Derek Rucker

Nationality: USA/AUS
Date of Birth: 21/10/66
Place of Birth: Washington D.C., Washington (USA)
Position: PG
Height (CM): 184
Weight (KG): 77
Junior Assoc: None
College: Davidson (1984–1988)

NBL DEBUT: 30/03/90
AGE AT DEBUT: 23
LAST NBL GAME: 8/02/06
AGE AT LAST GAME: 39
NBL History: Brisbane 1990-91, 2004-06 | Newcastle 1994 | Townsville 1994-98 | West Sydney 1998-03
Championships: 0
None

NICKNAME/S: Pocket Rocket

BIO: Derek Rucker was born in Washington D.C., Washington (USA) and attended the exclusive University School in Hunting Valley, Ohio.

He later accepted a basketball scholarship to attend Davidson College.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Derek Rucker made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 23 years of age. He scored 48 points in his first game.

Rucker was one of the most dynamic and exciting players in the history of the NBL and won the League 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.

Brisbane entered the season with a new-look squad, ready to rebound from their dismal eighth-placed finish in ’89, which saw the Bullets miss the playoffs for the first time under coach Brian Kerle. Only three of the 13 players who wore a Bullets singlet the previous year returned – Leroy Loggins, Robert Sibley, and Greg Fox.

Those exiting included captain Larry Sengstock and Ron Radliff, who had been with the team for eight and seven seasons, respectively, leaving to join the new Queensland expansion team, the Gold Coast Cougars and second-year guard Rodger Smith, joining them. John Dorge (to Geelong), Darren Perry (to Eastside), and Dan Clausen (to Adelaide) all headed elsewhere. Greg Giddings, Shane Edwards and import Winston Crite were not offered a contract to return, and Danny Morseu retired.

Loggins, who was used with mixed success in the off-guard spot the previous season, reverted to his more familiar and preferred small forward position. Moore and Sibley headed up a frontline that also included comeback player Chris McGraw and young Melbourne pair Paul Rees and Craig Adams, with locals Steve McLeod and Chris Clarkson making up the 12-man list. In a flash, the Bullets went from the oldest team in the league, a average age of 26.5 years, to probably the youngest at 23.1 years.

Together with new imports Derek Rucker (33.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 2.6 steals) and Andre Moore (26.9 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 1.3 steals), the Bullets improved to finish in third place after recording 18 wins and 8 losses. They would even reach the grand final once again, a rematch of the 1987 Grand Final, where they faced the Perth Wildcats. This time around the Bullets lost game one in Perth, 112–106, before levelling the series in Game two in front of the largest crowd the NBL had seen at the time. 13,221 fans filled the Brisbane Entertainment Centre to see the Bullets defeat Perth 106–90. This would stand the highest ever grand final crowd for a game played outside of Melbourne until game two of the 2012/13 Grand Final series between the Wildcat’s and New Zealand Breakers in Perth. The attendance record remains the eighth largest for a NBL Grand Final game. Game three was held in front of a near-equal crowd of (13,159), but this time, the Bullets would fall short, losing 86–109 as Perth won their first NBL championship. Additionally, Brian Kerle received the Coach of the Year award for the second time, while the Bullets would make history by having three players Derek Rucker (33.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.6 steals), Leroy Loggins (33.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.6 steals) and Andre Moore (33.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.6 steals) all named to the All-NBL First Team (something which has still never been replicated). Rucker, additionally, won the league’s MVP award, becoming the second Bullets player to do so.

Rucker finished the year by averaging 33 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game also.

1991
In 1991, Rucker averaged 26.6 points, 3 rebounds, and 5.8 assists, playing a key role in the Bullets rotation, helping the team finish with a tenth place finish during the regular season with a 13-13 record.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS
1994
During the 1994 season, Rucker averaged 25.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 10.6 assists and was a part of the Falcons squad which finished in eighth place with a record of 13-13.

TOWNSVILLE SUNS
1995
In 1995 Rucker averaged 30.3 points and 3.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists, and helped guide the Suns to a 9-17 record.

1996
In 1996 Rucker averaged 26.8 points and 5 rebounds, and 8.2 assists, as the Suns with a 9-17 record for the second consecutive season.

1997
Townsville had not reached the playoffs during its first six seasons in the league but In 1997, the team came ‘oh so close’ to removing the monkey from their back. Needing only one win from their final six games to ensure a historic playoff appearance, the Suns went 0–6 after centre Clarence Tyson suffered a season-ending knee injury in Canberra. Rucker would average 25.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 7.6 assists for the season and the team finished in eighth place with a record of 14-16.

Derek Rucker played fifteen seasons in the NBL. He averaged 22.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in 411 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 47th in total games played.
– 7th in total points
– 4th in total assists
– 4th in total steals
– 12th in assists per game.
– 39th in steals per game.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Dan Boyce (817 Posts)

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
2005-06	39	Brisbane	17-15 (6)	26	922.0	436	94	175	18	76	31	4	80	41	137	308	44%	66	167	40%	96	112	86%	60%	55%	45
2004-05	38	Brisbane	17-15 (5)	30	1,001.0	532	122	155	25	97	38	7	68	49	164	359	46%	72	194	37%	132	163	81%	61%	56%	32
2003-04	37	Brisbane	22-11 (4)	30	1,158.0	560	94	177	16	78	56	6	101	73	183	417	44%	85	227	37%	109	134	81%	58%	54%	49
2002-03	36	West Sydney	14-16 (7)	24	907.0	409	85	142	24	61	35	4	63	59	141	299	47%	56	149	38%	71	92	77%	60%	57%	28
2001-02	35	West Sydney	16-14 (5)	37	1,434.0	610	148	254	27	121	71	11	103	88	209	443	47%	94	249	38%	98	136	72%	60%	58%	32
2000-01	34	West Sydney	9-19 (8)	20	807.0	383	83	131	16	67	30	8	58	35	123	309	40%	46	142	32%	91	117	78%	53%	47%	33
1999-00	33	West Sydney	12-16 (6)	30	1,232.0	618	95	166	13	82	49	5	84	48	204	453	45%	76	220	35%	134	146	92%	59%	53%	35
1998-99	32	West Sydney	12-14 (8)	23	1,011.0	467	106	169	17	89	36	5	73	49	150	359	42%	57	169	34%	110	126	87%	56%	50%	33
1998	31	Townsville	12-18 (9)	29	1,309.0	798	110	202	24	86	78	7	99	52	269	562	48%	85	230	37%	175	198	88%	61%	55%	51
1997	30	Townsville	14-16 (7)	30	1,355.0	778	116	228	17	99	78	5	125	62	269	544	49%	82	208	39%	158	199	79%	61%	57%	38
1996	29	Townsville	9-17 (11)	23	1,054.0	617	116	189	23	93	60	2	89	43	206	468	44%	62	177	35%	143	171	84%	56%	51%	42
1995	29	Townsville	9-17 (10)	26	1,218.0	787	99	216	20	79	64	8	112	49	272	579	47%	95	249	38%	148	166	89%	60%	55%	43
1994	27	Newcastle	13-13 (8)	25	1,147.0	631	130	265	14	116	73	5	118	57	213	486	44%	78	229	34%	127	153	83%	56%	52%	41
1991	24	Brisbane	13-13 (10)	25	1,098.0	665	74	145	22	52	57	3	84	73	231	546	42%	89	223	40%	114	154	74%	54%	50%	45
1990	23	Brisbane	17-9 (3)	33	1,541.0	1088	120	222	31	89	85	8	142	103	367	783	47%	126	291	43%	228	271	84%	60%	55%	48
Totals				411	17194	9379	1592	2836	307	1285	841	88	1399	881	3138	6915	45.4%	1169	3124	37.4%	1934	2338	82.7%	59%	54%	51

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
2005-06	39	Brisbane	17-15 (6)	26	35.5	16.8	3.6	6.7	0.7	2.9	1.2	0.2	3.1	1.6	5.3	11.8	44%	2.5	6.4	40%	3.7	4.3	86%	60%	55%	45
2004-05	38	Brisbane	17-15 (5)	30	33.4	17.7	4.1	5.2	0.8	3.2	1.3	0.2	2.3	1.6	5.5	12.0	46%	2.4	6.5	37%	4.4	5.4	81%	61%	56%	32
2003-04	37	Brisbane	22-11 (4)	30	38.6	18.7	3.1	5.9	0.5	2.6	1.9	0.2	3.4	2.4	6.1	13.9	44%	2.8	7.6	37%	3.6	4.5	81%	58%	54%	49
2002-03	36	West Sydney	14-16 (7)	24	37.8	17.0	3.5	5.9	1.0	2.5	1.5	0.2	2.6	2.5	5.9	12.5	47%	2.3	6.2	38%	3.0	3.8	77%	60%	57%	28
2001-02	35	West Sydney	16-14 (5)	37	38.8	16.5	4.0	6.9	0.7	3.3	1.9	0.3	2.8	2.4	5.6	12.0	47%	2.5	6.7	38%	2.6	3.7	72%	60%	58%	32
2000-01	34	West Sydney	9-19 (8)	20	40.4	19.2	4.2	6.6	0.8	3.4	1.5	0.4	2.9	1.8	6.2	15.5	40%	2.3	7.1	32%	4.6	5.9	78%	53%	47%	33
1999-00	33	West Sydney	12-16 (6)	30	41.1	20.6	3.2	5.5	0.4	2.7	1.6	0.2	2.8	1.6	6.8	15.1	45%	2.5	7.3	35%	4.5	4.9	92%	59%	53%	35
1998-99	32	West Sydney	12-14 (8)	23	44.0	20.3	4.6	7.3	0.7	3.9	1.6	0.2	3.2	2.1	6.5	15.6	42%	2.5	7.3	34%	4.8	5.5	87%	56%	50%	33
1998	31	Townsville	12-18 (9)	29	45.1	27.5	3.8	7.0	0.8	3.0	2.7	0.2	3.4	1.8	9.3	19.4	48%	2.9	7.9	37%	6.0	6.8	88%	61%	55%	51
1997	30	Townsville	14-16 (7)	30	45.2	25.9	3.9	7.6	0.6	3.3	2.6	0.2	4.2	2.1	9.0	18.1	49%	2.7	6.9	39%	5.3	6.6	79%	61%	57%	38
1996	29	Townsville	9-17 (11)	23	45.8	26.8	5.0	8.2	1.0	4.0	2.6	0.1	3.9	1.9	9.0	20.3	44%	2.7	7.7	35%	6.2	7.4	84%	56%	51%	42
1995	29	Townsville	9-17 (10)	26	46.8	30.3	3.8	8.3	0.8	3.0	2.5	0.3	4.3	1.9	10.5	22.3	47%	3.7	9.6	38%	5.7	6.4	89%	60%	55%	43
1994	27	Newcastle	13-13 (8)	25	45.9	25.2	5.2	10.6	0.6	4.6	2.9	0.2	4.7	2.3	8.5	19.4	44%	3.1	9.2	34%	5.1	6.1	83%	56%	52%	41
1991	24	Brisbane	13-13 (10)	25	43.9	26.6	3.0	5.8	0.9	2.1	2.3	0.1	3.4	2.9	9.2	21.8	42%	3.6	8.9	40%	4.6	6.2	74%	54%	50%	45
1990	23	Brisbane	17-9 (3)	33	46.7	33.0	3.6	6.7	0.9	2.7	2.6	0.2	4.3	3.1	11.1	23.7	47%	3.8	8.8	43%	6.9	8.2	84%	60%	55%	48
Total				411	41.8	22.8	3.9	6.9	0.7	3.1	2.0	0.2	3.4	2.1	7.6	16.8	45.4%	0.0	0.0	37.4%	2.8	7.6	82.7%	59%	54%	51

CAREER HIGHS

POINTS	REBOUNDS	ASSISTS	STEALS	BLOCKS	TURNOVERS	TRIPLE DOUBLES
51	12	24	7	3	12	0

Season	Team	PTS	AST	STL	BLK	FGM	FGA	FG%	3PM	3PA	3P%
1	1	97%	99%	98%	64%
2	1	51	24	7	3
Total						3138	6915	45.4%	1169	3124	37.4%

NBA TOTAL STATISTICS

YEAR	AGE	TEAM	POS	GP	GS	MINS	PTS	TRB	AST	ORB	DRB	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	TS%	EFG%
2005-06	39	Brisbane	17-15 (6)	26	922.0	436	94	175	18	76	31	4	80	41	137	308	44%	66	167	40%	96	112	86%	60%	55%	45
2004-05	38	Brisbane	17-15 (5)	30	1,001.0	532	122	155	25	97	38	7	68	49	164	359	46%	72	194	37%	132	163	81%	61%	56%	32
2003-04	37	Brisbane	22-11 (4)	30	1,158.0	560	94	177	16	78	56	6	101	73	183	417	44%	85	227	37%	109	134	81%	58%	54%	49
2002-03	36	West Sydney	14-16 (7)	24	907.0	409	85	142	24	61	35	4	63	59	141	299	47%	56	149	38%	71	92	77%	60%	57%	28
2001-02	35	West Sydney	16-14 (5)	37	1,434.0	610	148	254	27	121	71	11	103	88	209	443	47%	94	249	38%	98	136	72%	60%	58%	32
2000-01	34	West Sydney	9-19 (8)	20	807.0	383	83	131	16	67	30	8	58	35	123	309	40%	46	142	32%	91	117	78%	53%	47%	33
1999-00	33	West Sydney	12-16 (6)	30	1,232.0	618	95	166	13	82	49	5	84	48	204	453	45%	76	220	35%	134	146	92%	59%	53%	35
1998-99	32	West Sydney	12-14 (8)	23	1,011.0	467	106	169	17	89	36	5	73	49	150	359	42%	57	169	34%	110	126	87%	56%	50%	33
1998	31	Townsville	12-18 (9)	29	1,309.0	798	110	202	24	86	78	7	99	52	269	562	48%	85	230	37%	175	198	88%	61%	55%	51
1997	30	Townsville	14-16 (7)	30	1,355.0	778	116	228	17	99	78	5	125	62	269	544	49%	82	208	39%	158	199	79%	61%	57%	38
1996	29	Townsville	9-17 (11)	23	1,054.0	617	116	189	23	93	60	2	89	43	206	468	44%	62	177	35%	143	171	84%	56%	51%	42
1995	29	Townsville	9-17 (10)	26	1,218.0	787	99	216	20	79	64	8	112	49	272	579	47%	95	249	38%	148	166	89%	60%	55%	43
1994	27	Newcastle	13-13 (8)	25	1,147.0	631	130	265	14	116	73	5	118	57	213	486	44%	78	229	34%	127	153	83%	56%	52%	41
1991	24	Brisbane	13-13 (10)	25	1,098.0	665	74	145	22	52	57	3	84	73	231	546	42%	89	223	40%	114	154	74%	54%	50%	45
1990	23	Brisbane	17-9 (3)	33	1,541.0	1088	120	222	31	89	85	8	142	103	367	783	47%	126	291	43%	228	271	84%	60%	55%	48
Total				0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0		0	0

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

England - Birmingham Bullets | Philippines - Ginebra

COLLEGE

Rucker led the Davidson 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.

AWARDS

- 1x time NBL Most Valuable Player (1990)
- 3x All-NBL First Team
- 1x All-NBL Second Team
- 1x All-NBL Third Team
- 2x NBL Assists Leader

HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PLAYER?

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Primary Language

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2	The Reapers	20	4	3	64
3	Crimson Kings	19	4	4	61
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5	Deadly Predators	18	2	4	56

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