Bruce Hope
July 23, 2020
Bruce Hultgren
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 29/9/64
- Place of Birth: Warrnambool (VIC)
- Position: G/F
- Height (CM): 196
- Weight (KG): 92
- Junior Assoc: VIC - Geelong
- College: None
- NBL DEBUT: 13/04/85
- AGE AT DEBUT: 20
- LAST NBL GAME: 26/09/92
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 28
- NBL History: North Melbourne 1985 | Coburg 1986-88 | Geelong 1989-92
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Bruce Hultgren was born in Warrnambool (VIC) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Geelong basketball program.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Bruce Hultgren made his NBL debut with the Coburg Giants at 20 years of age. He scored four points in his first game.
After missing the playoffs in 1986, the Giants moved home venues from Coburg to the inner city where they would play at the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre, more commonly known as ‘The Glasshouse’. Thanks to a influx of finances the team then rebranded to the North Melbourne Giants and appointed a new head coach in Bruce Palmer and recruited star import Scott Fisher. Hultgren added 5.0 points and 2.2 rebounds alongside Fisher (25.1 points and 11.0 rebounds), and together they helped guide the Giants back into the playoffs. North Melbourne finished in sixth place at the end of the regular season (15-11) and then went on to lose to Illawarra (97–105) in the Elimination Finals.
It was (almost) a Cinderella season for Hultgren and the Giants in 1988. This year the team added bruising import Tim Dillon to play alongside Scott Fisher, a duo that quickly became known as the ‘Twin Boulders’ by media and fans. The team also acquired US born Mark Leader from Geelong, who had become a naturalised Australian during the off-season.
The Giant’s new frontcourt saw the team skyrocket to the top of the NBL ladder, causing regular sellouts at the team’s 7,000 seat home court. Hultgren would contribute 4.2 points and 2.1 rebounds for the season, alongside stars Fisher (27.5 points and 11.3 rebounds) and Dillon (33.2 points and 10.9 rebounds) who had statistically, two of the greatest individual seasons of all time. Together, they led the Giants to a second place regular season finish and a 18-6 record.
in the semifinals, the Giants made easy work of the Wildcat’s and reached the Grand Final for the first time in the club’s history. 5,200 Cannons fans turned up to the AIS arena to see Phil Smyth (25 points) and Jamie Kennedy (21 points) lead the Cannons to victory in game one (120-95). Hultgren would add four points in the opening game but failed to see court time in games two and three. In game two Dillon was unstoppable, notching up 43 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists to ensure the Giants returned the favour and evened the series with a 117-101 win a home. 7,200 Giants fans turned up for Game 3, keen to see the team win their first championship, North Melbourne’s Cinderella season wouldn’t come to pass, with Canberra winning the series clinching game (108-101). Willie Simmons (23 points and 10 rebounds) led the way for the Cannons with alongside Simon Cottrell and Phil Smyth (both 21 points). Smyth would be awarded the Grand Final MVP after averaging 21.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.6 steals across the three-game series.
After failing to get a lot court time in the playoffs Hultgren decided head to Geelong for 1989, hoping to recieve more playing opptunities. He would average 7.4 points and 4 rebounds but the Supercats only managed to win 5 games for the season.
In 1990, Hultgren averaged 3.6 points and 2.8 rebounds but the Supercats failed to make the playoffs and finished with a 11-15 record.
1991
Thanks to a financial boost from the Supercats ownership group which was made up of four major owners, all local businessmen and approx. 30 other local shareholders, Geelong were able to return to the playoffs.
Coach Barry Barnes would lead the Supercats to a third place finish (17-9), their best result as a club since 1984. The team’s success a result of the talented starters, Bobby Locke (25.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 3.0 steals), Vince Hinchen (24.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.4 steals), Shane Heal (23.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.4 steals), Terry Dozier (22.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 steals) and John Dorge (14.3 points, 13.7 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 4.3 blocks) who would all play a minimum off 33 minutes per game and Jim Bateman (7.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists) subbing in for whoever needed a rest.
Geelong’s team of ‘overachievers’ would fall short in the NBL elimination finals, losing to a North Melbourne squad featuring Scott Fisher and Paul Maley in three games.
Although he would see limited opportunities to play, Hultgren would appear in 26 games and average 3.2 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists for the season.
1992
???
1993
???
Bruce Hultgren played eight seasons across three NBL teams. This included the Coburg Giants, North Melbourne Giants and Geelong Supercats. He averaged 5.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1 assists in 205 NBL games.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 28 | Geelong | 2-22 (13) | 22 | 486.0 | 123 | 67 | 24 | 19 | 48 | 25 | 4 | 22 | 49 | 43 | 134 | 32% | 23 | 75 | 31% | 14 | 19 | 74% | 43% | 41% | 18 |
| 1991 | 27 | Geelong | 17-9 (3) | 26 | 253.0 | 82 | 44 | 22 | 17 | 27 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 22 | 35 | 73 | 48% | 7 | 26 | 27% | 5 | 7 | 71% | 54% | 53% | 19 |
| 1990 | 25 | Geelong | 11-15 (10) | 24 | 322.0 | 86 | 66 | 30 | 34 | 32 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 56 | 39 | 90 | 43% | 5 | 17 | 29% | 3 | 13 | 23% | 45% | 46% | 10 |
| 1989 | 25 | Geelong | 5-19 (13) | 24 | 601.0 | 177 | 97 | 40 | 40 | 57 | 18 | 4 | 28 | 72 | 74 | 152 | 49% | 8 | 25 | 32% | 21 | 33 | 64% | 53% | 51% | 16 |
| 1988 | 23 | North Melbourne | 18-6 (2) | 30 | 300.0 | 127 | 62 | 14 | 29 | 33 | 9 | 1 | 16 | 32 | 56 | 136 | 41% | 2 | 13 | 15% | 13 | 26 | 50% | 43% | 42% | 18 |
| 1987 | 23 | North Melbourne | 15-11 (6) | 26 | 357.0 | 129 | 57 | 14 | 19 | 38 | 13 | 2 | 17 | 30 | 49 | 109 | 45% | 9 | 22 | 41% | 22 | 34 | 65% | 52% | 49% | 14 |
| 1986 | 22 | Coburg | 14-12 (8) | 26 | 0.0 | 161 | 57 | 31 | 21 | 36 | 13 | 3 | 28 | 39 | 67 | 157 | 43% | 8 | 24 | 33% | 19 | 27 | 70% | 47% | 45% | 20 |
| 1985 | 21 | Coburg | 18-8 (5) | 27 | 0.0 | 166 | 66 | 38 | 34 | 32 | 13 | 4 | 23 | 41 | 68 | 156 | 44% | 10 | 27 | 37% | 20 | 33 | 61% | 48% | 47% | 21 | Totals | 205 | 2319 | 1051 | 516 | 213 | 213 | 303 | 108 | 20 | 158 | 341 | 431 | 1007 | 42.8% | 72 | 229 | 31.4% | 117 | 192 | 60.9% | 48% | 46% | 21 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 28 | Geelong | 2-22 (13) | 22 | 22.1 | 5.6 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 6.1 | 32% | 1.0 | 3.4 | 31% | 0.6 | 0.9 | 74% | 43% | 41% | 18 |
| 1991 | 27 | Geelong | 17-9 (3) | 26 | 9.7 | 3.2 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 48% | 0.3 | 1.0 | 27% | 0.2 | 0.3 | 71% | 54% | 53% | 19 |
| 1990 | 25 | Geelong | 11-15 (10) | 24 | 13.4 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 3.8 | 43% | 0.2 | 0.7 | 29% | 0.1 | 0.5 | 23% | 45% | 46% | 10 |
| 1989 | 25 | Geelong | 5-19 (13) | 24 | 25.0 | 7.4 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 6.3 | 49% | 0.3 | 1.0 | 32% | 0.9 | 1.4 | 64% | 53% | 51% | 16 |
| 1988 | 23 | North Melbourne | 18-6 (2) | 30 | 10.0 | 4.2 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 4.5 | 41% | 0.1 | 0.4 | 15% | 0.4 | 0.9 | 50% | 43% | 42% | 18 |
| 1987 | 23 | North Melbourne | 15-11 (6) | 26 | 13.7 | 5.0 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 4.2 | 45% | 0.3 | 0.8 | 41% | 0.8 | 1.3 | 65% | 52% | 49% | 14 |
| 1986 | 22 | Coburg | 14-12 (8) | 26 | 0.0 | 6.2 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 6.0 | 43% | 0.3 | 0.9 | 33% | 0.7 | 1.0 | 70% | 47% | 45% | 20 |
| 1985 | 21 | Coburg | 18-8 (5) | 27 | 0.0 | 6.1 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 5.8 | 44% | 0.4 | 1.0 | 37% | 0.7 | 1.2 | 61% | 48% | 47% | 21 | Total | 205 | 11.3 | 5.1 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 4.9 | 42.8% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 31.4% | 0.4 | 1.1 | 60.9% | 48% | 46% | 21 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 21 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
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