Derek Rucker

Last updated
Derek Rucker
Rucker playing.jpg
Personal information
Born (1966-10-02) October 2, 1966 (age 58)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
NationalityAmerican / Australian
Listed height184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Listed weight77 kg (170 lb)
Career information
High school University School
(Hunting Valley, Ohio)
College Davidson (1984–1988)
NBA draft 1988: undrafted
Playing career1990–2006, 2014
Position Point guard
Career history
As player:
1990–1991 Brisbane Bullets
1992–1993 Birmingham Bullets
1994 Newcastle Falcons
1995–1998 Townsville Suns
1996–1997 Ginebra San Miguel
1998–2003 West Sydney Razorbacks
2003–2006Brisbane Bullets
2014 Gladstone Port City Power
As coach:
2016 Logan Thunder
Career highlights and awards

Derek Alan Rucker (born October 2, 1966) is an American-Australian former professional basketball player who starred in the Australian National Basketball League for 15 seasons.

Contents

Playing career

Prior to the commencement of his professional career, Rucker attended and graduated from the exclusive University School in Hunting Valley, Ohio. He accepted a basketball scholarship to attend Davidson College and quickly established himself as a player and leader by starting from his freshman year onwards. Rucker led the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament his sophomore season and finished at Davidson as the 3rd (now 4th) all-time leading scorer and all-time assists (now 5th) and steals leader (currently 1st). In addition to being first team All-Southern Conference three years in a row and the Southern Conference Tournament MVP, Rucker was also a two-time Academic All-American. Davidson College retired Rucker's #11 uniform and inducted Rucker into the Davidson Hall of Fame. [1]

Rucker was one of the most dynamic and exciting players in the history of the NBL and won the league's coveted Most Valuable Player (MVP) award with the Brisbane Bullets in 1990. Rucker began his career with Brisbane and played for the Newcastle Falcons, Townsville Suns and West Sydney Razorbacks before returning to the Bullets to finish his career.

Rucker finished his NBL career in the top ten all-time in several statistical categories: scoring (7th), assists (4th), steals (4th) and three-point field goals made (5th). He also finished in the top five in MVP voting four times in a six-year span. Rucker appeared in two championship series and was a two-time All-Star Game MVP. Rucker also played professionally in England and the Philippines.

Playing style

Rucker played an aggressive, attacking offensive game using a combination of skilled moves with the ball. Rucker was a match-winning point guard who scored heavily while also amassing high assist totals throughout his career. An excellent athlete with superb quickness and excellent jumping ability, he constantly raided the keyway and rim despite his size of 184 cm (6 ft 0 in) and 80 kg (180 lb). Combined with outstanding long range shooting ability, Rucker was a very tough player to defend. It was Rucker's exciting style of play during the boom years of the NBL in Australia that thrust him into celebrity status in the new millennium.

Personal

Rucker is the son of former NFL standout Reggie Rucker and Carole Gooch, and has two younger brothers. He and his former partner, Kim Skelton, have two children. [2]

In 2016, he was charged with fraud for stealing $20,000 from the Gladstone Basketball Association. [3]

Media work and post career

Rucker worked for numerous media entities in Australia during and after his playing career including Fox Sports, Channel 9, Radio 2UE Sydney, B105FM Brisbane and Brisbane's Courier Mail. He co-hosted the national NBL weekly recap show in with Stephanie Brantz on Australia's Channel 9 network. After retiring, Rucker became the Sydney Kings' Executive Director of Corporate Basketball Services. [4] He also appeared in the feature film Living Color .

Rucker later ran a high-end sports tour in the United States called D-Ruck's Dream USA Sports Getaway. [5] The first tour was completed in September 2013.

On May 23, 2014, Rucker joined the Gladstone Port City Power of the Queensland Basketball League for a one-game stint. In just over 27 minutes of action, he recorded 5 points, 2 assists and 2 steals in a loss to the Mackay Meteors. [6] In 2015, he was appointed the Gladstone Port City Power chairman and head coach of the men's team. [7] In November 2015, he was appointed head coach of the Logan Thunder for the 2016 QBL season. [8]

NBL career highlights

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Gaze</span> Australian basketball player (born 1965)

Andrew Barry Casson Gaze is an Australian former professional basketball player and coach. He played 22 seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL) with the Melbourne Tigers from 1984 to 2005, winning the league's MVP award seven times and winning the scoring title 14 times. He also guided the Tigers to two NBL championships, in 1993 and 1997, and was named an All-NBL First Team member for a record 15 consecutive years. Gaze has been described as one of the greatest players Australia has ever produced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brisbane Bullets</span> Basketball team in Brisbane, Queensland

The Brisbane Bullets are an Australian professional men's basketball team in the National Basketball League (NBL) based in Brisbane, Queensland. They competed from 1979 to 2008, and returned to the league in 2016. Brisbane were one of ten NBL foundation teams and have won three NBL championships, being successful in the 1985 and 1987 seasons, and again in 2007. They have also competed in the 1984, 1986 and 1990 grand finals and have reached the playoffs 22 times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adelaide 36ers</span> Australian professional basketball team

The Adelaide 36ers are an Australian professional men's basketball team in the National Basketball League (NBL). The 36ers are the only team in the league representing the state of South Australia and are based in the state's capital of Adelaide. The club was originally called the Adelaide City Eagles when they joined the NBL in 1982, but changed their name to the 36ers the following year. The 36ers nickname comes from the fact that the Colony of South Australia was officially proclaimed on 28 December 1836. Since 2019, the 36ers play their home games at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Sydney Razorbacks</span> A defunct NBL club based in Western Sydney

The West Sydney Razorbacks were an Australian professional basketball team that competed in the National Basketball League (NBL). The club was based in Sydney, New South Wales.

Brett Steven Maher is an Australian retired professional basketball player. He played his entire seventeen-year career for his hometown Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League (NBL) from 1992 to 2009. Maher also represented Australia at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympic Games, as well as at the 1998 FIBA World Championship.

Samuel Mackinnon is an Australian basketball coach and former player. He played in the National Basketball League (NBL) between 1994 and 2010, where he won two NBL championships and was named the NBL Most Valuable Player in 2007. He currently serves as an assistant coach of the South East Melbourne Phoenix in the NBL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C. J. Bruton</span> American-Australian basketball player

Calvin Thomas "C. J." Bruton Jr. is an American-Australian professional basketball coach and former player. He played the majority of his career in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) where he won six league championships and was a five-time All-NBL Team selection. Bruton played for numerous NBL teams over his career: Perth Wildcats, Brisbane Bullets, Wollongong Hawks, Canberra Cannons, Sydney Kings and New Zealand Breakers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Carfino</span> American basketball player (born 1962)

Steve Carfino is an American former professional basketball player, who played for the University of Iowa in college basketball and later in the Australian National Basketball League. After retiring he became a television commentator, focusing on basketball, occasionally covering other sports. He is the younger brother of former University of Southern California player Don Carfino.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Rillie</span> Australian basketball player and coach

John Peter Rillie is an Australian basketball coach and former player. He currently serves as head coach of the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played 16 seasons in the NBL between 1995 and 2010 before embarking on a coaching career in the United States' college system.

Leroy Loggins is an Australian-American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball League (NBL) from 1981 until 2001.

Gordon Livingstone "Gordie" McLeod is an Australian former professional basketball player and coach in the National Basketball League (NBL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Martin</span> Australian basketball player

Luke Martin is an Australian former professional basketball player who spent the majority of his career playing in the National Basketball League (NBL). In 2004 and 2005, he represented the Australian national team.

Paul Rees is a former Australian professional basketball player who played his entire career in the Australian National Basketball League. Rees was known for his presence under the basket and while not blessed with a great jumping ability he was able to use his physical size to his advantage and was considered to be a strong rebounder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julian Khazzouh</span> Lebanese-Australian basketball player

Julian Khazzouh is a Lebanese-Australian former professional basketball player. He played in Australia, the Netherlands, Israel, and Lebanon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Lisch</span> American-Australian basketball player

Kevin John Lisch is an American former professional basketball player and coach, most known for his time spent in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) as a player. He also holds an Italian passport and is an Australian citizen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Knight (basketball)</span> Australian basketball player

Matthew James Knight is an Australian former professional basketball player. He played four years of college basketball in the United States for the Loyola Marymount Lions before debuting in the National Basketball League (NBL) in 2007. After two seasons with the West Sydney Razorbacks / Sydney Spirit, he had a season in Hungary before playing eight seasons with the Perth Wildcats and winning three NBL championships. Knight endured a long list of injuries during his tenure with the Wildcats, having struggled with calf, shoulder, ankle and toe complaints, as well as suffering a number of concussion-related incidents. Three head knocks in 2017 led to Knight announcing his retirement from the NBL midway through the 2017–18 season.

Jason Robert Cadee is an Australian professional basketball player for the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League (NBL). He debuted in the NBL in 2010 and won the NBL Best Sixth Man Award in 2020.

Cameron Richard Gliddon is an Australian basketball coach and former professional player, currently the head coach of the Auckland Tuatara in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He played four years of college basketball for Concordia University before returning to Australia and joining the Cairns Taipans of the National Basketball League (NBL), where he won the NBL Rookie of the Year Award in 2013. After six seasons with the Taipans, he played two seasons for the Brisbane Bullets (2018–20), two for the South East Melbourne Phoenix (2020–22), and two for the New Zealand Breakers (2022–24). He also played in Poland, Russia and the New Zealand NBL throughout his career. In September 2024, he retired from playing and was appointed head coach of the Auckland Tuatara.

Justin Bailey is an American basketball coach and former player. He played college basketball for Hartford before playing overseas for 13 years as a professional in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Kazakhstan and Russia.

Shaun Bruce is an Australian professional basketball player for the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL). He began his NBL career in 2012 and has played for the Cairns Taipans, Brisbane Bullets, Adelaide 36ers and Sydney Kings. He helped the Kings win back-to-back NBL championships in 2022 and 2023.

References

  1. ↑ "Hall of Fame – Derek Rucker". Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  2. ↑ Back in the groove
  3. ↑ "Derek Rucker charged with fraud - 9News". www.9news.com.au. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  4. ↑ Rucker joins Kings Archived September 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Derek Rucker’s Dream USA Sports Getaway
  6. ↑ "Crocs in the Offseason update". Archived from the original on 2014-07-07. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  7. ↑ A coffee with... basketball coach Derek Rucker
  8. ↑ Former NBL MVP Derek Rucker signs on to coach the Logan Thunder in 2016
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.