CJ Bruton
Encyclopedia
Calvin Thomas Bruton Jr., commonly known by the name C. J. Bruton (born December 13, 1975 in Wichita
, Kansas
), is an American
-Australian
professional basketball
player in the National Basketball League
. Bruton moved to Australia
at the age of three when his father Calvin Bruton, Sr. moved to Australia to play for the Brisbane Bullets
in 1979.
Bruton has played for numerous NBL teams over his career. He debuted with the Perth Wildcats
in 1994, which made him ineligible to play in the NCAA and so upon returning to the USA he competed in the NJCAA for Indian Hills Community College
. While there he won an NJCAA National Championship with Indian Hills JC and was named as an NJCAA All-American. In 1997 he was selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies
in the NBA Draft
, but was not signed by the team.
Upon returning to the NBL in 1998, Bruton played for the Brisbane Bullets
for one season before heading to Wollongong to play for the Hawks
from 1998-2000. Bruton then played for the Canberra Cannons
with his father, Cal Bruton
, as head coach
. In 2003 the Canberra Cannons folded and instead of relocating with the club to Newcastle
, Bruton began a successful stint with the Sydney Kings
. In his time in Sydney
Bruton would win two championships and co-captain the Kings with Jason Smith. This successful tenure also lead to him being selected in the Boomers squad for the 2004 Olympic Games and the 2006 Commonwealth Games
.
, Sam Mackinnon
, Dusty Rychart
, Stephen Black
and Adam Gibson. The Bullets won the NBL Pre-Season Blitz (held at Coffs Harbour, with Bruton being MVP of the mini-tournament and part of the All-Star Five. His team went 28-5 in the regular season, and then defeated the Melbourne Tigers 3-1 in the finals series to win the Bullets' third championship. The Bullets won the last 18 matches in the regular season, and with three more wins to start the playoffs, set a new NBL record of 21 straight victories. Bruton averaged 14.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
In the 2007-08 NBL season
, Bruton took on an increased role on offense and averaged 19.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists in 33 games. The Bullets finished the regular season in third position with a 20-10 record, but eventually dipped out in the semi-finals to the eventual champions the Melbourne Tigers. For his efforts, Bruton was named in the All-NBL Second Team.
with clear intentions of winning a championship. Bruton's signing gave the Breakers' stability and direction at the point-guard position, something that had previously been missing. The Breakers started off the 2008-09 NBL season 15-4, but the loss of Bruton to a high-ankle sprain was telling, as the Breakers lost eight of their final eleven games. After winning through to a best-of-three semi-final series against the defending champion Melbourne Tigers, the Breakers suffered the same fate as Bruton's Bullets a year ago, swept 2-0.
In the 2009-10 NBL season, Bruton appeared in all 28 games for the Breakers, and averaged 16.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game. But despite Bruton's best efforts were in vain, with the Breakers finishing 15-13 for the season and in fifth place, missing out on the semi-finals.
In the 2010-11 NBL season, Bruton's playing role reduced, as he averaged only 25 minutes per game (as opposed to 32 minutes per game in the previous season). Consequently his individual numbers slipped, average 11.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. However on the team front, the Breakers made history by becoming the first professional franchise based in New Zealand to win an Australian league. Bruton hit two three-pointers in the fourth quarter of the championship-deciding game against the Cairns Taipans to seal the championship. It was Bruton's fourth NBL title in his illustrious career.
Bruton is likely to return to the Breakers for the 2011-12 NBL season, with the Breakers likely to pick up an option on his original three-year deal.
in the team's roster. During 2010 the team reached the league's semi-finals, Bruton has drawn comparisons to former Puerto Rican star point guard Fico López
.
He re-signed with Quebradillas midway in the 2011 season, joining another fellow Boomer, Mark Worthington
. During the 2011 playoffs, Bruton was released from the team and replaced with Darius Washington. However, and in a strange move, Bruton was hired two days later as Head Coach of the team, after coach Manolo Cintron
was fired mid series. With Bruton as coach, Quebradillas eliminated the Vaqueros de Bayamon, and advanced to their second league finals in three years.
, and attended the veterans training camp with fellow Australian Chris Anstey
. This try-out almost forced him to miss the 2006 World Championships. He did eventually compete in the championships as the Boomers made the round of sixteen.
In 2008, Bruton was selected to play as a member of the Australian Boomers
at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In July 2010, Bruton was selected for the Boomers Camp. Shortly afterwards, Bruton announced his international retirement.
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
), is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-Australian
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player in the National Basketball League
National Basketball League (Australasia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
. Bruton moved to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
at the age of three when his father Calvin Bruton, Sr. moved to Australia to play for the Brisbane Bullets
Brisbane Bullets
The Brisbane Bullets were, until 2008, a professional basketball team competing in Australia's National Basketball League. The Bullets were one of only two teams that survived since the NBL's inception in 1979; the only surviving team is now the Wollongong Hawks. The team played in Midnight Navy...
in 1979.
Bruton has played for numerous NBL teams over his career. He debuted with the Perth Wildcats
Perth Wildcats
The Perth Wildcats are an Australian professional basketball team competing in the National Basketball League. The Wildcats are the only team in the league representing the state of Western Australia and are based in the state capital, Perth...
in 1994, which made him ineligible to play in the NCAA and so upon returning to the USA he competed in the NJCAA for Indian Hills Community College
Indian Hills Community College
Indian Hills Community College is a two-year public community college, with campuses located in Ottumwa, Iowa and Centerville, Iowa. I.H.C.C. serves both traditional residential students and commuter students.-History:...
. While there he won an NJCAA National Championship with Indian Hills JC and was named as an NJCAA All-American. In 1997 he was selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
in the NBA Draft
1997 NBA Draft
The 1997 NBA Draft took place on June 25, 1997 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Although the Celtics had the second worst record in the 1996-97 season and the best odds of winning the lottery with two picks, the Spurs, usually a model of winning and consistency, lost David Robinson to an injury early...
, but was not signed by the team.
Upon returning to the NBL in 1998, Bruton played for the Brisbane Bullets
Brisbane Bullets
The Brisbane Bullets were, until 2008, a professional basketball team competing in Australia's National Basketball League. The Bullets were one of only two teams that survived since the NBL's inception in 1979; the only surviving team is now the Wollongong Hawks. The team played in Midnight Navy...
for one season before heading to Wollongong to play for the Hawks
Wollongong Hawks
The Wollongong Hawks are a team competing in Australia's National Basketball League , based in the New South Wales city of Wollongong. They won the NBL championship in 2001 and finished as runners-up in 2005 and 2010...
from 1998-2000. Bruton then played for the Canberra Cannons
Canberra Cannons
The Canberra Cannons were a basketball team competing in the Australian National Basketball League. They went into financial administration in 2003 and were relocated to Newcastle, where they became the Hunter Pirates...
with his father, Cal Bruton
Cal Bruton
Calvin Bruton is a former player and coach in the Australian National Basketball League. Originally an American import, but later becoming a naturalised Australian, Bruton has been an integral part of the league since its inception...
, as head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
. In 2003 the Canberra Cannons folded and instead of relocating with the club to Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, Bruton began a successful stint with the Sydney Kings
Sydney Kings
The Sydney Kings are a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. They are the only team to date to win three consecutive championships in the NBL and currently sit third behind the Adelaide 36ers and Melbourne Tigers two away from the record five wins...
. In his time in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
Bruton would win two championships and co-captain the Kings with Jason Smith. This successful tenure also lead to him being selected in the Boomers squad for the 2004 Olympic Games and the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
.
Brisbane Bullets
Bruton signed for the cashed-up Brisbane Bullets for the 2006/07 NBL season, joining a star-studded team that also featured Mark BradtkeMark Bradtke
Mark Robert Bradtke is a retired Australian professional basketball player who played mainly in Australia's National Basketball League but also had a single stint in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996-97...
, Sam Mackinnon
Sam Mackinnon
Samuel Mackinnon is a retired Australian professional basketball player whose last team was the NBL team Melbourne Tigers.-Playing career:...
, Dusty Rychart
Dusty Rychart
Dusty Mike Rychart is a naturalised Australian professional basketball player, originally from the United States...
, Stephen Black
Stephen Black
Stephen Black is an Australian former professional basketball player who last played for the Cairns Taipans of the NBL. He is the son of Alan Black...
and Adam Gibson. The Bullets won the NBL Pre-Season Blitz (held at Coffs Harbour, with Bruton being MVP of the mini-tournament and part of the All-Star Five. His team went 28-5 in the regular season, and then defeated the Melbourne Tigers 3-1 in the finals series to win the Bullets' third championship. The Bullets won the last 18 matches in the regular season, and with three more wins to start the playoffs, set a new NBL record of 21 straight victories. Bruton averaged 14.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
In the 2007-08 NBL season
2007-08 NBL Season
2007-08 is the 30th NBL season.On 21 November 2006, the NBL announced that Gold Coast Blaze will join the league, expanding it to 13 teams.-2007-08 league participants:-Pre-season Transactions:...
, Bruton took on an increased role on offense and averaged 19.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists in 33 games. The Bullets finished the regular season in third position with a 20-10 record, but eventually dipped out in the semi-finals to the eventual champions the Melbourne Tigers. For his efforts, Bruton was named in the All-NBL Second Team.
New Zealand Breakers
After the Brisbane Bullets became defunct, Bruton signed with the New Zealand BreakersNew Zealand Breakers
The New Zealand Breakers are a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. The Breakers joined the NBL for the 2003/04 season as one of two expansion clubs. The club is based in the city of Auckland, New Zealand and play their home games at the North...
with clear intentions of winning a championship. Bruton's signing gave the Breakers' stability and direction at the point-guard position, something that had previously been missing. The Breakers started off the 2008-09 NBL season 15-4, but the loss of Bruton to a high-ankle sprain was telling, as the Breakers lost eight of their final eleven games. After winning through to a best-of-three semi-final series against the defending champion Melbourne Tigers, the Breakers suffered the same fate as Bruton's Bullets a year ago, swept 2-0.
In the 2009-10 NBL season, Bruton appeared in all 28 games for the Breakers, and averaged 16.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game. But despite Bruton's best efforts were in vain, with the Breakers finishing 15-13 for the season and in fifth place, missing out on the semi-finals.
In the 2010-11 NBL season, Bruton's playing role reduced, as he averaged only 25 minutes per game (as opposed to 32 minutes per game in the previous season). Consequently his individual numbers slipped, average 11.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. However on the team front, the Breakers made history by becoming the first professional franchise based in New Zealand to win an Australian league. Bruton hit two three-pointers in the fourth quarter of the championship-deciding game against the Cairns Taipans to seal the championship. It was Bruton's fourth NBL title in his illustrious career.
Bruton is likely to return to the Breakers for the 2011-12 NBL season, with the Breakers likely to pick up an option on his original three-year deal.
Piratas de Quebradillas
Bruton was signed in 2010 by the Piratas de Quebradillas of the Puerto Rican basketball league, joining fellow Boomer Shawn RedhageShawn Redhage
Shawn Redhage is a naturalised Australian professional basketball player, originally from the United States...
in the team's roster. During 2010 the team reached the league's semi-finals, Bruton has drawn comparisons to former Puerto Rican star point guard Fico López
Federico Lopez
Federico López Camacho was a Puerto Rican basketball player. He was a member of the Guaynabo Mets....
.
He re-signed with Quebradillas midway in the 2011 season, joining another fellow Boomer, Mark Worthington
Mark Worthington
Mark Worthington is an Australian professional basketball player. He was named the NBL rookie of the year in 2006 and won gold with the Australian basketball team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games....
. During the 2011 playoffs, Bruton was released from the team and replaced with Darius Washington. However, and in a strange move, Bruton was hired two days later as Head Coach of the team, after coach Manolo Cintron
Manolo Cintron
Manuel Cintrón Vega is a former Puerto Rican professional basketball player, who for 11 seasons in the 1980s and early 1990s played with several teams in the National Basketball League in Puerto Rico., including the "Atléticos de San German", the "Leones de Ponce" and the "Gigantes de...
was fired mid series. With Bruton as coach, Quebradillas eliminated the Vaqueros de Bayamon, and advanced to their second league finals in three years.
International career
In 2006, Bruton had an unsuccessful try-out with the NBA's Cleveland CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
, and attended the veterans training camp with fellow Australian Chris Anstey
Chris Anstey
Christopher John Anstey is a former Australian professional basketball player. At 7'0" his career included stints in the NBA, Russia and Spain. Anstey was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft. He played for the Melbourne Tigers in the Australian NBL...
. This try-out almost forced him to miss the 2006 World Championships. He did eventually compete in the championships as the Boomers made the round of sixteen.
In 2008, Bruton was selected to play as a member of the Australian Boomers
Australia national basketball team
The Australian national basketball team is the men's basketball side that represents Australia in international competitions. The team is known in Australia as the Boomers, an Australian slang term for Kangaroo. Australia is ranked 9th in the world and finished 7th at the 2008 Beijing Olympic...
at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In July 2010, Bruton was selected for the Boomers Camp. Shortly afterwards, Bruton announced his international retirement.