Shaun Bruce

Last updated

Shaun Bruce
No. 7Sydney Kings
Position Guard
League NBL
Personal information
Born (1991-01-13) 13 January 1991 (age 33)
Listed height192 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Listed weight87 kg (192 lb)
Career information
Playing career2010–present
Career history
2010–2013 Ballarat Miners
2012–2016 Cairns Taipans
2014–2015Cairns Marlins
2016–2017Mackay Meteors
2016–2018 Brisbane Bullets
2018 Wellington Saints
2018 Westports Malaysia Dragons
2019 Adelaide 36ers
2019 Rockhampton Rockets
2019–present Sydney Kings
2021; 2023– Logan Thunder
Career highlights and awards

Shaun Bruce (born 13 January 1991) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL). He is also contracted with the Logan Thunder of the NBL1 North. He began his NBL career in 2012 as a development player with the Cairns Taipans, before earning a full-time roster spot in 2013. In 2016, he moved south to join the Brisbane Bullets. After half a season with the Adelaide 36ers in 2019, he joined the Kings.

Contents

Early life and career

Bruce hails from Horsham, Victoria. [1] He grew up playing for the Horsham Hornets. [2] [3]

In 2010, Bruce joined the Ballarat Miners of the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL). [4] [5] [6] In 2011, he won the SEABL East Golden Hands Award, which is calculated by adding a player's assists and steals and subtracting their turnovers. [7] [8] He returned to the Miners in 2012 after having a training stint with the Melbourne Tigers of the National Basketball League. [9]

Professional career

Cairns Taipans (2012–2016)

Bruce joined the Cairns Taipans as a development player for the 2012–13 NBL season. [10] He subsequently won the inaugural Aron Baynes Award for Most Outstanding Athlete. [11]

Bruce re-joined the Ballarat Miners for the 2013 SEABL season. [12] He missed eight games during the season with a torn quadriceps. [13] [14]

In August 2013, Bruce signed a full-time contract with the Taipans for the 2013–14 season. [15] [16] [17] He appeared in 21 of the team's 28 games in 2013–14, averaging 1.2 points 1.0 rebounds per game.

Bruce played for the Cairns Marlins during the 2014 Queensland Basketball League season, earning All-League Team honours. [18]

Bruce was retained by the Taipans for the 2014–15 season and received a more prominent role. [19] On 31 December 2014, he recorded his first double-digit scoring game of his NBL career with 12 points against the Adelaide 36ers. [20] He helped the Taipans reach the NBL grand final series. [21] He appeared in 31 of the team's 32 games during the season, averaging 3.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

Bruce re-joined the Marlins for the 2015 QBL season. [22]

On 19 June 2015, Bruce re-signed with the Taipans for the 2015–16 season. [23] He received more playing time around Christmas due to injuries to teammates Markel Starks and Stephen Weigh. [24] He had 17 points against the Sydney Kings of 2 January. [25] He appeared in all 28 games for the club, averaging 5.9 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.

Bruce joined the Mackay Meteors for the 2016 QBL season. [26] [27] He was named QBL Player of the Week for round six. [28] He appeared in all 18 games for the Meteors in 2016, averaging 20.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game. [29] He was subsequently named to the QBL All-League Team. [30]

Brisbane Bullets (2016–2018)

On 29 April 2016, Bruce signed a two-year deal with the Brisbane Bullets. [31] [32] He made his debut for the Bullets in their season opener on 6 October 2016, scoring eight points off the bench in a 72–65 win over the Perth Wildcats. [33] He helped the Bullets start the season 2–0 with a 12-point effort off the bench against the Sydney Kings two days later. [34] On 24 November 2016, he had a second 12-point effort in a 101–83 loss to the Adelaide 36ers. [35] On 27 January 2017, he scored a season-high 13 points in an 80–77 loss to Melbourne United. [36] He appeared in all 28 games for the Bullets in 2016–17, averaging 5.9 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

In the 2017 off-season, Bruce again played for the Mackay Meteors in the QBL. [37] He recorded two triple-doubles [38] [39] [40] [41] and two Player of the Week awards. [42] [43] He helped the Meteors reach the QBL grand final series, but he injured his ankle in game one and the team lost 2–1 to the Townsville Heat. [44] He was subsequently named the QBL MVP for the 2017 season. [45] [46] In 19 games, he averaged 22.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game. [47]

Bruce missed the start of the 2017–18 NBL season with the ankle injury. [48] [49] On 28 October 2017, he scored a season-high 13 points in an 87–85 win over Melbourne United. [50] In 27 games, he averaged 3.0 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. [51]

New Zealand and Malaysia (2018)

Bruce played for the Wellington Saints in the 2018 New Zealand NBL season. [52] In 20 games, he averaged 10.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. [53]

In November 2018, Bruce played one game as a stand-in import for the Westports Malaysia Dragons of the ASEAN Basketball League. [54] [55]

Adelaide 36ers and Rockhampton Rockets (2019)

On 16 January 2019, Bruce signed a short-term contract with the Adelaide 36ers as a replacement for injured import Ramone Moore. [56] In seven games, he averaged 2.4 points per game.

Bruce joined the Rockhampton Rockets for the 2019 QBL season. [57] In 20 games, he averaged 22.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 9.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game. [58]

Sydney Kings and Logan Thunder (2019–present)

On 26 April 2019, Bruce signed with the Sydney Kings for the 2019–20 NBL season. [59] He played a key role off the bench and averaged career highs while stepping up in the absence of the injured Kevin Lisch. [60]

On 15 June 2020, Bruce re-signed with the Kings on a two-year deal. [61] In February 2021, he played his 200th NBL game. [62]

In the 2021 off-season, Bruce played for the Logan Thunder of the NBL1 North. [63]

In the 2021–22 NBL season, Bruce played his 250th NBL game [64] and helped the Kings win the NBL championship. [65]

On 23 May 2022, Bruce re-signed with the Kings on a two-year deal. [66] He helped the Kings win back-to-back championships in 2022–23. [67]

Bruce re-joined the Logan Thunder for the 2023 NBL1 North season [68] and earned All-NBL1 North Second Team honours. [69]

In December 2023, Bruce played his 300th NBL game. [70]

On 12 March 2024, Bruce re-signed with the Kings on a two-year deal. [71] He then re-joined the Thunder for the 2024 NBL1 North season. [72]

Personal life

Bruce is the son of Steve and Julie Bruce. His mother was a national-level swimmer, while two of his uncles, Des and Stephen Ryan, [73] played in the Australian Football League (AFL). [74] He also has two older brothers, Aaron and Cameron. Aaron formerly played in the NBL, while Cameron has played many years in the lower level Victorian basketball divisions. [75]

Bruce is close friends with AFL player Jake Lloyd. [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Gibson</span> Australian basketball player

Adam Matthew Gibson is an Australian former professional basketball player who played 16 years in the National Basketball League (NBL). He made his NBL debut in 2005 and went on to play for five NBL franchises. He is a two-time NBL champion, having won his first in 2007, with the Brisbane Bullets and his second in 2009, with the South Dragons. He is also a five-time All-NBL Team member and was crowned the NBL Best Defensive Player in 2009.

Alexander Michael Loughton is an Australian professional basketball player for the Cairns Marlins of the NBL1 North.

Mark Worthington is an Australian basketball player for the Willetton Tigers of the NBL1 West. He played 11 seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucas Walker</span> Australian basketball player

Lucas Walker is an Australian basketball player for the Illawarra Hawks of the NBL1 East. He played 10 seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL) between 2010 and 2020. He played college basketball for Montana State University Billings and Saint Mary's College of California before joining the Melbourne Tigers in 2010. After five seasons with Melbourne, he had stints with the Adelaide 36ers, Perth Wildcats, Cairns Taipans and Sydney Kings. He won an NBL championship with the Wildcats in 2017.

Jason Robert Cadee is an Australian professional basketball player for the Gold Coast Rollers of the NBL1 North. He is also contracted with the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League (NBL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Fisher (basketball, born 1994)</span> Australian basketball player

Anthony Fisher is an Australian former professional basketball player. He played the majority of his career in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) and Queensland Basketball League (QBL), playing for the Ballarat Miners (2011–2015) and Cairns Marlins. He was a member of the Marlins' championship-winning team in 2016. He also had stints in the National Basketball League (NBL) with the Perth Wildcats and Cairns Taipans. After four years as a development player and extended squad member of the Taipans, he earned a full-time contract with the club in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Blanchfield</span> Australian basketball player

Todd Blanchfield is an Australian professional basketball player for the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League (NBL). He began his NBL career in 2009 with the Townsville Crocodiles, where he played six seasons. Between 2015 and 2023, he played for Melbourne United (2015–17), Sydney Kings (2017–18), Illawarra Hawks (2018–20) and Perth Wildcats (2020–23). In 2017, he won a gold medal with Australia at the FIBA Asia Cup.

Mitchell Young is an Australian former professional basketball player who last played for the Cairns Taipans He played four years of college basketball for Saint Mary's College of California.

Jeremy Paul Kendle is an American professional basketball player for the Al-Ittihad SC Aleppo of the Syrian Basketball League. He played three seasons of college basketball for Bellarmine University, becoming the only player in school history to be named to the NABC All-America Team two years in a row. He was also a key member of the Bellarmine Knights' 2011 championship-winning team, helping the school claim their first NCAA Division II National Championship.

Christopher Cedar is an Australian professional basketball player who last played for the South West Metro Pirates of the NBL1 North. He played six seasons for the Townsville Crocodiles in the National Basketball League (NBL) between 2007 and 2013. He returned to the Crocodiles for a short stint in 2016. In the NBL1 North, he has played for the Townsville Heat, Rockhampton Rockets, Mackay Meteors and Southern Districts Spartans. He won NBL1 North championships in 2014, 2015 and 2021.

Matthew Dylan Kenyon is an Australian professional basketball player for the South East Melbourne Phoenix of the National Basketball League (NBL). He debuted in the NBL in 2016 and played two seasons for the Brisbane Bullets before playing a season in the NBA G League. He returned to the NBL in 2021 with the Tasmania JackJumpers.

Anthony Petrie is an Australian basketball coach and former professional basketball player. He played 11 seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL) between 2007 and 2018. He is currently the head coach of the Gold Coast Rollers in the NBL1 North.

James Mitchell is an Australian professional basketball player for the Cairns Marlins of the NBL1 North. Between 2010 and 2016, he was based in his hometown of Cairns playing for the Marlins in the QBL and the Taipans in the NBL. Between 2017 and 2019, he played three seasons for the Rockhampton Rockets in the QBL and spent a season in England with the Sheffield Sharks. In 2021, he re-joined the Marlins.

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

Brisbane Capitals is a NBL1 North club based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 North. The club is a division of Brisbane Basketball Incorporated (BBI), one of the major administrative basketball organisations in the region. The Capitals play their home games at Auchenflower Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Froling</span> Australian basketball player

Harrison Michael Froling is an Australian professional basketball player. He had a two-year college career in the United States playing for the SMU Mustangs (2016–17) and the Marquette Golden Eagles (2017–18). In 2018, he joined the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League (NBL) and earned NBL Rookie of the Year honours for the 2018–19 season.

Kouat Noi is a South Sudanese-Australian professional basketball player for the Darwin Salties of the NBL1 North.

Will Scott Magnay is an Australian professional basketball player for the Tasmania JackJumpers of the National Basketball League (NBL). He is also contracted with the Gold Coast Rollers of the NBL1 North. He played one season of college basketball for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.

Tad Dufelmeier Jr. is an Australian professional basketball player for the Cairns Marlins of the NBL1 North. He played college basketball in the United States for Salt Lake Community College and Concordia University Irvine.

Aaron Grabau is an Australian former professional basketball player. He played 14 seasons for the Cairns Taipans of the National Basketball League (NBL).

Cameron Tragardh is an Australian former professional basketball player who played 13 seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL). He made his debut in the NBL in 2003 and played for the Townsville Crocodiles, Brisbane Bullets, Wollongong Hawks, Melbourne Tigers, and Cairns Taipans across his career. He was named NBL Most Improved Player in 2008 and NBL Best Sixth Man in 2015. He was also named to the All-NBL Team twice.

References

  1. "Shaun Bruce". brisbanebullets.com.au. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017.
  2. "Player statistics for Shaun Bruce – Big V". FoxSportsPulse.com. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  3. Ward, Roy (29 March 2009). "Hornets fell the Giants". MailTimes.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  4. "Young talent is building the team". TheCourier.com.au. 12 January 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  5. Brehaut, David (23 April 2010). "BASKETBALL: Miners promote duo after U.S. college rule change". TheCourier.com.au. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  6. Whelan, Melanie (20 July 2010). "Ballarat Miners move a change of pace". TheCourier.com.au. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  7. "2011 STATISTICAL AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED". SEABL.com.au. 26 August 2011. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  8. McCullagh-Beasy, Justine (6 September 2011). "Big week for Aaron and Shaun Bruce". MailTimes.com.au. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  9. McCullagh-Beasy, Justine (12 January 2012). "Shaun Bruce trains with NBL Tigers". MailTimes.com.au. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  10. Whelan, Melanie (14 August 2012). "Shaun Bruce signs with NBL". TheCourier.com.au. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  11. Davis, Sam (12 March 2013). "Floor general Bruce eyes Orange Army promotion". ABC.net.au. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  12. "SHAUN BRUCE TO PLAY ON FOR BALLARAT". SEABL.com.au. 13 December 2012. Archived from the original on 29 April 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  13. Whelan, Melanie (22 July 2013). "Miners' Shaun Bruce returns to SEABL action". TheCourier.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  14. "BASKETBALL: Bruce injury denies chance to represent Australia". TheCourier.com.au. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  15. "Snakes Pluck Bruce from CQUni Taipans Academy". Taipans.com. 5 August 2013. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  16. O'Connor, Tim (6 August 2013). "Shaun Bruce signs with Cairns Taipans". TheCourier.com.au. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  17. MacGillivray, Colin (7 August 2013). "One Bruce in, one Bruce out". MailTimes.com.au. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  18. "2014 QBL Awards Winners". QABL.basketball.net.au. 21 August 2014. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015.
  19. Serenc, Michael (30 April 2014). "Taipans guard Shaun Bruce re-signs with the Cairns basketball team for next season". CairnsPost.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  20. Wenzel, Murray (2 January 2015). "Shaun Bruce feeling confident to shoot away as good form continues for young Cairns Taipans guard". CairnsPost.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  21. Ward, Roy (6 March 2015). "Cairns Taipans guard Shaun Bruce fired up for NBL grand final series". SMH.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  22. Wenzel, Murray (14 July 2015). "Marlins call in Taipans guard Shaun Bruce as QBL side juggles guard options". CairnsPost.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  23. "TAIPANS RETAIN POINT GUARD SHAUN BRUCE". NBL.com.au. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  24. 1 2 Warren, Michael (27 January 2016). "In-form Bruce a Taipans beacon". CairnsPost.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  25. "SNAKES FALL IN SYDNEY". Taipans.com. 2 January 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  26. "BRUCE SIGNS WITH QBL'S MACKAY METEORS". Taipans.com. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  27. Lees, Chris (22 March 2016). "New signing for Mackay Meteors". DailyMercury.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  28. "Player of the Week – Round 6". qbl.basketballqld.com.au. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  29. "Player statistics for Shaun Bruce – QBL". sportstg.com. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  30. "2016 QBL End of Season Awards". qbl.basketballqld.com.au. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  31. "YOUNG GUNS JOIN BRISBANE BULLETS". NBL.com.au. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  32. McKenzie, Daniel (16 November 2017). "Meteors reach for the stars in targeting top signings". DailyMercury.com.au. Retrieved 28 December 2017. ...he's at the end of a two year deal with the Bullets.
  33. "Beal blasts Bullets to house-warming win". NBL.com.au. 6 October 2016. Archived from the original on 2 November 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  34. "BULLETS OUTMUSCLE KINGS IN SYDNEY OPENER". NBL.com.au. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  35. Paterson, Joshua (24 November 2016). "Brisbane Bullet Gibson's 350th NBL game spoiled by Adelaide 36ers". BrisbaneTimes.com.au. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  36. "BULLETS POSITIVE OF LONG TERM SUCCESS". BrisbaneBullets.com.au. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  37. Peters, Madolyn (23 February 2017). "Former Taipan returns to join Meteors teammates". DailyMercury.com.au. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  38. "Meteors vs Heat". FIBALiveStats.com. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  39. Peters, Madolyn (13 May 2017). "Townsville coach not happy with some calls after loss to Meteors". DailyMercury.com.au. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  40. "OFF-SEASON PLAYER TRACKER: CRAIG'S DOUBLE-DOUBLE, DOUBLE & BRUCE'S TRIPLE-DOUBLE". BrisbaneBullets.com.au. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  41. "Meteors vs Spartans". FIBALiveStats.com. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  42. "Player of the Week – Round 7". qbl.basketballqld.com.au. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  43. "Player of the Week – Round 14". qbl.basketballqld.com.au. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  44. Slatter, Trent (27 August 2017). "Townsville Heat beat Mackay to break 17-year QBL title drought". TownsvilleBulletin.com.au. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  45. "2017 QBL Season Award Winners". qbl.basketballqld.com.au. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  46. Santamaria, Liam (30 August 2017). "BRUCE NAMED QBL MVP, OUT FOR ENTIRE NBL PRE-SEASON". NBL.com.au. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  47. "Player statistics for Shaun Bruce – QBL 2017". SportsTG.com. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  48. Davis, Samuel (31 August 2017). "Injury forces Bruce out of double date with Cairns Taipans" . CairnsPost.com.au. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  49. "Shaun Bruce and Brisbane Bullets to soak up day against the Suns". TheAustralian.com.au. 14 October 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  50. Paterson, Joshua (29 October 2017). "Bullets shoot down Melbourne United by two points". SMH.com.au. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  51. "Brisbane Bullets 2017/18". australiabasket.com. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  52. NZhoops (20 April 2018). "The Wellington Saints have signed..." Twitter. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  53. "Player statistics for Shaun Bruce". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  54. Lim, Kelvin (22 November 2018). "Westports Malaysia Dragons Bring In Stand-In Import". aseansports.com. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  55. "Singapore Slingers beat Malaysian dragons at Asean Basketball League". thestar.com.au. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  56. "Adelaide add Shaun Bruce as Injury Replacement". NBL.com.au. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  57. "QBL Pre-Season Game – Saturday 13th April". rockhampton.basketballqld.com.au. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  58. "Player statistics for Shaun Bruce – QBL 2019". SportsTG.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  59. "Sydney Kings add Shaun Bruce". NBL.com.au. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  60. Pike, Chris (17 January 2020). "Bruce Shows Gratitude with Career-Best Form". NBL.com.au. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  61. "Shaun Bruce Re-Signs with Sydney". NBL.com.au. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  62. McQuade, Matt (25 February 2021). "200 Up for Shaun Bruce". SydneyKings.com. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  63. "NBL1 North McDonald's Logan Thunder Men Player Announcement: Shaun Bruce". loganbasketball.com. 2 April 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021.
  64. "Shaun Bruce celebrates major milestone". SydneyKings.com. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  65. "Kings Win First Championship in 17 Years with Record Crowd". NBL.com.au. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  66. "Shaun Bruce Re-Signs in Sydney". NBL.com.au. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  67. "Kings' Big Finish to Secure Back-to-Back Championships". NBL.com.au. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  68. "McDonald's Logan Thunder Men NBL1 North 2023 Player Announcement: Shaun Bruce". facebook.com/LoganBasketballInc. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  69. "NBL1 North First & Second Team | Men's". facebook.com/basketballqld. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  70. "Shaun Bruce set for milestone 300th NBL game". NBL.com.au. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  71. "Bruce inks deal to stay with Kings". NBL.com.au. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  72. "Bruce returns to Thunder for 2024 NBL1 season". SydneyKings.com. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  73. Harris, Amelia (20 June 2008). "Melbourne's Aaron Bruce looking at NBA drafting". heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  74. "Aaron Bruce Bio". BaylorBears.com. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  75. Ward, Roy (19 May 2008). "Star attraction". MailTimes.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2016.