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BIO: David Gruber was born in Solon, Iowa (USA).
Highlights (Facebook Link Pref)
David Gruber made his NBL debut with the Sydney Spirit at 26 years of age. He scored five points in his first game.
During his time with the Hawks Gruber helped the team reach the Grand Final after they finished in second place (16-12) during the 2009/10 season. The Hawks eliminated the third placed Townsville Crocodiles where Gruber played a huge role in the deciding Game 3, scoring 15 points and collecting 5 rebounds, to advance to the NBL finals series to face the Perth Wildcats.
After Perth claimed game one in Perth (75–64), the series moved to Wollongong for game two, where the Hawks returned the favour, defeating Perth 75–63 and setting up a deciding Game 3. Back on their home court Perth comfortably defeated Wollongong in the decider, 96–72, with Gruber scoring 11 points and Perth’s Kevin Lisch being named Finals MVP.
Gruber became a naturalised Australian for 2011/12 season.
David Gruber played seven seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Sydney Spirit and the Wollongong Hawks. He averaged 6.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 164 NBL games.
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 33 | Wollongong | 6-22 (8) | 2 | 13.0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| 2013-14 | 32 | Wollongong | 13-15 (4) | 30 | 673.0 | 228 | 155 | 27 | 73 | 82 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 72 | 93 | 166 | 56% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 42 | 63 | 67% | 58% | 56% | |
| 2012-13 | 31 | Wollongong | 13-15 (3) | 30 | 588.0 | 198 | 132 | 21 | 44 | 88 | 14 | 14 | 37 | 50 | 77 | 123 | 63% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 44 | 62 | 71% | 65% | 63% | 14 |
| 2011-12 | 30 | Wollongong | 9-19 (8) | 18 | 197.0 | 63 | 51 | 6 | 20 | 31 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 22 | 24 | 48 | 50% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 15 | 20 | 75% | 55% | 50% | 9 |
| 2010-11 | 29 | Wollongong | 15-13 (5) | 20 | 306.0 | 92 | 67 | 8 | 34 | 33 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 41 | 40 | 82 | 49% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 12 | 23 | 52% | 50% | 49% | 16 |
| 2009-10 | 28 | Wollongong | 16-12 (4) | 34 | 610.0 | 210 | 145 | 31 | 55 | 90 | 11 | 10 | 29 | 71 | 83 | 148 | 56% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 44 | 77 | 57% | 57% | 56% | 16 |
| 2008-09 | 27 | Sydney | 11-19 (8) | 30 | 689.0 | 313 | 191 | 26 | 84 | 107 | 23 | 21 | 53 | 80 | 132 | 216 | 61% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 49 | 86 | 57% | 61% | 61% | 26 | Totals | 164 | 3076 | 1104 | 742 | 120 | 310 | 432 | 78 | 79 | 174 | 338 | 449 | 783 | 57.3% | 0 | 3 | 0.0% | 206 | 331 | 62.2% | 59% | 57% | 26 |
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 33 | Wollongong | 6-22 (8) | 2 | 6.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| 2013-14 | 32 | Wollongong | 13-15 (4) | 30 | 22.4 | 7.6 | 5.2 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 5.5 | 56% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.4 | 2.1 | 67% | 58% | 56% | |
| 2012-13 | 31 | Wollongong | 13-15 (3) | 30 | 19.6 | 6.6 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 4.1 | 63% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.5 | 2.1 | 71% | 65% | 63% | 14 |
| 2011-12 | 30 | Wollongong | 9-19 (8) | 18 | 10.9 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 0.8 | 1.1 | 75% | 55% | 50% | 9 |
| 2010-11 | 29 | Wollongong | 15-13 (5) | 20 | 15.3 | 4.6 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 4.1 | 49% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 0.6 | 1.2 | 52% | 50% | 49% | 16 |
| 2009-10 | 28 | Wollongong | 16-12 (4) | 34 | 17.9 | 6.2 | 4.3 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 56% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.3 | 2.3 | 57% | 57% | 56% | 16 |
| 2008-09 | 27 | Sydney | 11-19 (8) | 30 | 23.0 | 10.4 | 6.4 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 4.4 | 7.2 | 61% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.6 | 2.9 | 57% | 61% | 61% | 26 | Total | 164 | 18.8 | 6.7 | 4.5 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 4.8 | 57.3% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 0.0 | 62.2% | 59% | 57% | 26 |
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 26 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
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Named to the All SEABL East team 2005 - 2008 while playing for the Frankston Blues. Named the SEABL East Most Valuable Player for 2005 and South conference MVP in 2008
Also was named the South conference defensive player of the year in 2008.
David Gruber joined the Southland Sharks for the 2014 New Zealand NBL season, playing his first season in New Zealand. Across five games with Southland, he averaged 12.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per contest.
During that 2014 stint, Gruber shot 48.6% from the field and averaged 24.8 minutes per game, adding 1.0 blocks per outing while contributing in a frontcourt rotation that included Alex Pledger and Leon Henry as the Sharks competed in the National Basketball League regular season.
David Gruber joined the Southland Sharks for the 2014 New Zealand NBL season, playing his first season in New Zealand. Across five games with Southland, he averaged 12.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per contest.
During that 2014 stint, Gruber shot 48.6% from the field and averaged 24.8 minutes per game, adding 1.0 blocks per outing while contributing in a frontcourt rotation that included Alex Pledger and Leon Henry as the Sharks competed in the National Basketball League regular season.
Gruber played college basketball at Northern Iowa during the 2001–02 season before continuing with the Panthers through the 2003–04 season under head coach Greg McDermott.
Gruber suited up for Northern Iowa during the 2001–02 season, which finished 14–15 overall (8–10 in Missouri Valley Conference play). In 2001–02, he played 29 games and averaged 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game while shooting 61.0% from the field, and he produced multiple high-rebound games early in the year including 13 rebounds against San Diego State (November 16, 2001) and another 13 rebounds against Iowa (December 4, 2001). His top scoring output that season included 23 points at Iowa State on December 29, 2001, and he was a frequent entry on UNI’s game-high rebound line across the schedule.
In 2002–03, Northern Iowa went 11–17 (7–11 MVC), and Gruber again operated as a core frontcourt piece across 28 games, averaging 13.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 61.0% from the field. One documented benchmark from that season was an 18-rebound game on November 22, 2002, which later UNI player notes referenced as a program marker when comparing single-game rebounding totals in subsequent years.
Gruber’s senior season came in 2003–04, when Northern Iowa improved to 21–10 overall (12–6 MVC) and won the MVC Tournament to reach the NCAA Tournament. In 2003–04 he started all 31 games and averaged 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game, shooting 58.6% from the field, as the Panthers earned a No. 14 seed and lost 65–60 to No. 3 seed Georgia Tech in the first round.
Across his Northern Iowa career, Gruber totaled 1,116 points, and UNI records list his career field-goal percentage at .602 on 421 made field goals in 699 attempts. His conference recognition included MVC All-Newcomer Team honors in 2002, MVC Honorable Mention selections in 2002 and 2003, a first-team All-MVC nod in 2004, and MVC All-Tournament Team recognition during the Panthers’ 2004 tournament run.
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