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Aaron Bruce

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Aaron Bruce
Personal information
Born (1984-12-19) 19 December 1984 (age 39)
Birchip, Victoria, Australia
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High schoolHorsham College (Horsham, Victoria)
CollegeBaylor (2004–2008)
NBA draft2008: undrafted
Playing career2002–2013
PositionPoint guard / shooting guard
Career history
2002–2003Australian Institute of Sport
2008–2009Adelaide 36ers
2010–2011Adelaide 36ers
2011Eastern Mavericks
2011–2013Sydney Kings
Career highlights and awards

Aaron Michael Bruce (born 19 December 1984) is an Australian former professional basketball player who played four seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for Baylor University before playing in the NBL for the Adelaide 36ers and the Sydney Kings.

Early life and career

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Born in Birchip, Victoria,[1] Bruce attended Horsham College in nearby Horsham, where he graduated in 2002.[2] He grew up playing for the Horsham Hornets.[3][4]

In 2002 and 2003, Bruce attended the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra,[5] where he played for the program's basketball team in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL).[1][6]

Bruce signed a National Letter of Intent with Baylor University in November 2003.[7]

College career

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As a freshman at Baylor in 2004–05, Bruce was the school's most productive freshman since Lawrence Roberts in 2001–02. He started all 28 games and led the team with 34.8 minutes per game, finishing as the nation's top-scoring freshman with 18.2 points per game (highest freshman average in Big 12 history). He was named freshman All-America by Basketball Times (first team), Rivals.com (second team) and CollegeInsider.com, while earning All-Big 12 honours by the Associated Press (third team), Kansas City Star (third team) and the Lawrence Journal-World (third team). He was also named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year by Kansas City Star, San Antonio Express-News and ESPN.com's Dick Vitale, and earned USBWA All-District 7 team honours.[1][8]

As a sophomore in 2005–06, Bruce started all 17 games during school's abbreviated 2005–06 season – Baylor was barred from playing any non-conference games in 2005–06 due to a 2003 scandal. He was named All-Big 12 honourable mention by league coaches and Associated Press, earned Academic All-Big 12 second team honours, named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honour Roll for fall 2005, and voted the Big 12's "Most Underrated Player" by opposing conference players in a poll taken by Sports Illustrated. He averaged 13.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game on the season.[1][8]

As a junior in 2006–07, Bruce played in 29 of 31 games (missed two games due to injury), starting all 29. He was named an honourable mention All-Big 12 selection for the third straight year and was named to the Spring 2007 Big 12 Commissioner's Honour Roll. On 21 February 2007, he became the 19th Baylor player to score 1,000 points with seven points in win over Nebraska. He averaged 11.3 points, 3.4 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game on the season.[1][8]

As a senior in 2007–08, Bruce averaged 8.4 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game[8] and helped guide the Bears to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 20 years. He finished his college career as one of just four Bears ever to surpass 1,000 career points and 300 career assists. His 1,330 career points were at the time the seventh-most in school history.[9]

College statistics

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2004–05 Baylor 28 28 34.8 .471 .399 .828 2.6 3.8 1.1 .2 18.2
2005–06 Baylor 17 17 31.1 .373 .407 .806 3.5 3.2 .4 .1 13.1
2006–07 Baylor 29 29 29.7 .415 .394 .803 2.7 3.4 .7 .1 11.3
2007–08 Baylor 32 23 21.6 .401 .358 .791 1.7 1.9 .9 .1 8.4
Career 106 98 28.8 .424 .390 .811 2.5 3.0 .8 .1 12.5

Professional career

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In April 2008, Bruce competed in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament,[10] where he averaged 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists in three games.[11] On 17 May 2008, he made a cameo appearance for the Horsham Hornets in the Big V Division Three,[12] playing alongside his brothers Cameron and Shaun.[13] In June 2008, he completed tryouts for a number of NBA teams, including the Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns.[14] In July 2008, he played for the Seattle SuperSonics during the NBA Summer League,[9] where he averaged 1.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in three games.[15]

Adelaide 36ers

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In August 2008, Bruce joined the Adelaide 36ers ahead of the 2008–09 NBL season.[16] He scored 22 points in his first NBL game and averaged 10 points and five assists for the season.[17] He was subsequently named NBL Rookie of the Year.[17]

In 2009, Bruce took a career break in the United States,[18] and in August 2010, he earned his undergraduate degree from Baylor University.[19]

In December 2010, Bruce returned to Adelaide to work out with the 36ers.[20] Following an injury to Rhys Carter, Bruce was brought into the side for the remainder of the 2010–11 season, making his comeback on 31 December.[18] In 15 games, he averaged 6.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.[21]

Following the conclusion of the 2010–11 NBL season, Bruce extended his stay in South Australia to play for the Eastern Mavericks in the Central ABL. In 15 games for the Mavericks, he averaged 17.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game.[22]

Sydney Kings

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In May 2011, Bruce signed with the Sydney Kings.[23] His 2011–12 season ended in January 2012 after suffering a vertical fracture to his tibia.[24][25] In 17 games, he averaged 13.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.[21] He returned to the Kings for the 2012–13 season[26][27] and averaged 9.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 29 games.[21]

Following the 2012–13 season, Bruce retired from basketball after failing to negotiate a pay raise with Kings. The club had asked him to take a pay cut; he instead chose to part ways with the team rather than accept a reduced contract.[28]

National team career

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Bruce spent the summer of 2003 playing for the Australian junior national team that won gold at the 2003 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Greece. He led Australia with 25 points in a 106–85 upset of Team USA, which featured Dee Brown and JJ Redick. He was also a member of the Australian Under-21 national team in 2004.[1]

In the summer of 2005, Bruce served as captain of the Australian Under-21 national team. They played exhibition games in Europe and Canada before participating in the World Championship in Argentina. He went on to play for the Australian Boomers that tied for ninth place at 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan. In six games, he averaged 4.2 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.[1]

Personal

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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,[14] played in the Australian Football League.[1] He also has two younger brothers, Cameron and Shaun, both of whom are basketball players.[28][29]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Aaron Bruce Profile". BaylorBears.com. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Aaron Bruce". NamesDataBase.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  3. ^ "MEDIA RELEASE: Ex-Big V Star, Bruce Claims NBL Rookie of the Year". bigv.com.au. 6 March 2009. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Player statistics for Aaron Bruce – 2004". SportsTG.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Past Athletes". ausport.gov.au. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  6. ^ "AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF SPORT – 2008 SEABL" (PDF). SEABL.com.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  7. ^ "Men's Basketball Adds Second Signee". BaylorBears.com. 18 November 2003. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d "Aaron Bruce Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Former Bear Bruce To Play For Sonics/OKC Summer Team". BaylorBears.com. 5 July 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  10. ^ "MARIC & BRUCE TO STRUT THEIR STUFF FOR NBA SCOUT". australia.basketball. 8 April 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  11. ^ "Aaron Bruce Player Profile". RealGM.com. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  12. ^ "Player statistics for Aaron Bruce – 2008". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  13. ^ Ward, Roy (19 May 2008). "Star attraction". MailTimes.com.au. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  14. ^ a b Harris, Amelia (20 June 2008). "Melbourne's Aaron Bruce looking at NBA drafting". heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  15. ^ "2008–2009 Oklahoma City Thunder Summer League Rosters". RealGM.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  16. ^ Ward, Roy (1 August 2008). "Bruce return". MailTimes.com.au. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  17. ^ a b "Bruce takes out NBL rookie of the year". ABC.net.au. 6 March 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  18. ^ a b "Former NBL Rookie of the Year Returns for Adelaide 36ers". JumpShot.sg. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2014. Bruce was an Australian Boomers representative at the 2006 FIBA World Championships and won the NBL's Rookie of the Year award in 2009 prior to taking a career break in the US.
  19. ^ Yandle, Chris (14 August 2010). "1,000-Point Scorer Aaron Bruce Graduates Saturday". BaylorBears.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  20. ^ "Bruce good to go for Sixers". ABC.net.au. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  21. ^ a b c "Player statistics for Aaron Bruce – NBL". FoxSportsPulse.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  22. ^ "Player statistics for Aaron Bruce – CABL". FoxSportsPulse.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  23. ^ McCullagh-Beasy, Justine (27 May 2011). "Aaron Bruce to become a King". mailtimes.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  24. ^ "Aaron Bruce sustains season-ending injury". SydneyKings.com. 13 January 2012. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  25. ^ Barton, Joe (16 January 2012). "Injury to Bruce puts Kings' precarious finals campaign on knife's edge". smh.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  26. ^ "Kings announce first signings". NBL.com.au. 16 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 January 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  27. ^ McCullagh-Beasy, Justine (15 May 2012). "Aaron Bruce re-signs with Sydney Kings". mailtimes.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  28. ^ a b MacGillivray, Colin (7 August 2013). "One Bruce in, one Bruce out". MailTimes.com.au. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  29. ^ "BRUCE ALMIGHTY". NBL.com.au. 1 January 2016. Archived from the original on 4 January 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
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