversaw the WNBL and national competitions.
His sporting legacy lives on through his children: daughter Anneli Maley, a WNBL MVP and Australian representative, and son Finnbar, who made his AFL debut for North Melbourne in 2025 and even scored a goal with his first kick.
But in 2023, Maley’s world was turned upside down by a diagnosis he never saw coming: breast cancer.
Yes, you read that right—breast cancer. While it’s a disease most commonly associated with women, men can get it too, and Maley’s story is a powerful reminder that no one is immune.
Maley’s journey began with a simple, almost accidental discovery.
'A bit more than two years ago, I was lying in bed one night trying to get comfortable, and I rolled onto a side and put my right hand in my left armpit, and I thought, "What the hell is that?"' He recalled. It was a lump—something that clearly didn’t belong.
Like many blokes, Maley admits he’s not usually one to rush to the doctor. 'Normally I leave stuff forever,' he said.
But this time, something told him to act fast. He saw his GP the very next day. The doctor thought it was probably nothing, but sent him for an ultrasound just to be safe.
Maley admits he 'dragged his feet a little bit' and lost a week, but once the ultrasound results came back, things moved at lightning speed: a biopsy, a PET scan, and then surgery—all within two weeks.
The diagnosis was a shock, not just because of the disease itself, but because of what it meant for his family. 'We have a two-and-a-half-year-old, so part of what made this hard was when I got the diagnosis, my youngest son was only six months old,' Maley shared.
'And of course you can’t help but imagine, "S***, am I gonna leave my wife to deal with our son on her own?"' The fear and uncertainty were overwhelming.
One of the most common questions Maley gets is whether breast cancer in men is the same as in women.
The answer? 'It’s exactly the same,' he told basketball legend Andrew Gaze. The good news is that because breast cancer is so prevalent in women, there’s a wealth of research, information, and proven treatments available.
The not-so-good news? The data for men is much smaller, so treatment plans are often based on what works for women.
In Maley’s case, the cancer had already spread to a few lymph nodes, which meant a more aggressive treatment plan: surgery to remove the tumour and affected nodes, followed by six months of heavy-dose chemotherapy.
'In case anybody’s wondering, it’s not a lot of fun,' he said with characteristic candour.
Maley’s experience has turned him into a passionate advocate for men’s health, especially when it comes to cancers that are often overlooked in blokes.
He’s urging men everywhere: don’t ignore the signs, and don’t assume you’re immune. If you notice something unusual, whether it’s a lump, a change in your chest, or anything that just doesn’t feel right, get it checked out. Early detection can make all the difference.
To help spread the word, Maley will participate in the AFL’s Pink Lady Match between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs on 10 August 2025.
The event is a powerful tribute to Australians diagnosed with breast cancer, with fans holding pink silhouettes and players wearing warm-up tops displaying the names of those affected.
Maley will be honoured on the field, with Dee's player Jake Melksham wearing his name and Maley joining a guard of honour.
Through it all, Maley’s family has been his rock. His wife and children have stood by him every step of the way, and his story is a testament to the power of love, resilience, and community. It’s also a reminder that cancer doesn’t discriminate; it can strike anyone at any time.
Have you or someone you know been affected by breast cancer—male or female? What advice would you give to others about checking for symptoms and seeking help? Let’s keep the conversation going and support each other.
Read more: ‘We should be very proud!’ Australian-first medical breakthrough to detect cancer now rolled out!
But real life doesn’t always follow that script, and even the strongest can face sudden, life-altering challenges.
One athlete’s unexpected health scare now highlights just how crucial a single moment of action can be.
Paul Maley, known to many as ‘The Mailman’ for his reliable basketball court performances, has spent decades in the limelight.
From his early days as a standout at Yale University, where he was crowned Ivy League Player of the Year, to his celebrated career in Australia’s NBL, Maley’s life has been a testament to athletic excellence.
He played for teams like the Westside Melbourne Saints, North Melbourne Giants (with whom he won the 1994 NBL championship), Victoria Titans, and Adelaide 36ers, racking up impressive stats and a loyal fan base along the way.
Paul Maley's breast cancer diagnosis reminds Aussies that the disease can affect men too. Credit: Facebook
After hanging up his boots, Maley didn’t stray far from the sport he loved. He moved into basketball administration, eventually becoming Executive General Manager at Basketball Australia, where he helped shape the game's future and oversaw the WNBL and national competitions.
His sporting legacy lives on through his children: daughter Anneli Maley, a WNBL MVP and Australian representative, and son Finnbar, who made his AFL debut for North Melbourne in 2025 and even scored a goal with his first kick.
But in 2023, Maley’s world was turned upside down by a diagnosis he never saw coming: breast cancer.
Yes, you read that right—breast cancer. While it’s a disease most commonly associated with women, men can get it too, and Maley’s story is a powerful reminder that no one is immune.
Maley’s journey began with a simple, almost accidental discovery.
'A bit more than two years ago, I was lying in bed one night trying to get comfortable, and I rolled onto a side and put my right hand in my left armpit, and I thought, "What the hell is that?"' He recalled. It was a lump—something that clearly didn’t belong.
Like many blokes, Maley admits he’s not usually one to rush to the doctor. 'Normally I leave stuff forever,' he said.
But this time, something told him to act fast. He saw his GP the very next day. The doctor thought it was probably nothing, but sent him for an ultrasound just to be safe.
Maley admits he 'dragged his feet a little bit' and lost a week, but once the ultrasound results came back, things moved at lightning speed: a biopsy, a PET scan, and then surgery—all within two weeks.
'And of course you can’t help but imagine, "S***, am I gonna leave my wife to deal with our son on her own?"' The fear and uncertainty were overwhelming.
One of the most common questions Maley gets is whether breast cancer in men is the same as in women.
The answer? 'It’s exactly the same,' he told basketball legend Andrew Gaze. The good news is that because breast cancer is so prevalent in women, there’s a wealth of research, information, and proven treatments available.
The not-so-good news? The data for men is much smaller, so treatment plans are often based on what works for women.
In Maley’s case, the cancer had already spread to a few lymph nodes, which meant a more aggressive treatment plan: surgery to remove the tumour and affected nodes, followed by six months of heavy-dose chemotherapy.
Maley’s experience has turned him into a passionate advocate for men’s health, especially when it comes to cancers that are often overlooked in blokes.
He’s urging men everywhere: don’t ignore the signs, and don’t assume you’re immune. If you notice something unusual, whether it’s a lump, a change in your chest, or anything that just doesn’t feel right, get it checked out. Early detection can make all the difference.
To help spread the word, Maley will participate in the AFL’s Pink Lady Match between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs on 10 August 2025.
The event is a powerful tribute to Australians diagnosed with breast cancer, with fans holding pink silhouettes and players wearing warm-up tops displaying the names of those affected.
Through it all, Maley’s family has been his rock. His wife and children have stood by him every step of the way, and his story is a testament to the power of love, resilience, and community. It’s also a reminder that cancer doesn’t discriminate; it can strike anyone at any time.
Read more: ‘We should be very proud!’ Australian-first medical breakthrough to detect cancer now rolled out!
