BIO: Bruce Bolden was born in Jackson, Mississippi (USA).

FAMILY:

NBL EXPERIENCE

Bruce Bolden made his NBL debut with the Eastside Melbourne Spectres at 23 years of age. He scored 30 points in his first game.

In 1987, Bolden averaged 20.7 points and 13.8 rebounds in his first season in the NBL and helped guide the Spectres to a eighth place finish in the regular season with a 13-13 record.

WESTSIDE MELBOURNE SAINTS
1998
The 1988 season saw Bolden average 25 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in another dismal season for the Saints, yet one which saw them win more games then their previous two seasons combined. The ended the year with a record of 9 wins and 15 losses.

1989 saw Bolden average 24.3 points and 13.4 rebounds but the Saints only managed a 8 win season.

EASTSIDE MELBOURNE SPECTRES
1990
Eastside had been slowly improving each season since Brian Goorjian was appointed head coach in 1988, and by 1990 many of the core group that had been a part of the roster when Goorjian took over had developed from junior talent to highly productive NBL players.

The only changes to the local roster were the exits of veterans Paul Hotchins and Warren Pink, who were then replaced with Darren Perry (Brisbane) and Nunawading junior Tony Ronaldson, who had just completed a year at the Australian Institute of Sport. The departure of import Arne Duncan then made room for the return of former Spectre Bruce Bolden.

To kick off the season, Eastside was tipped to be the big improvers of 1990 after finishing ‘best of the rest’ the year prior. The team started off by winning its first three games on the schedule, but over the course of the season, the team never seemed to be able to beat the league’s best. While they knocked off the majority of the league, losses they couldn’t see to deliver wins against elite team’s like Perth, Brisbane and North Melbourne. In Round 21, Eastside turned things around with a win over crosstown rivals North Melbourne (118-111), but then followed that up with a 3-2 run home.

Despite this, Eastside still managed to finish second on the ladder thanks to a impressive 10-3 home record. Lockhart (27.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals) returned a better player in his second year in the league, leading the team in scoring and being selected to the All-NBL Second Team. Bolden (26.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.2 blocks) filled the stat sheet most games and Uthoff (17.9 points and 13.6 rebounds) led the team in rebounding once again. Perry (10.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists) running the point guard spot was a big part of the Spectres improvement from 14-10 last season, to 16-8 in 1990.

Due to finishing in second place, Eastside received a first-round bye then met Brisbane, who eliminated Sydney in the elimination finals, in the semi final. This was the first time a Goorjian coached team had reached the semi finals but they were eliminated by the Bullets amidst little fanfare in two straight games.

1991
After making the playoffs for the first time in three years, coach Brian Goorjian was able to bring back almost the entire squad for another shot at the championship, the team’s only key loss being bruising forward Shane Froling, who was replaced with Scott Ninnis.

Behind Eastside’s formidable frontcourt, led by Bruce Bolden, who averaged 27.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, Kent Lockhart (18.6 ppg and 5.7 rpg) and Dean Uthoff (16.8 ppg and 13.6 rpg) the Spectres finished the season with a 17-9 record.

Eastside finished they year in second place, earning them a first-round bye in the playoffs. Eastside would then eliminate North Melbourne, 2–0 in the semifinals before facing off against the Perth Wildcats, who had finished the season in first place (22-4) and eliminated the Adelaide 36ers in their semi-final matchup. The Grand Final series would see Perth come away victorious with a 109-83 win in game one before the Spectres evened things up with a 86-81 win in game two. Behind the stellar play from Perth imports Ricky Grace and Pete Hanson, who would be awarded the Grand Final MVP, Perth defeated Eastside in the deciding game, 90-80.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE MAGIC
1992 – ONE MAGIC YEAR
With the South Melbourne Saints financially stressed at the end of 1991 and ownership unable to continue covering costs a merger was agreed to between the embattled Saints and nearby rivals, the Eastside Melbourne Spectres East Melbourne Magic. In 1992, the merged rosters became known as the South East Melbourne Magic. With the Spectres having the more successful team, having been one game away from being champions the prior season, the Magic retained Spectres coach Brian Goorjian to lead the team. Andrew Parkinson and Andrej Lemanis were the only players retained from the Saints roster, who were added to the core of the Spectres roster.

Bruce Bolden, Tony Ronaldson, Darren Lucas, Scott Ninnis and Darren Perry were joined by John Dorge via the Geelong Supercats and import Milt Newton to finalise the roster for the team’s NBL debut, a campaign coined by the media as ‘One Magic Year’.

🏀 THROWBACK THURSDAY 💫

Did you believe in Magic? How could you not with this old tune! Before the days of @SEMelbPhoenix we had the South East Melbourne Magic. Do you remember how many NBL Championships Magic had to their name? Read more – https://t.co/OezFZFpFDS #HoopsAtHome pic.twitter.com/mQfmy7kiG4

— Basketball Victoria (@Basketball_Vic) April 16, 2020

The team got off to a strong start to the year, winning six of their first seven games but felt a change was needed and released Newton, replacing him with LA Clippers guard Rob Rose. From there, the Magic rarely missed a beat, winning all 12 of their home games and losing only four games for the regular season. Bolden would average 20.5 points, 13 rebounds, and 3.9 assists for the season.

The Magic’s strong finish to the season would see head coach Brian Goorjian win the league’s coach of the year award for the first time and set up a playoffs matchup against the Canberra Cannons. The Magic would make short work of the Cannons, defeating them in two straight games. This set-up a semi-final series against the North Melbourne Giants whom they would also elimate with two straight games. The win set up a NBL Grand Final against their crosstown rival Melbourne Tigers (15-9), who had finished third on the ladder.

In game one of the series, South East Melbourne’s starting point guard Darren Perry suffered a torn ACL and would miss the next nine months due to injury and the remainder of the Grand Final. The injury rattled the Magic, with the Tigers guards Lanard Copeland (34 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks) and Andrew Gaze (26 points) capitalising, taking home a 18 point win (116-98).

In game two, the Magic’s backcourt stepped up in Perry’s absence with Lucas (who delivered a season-high 19 points) and Scott Ninnis locking down Copeland, who had single-handed won the opening game for the Tigers, limiting him to only 14 points (6-19 shooting). Bolden added 000 points while Robert Rose (20 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals) controlled the point guard spot at the offensive end and Bruce Bolden (22 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 4 blocks) dominated inside, giving the Magic a 115-93 win to even up the series.

The Tigers had been taken by surprise by the Magic’s ability to bounce back without Perry, and although Melbourne battled valiantly in game three, the Magic seemed to have won the mental game with the previous victory. The Magic’s backcourt stepped up once again, forcing Gaze into a horrible shooting night (18 points on 5-19 shooting) and holding Copeland below his season average (24 points). Bolden contributed 000 points, and the Magic ground out a 95-88 win in the deciding game. The Magic’s import duo of Rose (26 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks) and Bolden (21.6 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks) were at their very best and at the conclusion of the game Bolden was awarded the NBL Finals MVP award by NBA Commissioner David Stern who was visiting Australia at the time.

1993
With the Magic coming off a NBL championship in their first year in the league, many pondered what they could do in their second. Coach Brian Goorjian was able to return with the majority of the roster intact. Even Darren Perry, who suffered a ACL injury that saw him miss nine months of action, made it back to the court. The only major additions to the roster being David Graham (via North Melbourne) and Simon Kerle (via Brisbane) to cover the loss of Scott Ninnis (to Adelaide).

The Magic would deliver another strong regular season performance, finishing in second place with a 20-6 record.

Bolden would average 21.6 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists alongside 21-year-old Tony Ronaldson, who delivered a breakout season with 20.2 points, 6.3 rebounds per game and the all-around brilliance of Robert Rose, who would be crowned the league’s MVP after putting up 18.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists and a league-leading 3.0 steals per game.

In the playoffs, the South East Melbourne would eliminate the seventh-placed Adelaide 36ers in two games during the quarterfinals to set up a rematch of last year’s grand final, a semi-final showdown against the Melbourne Tigers. South East Melbourne’s run was then halted by Australian Boomers star Mark Bradtke, who had shifted to Melbourne from Adelaide during the pre-season, dominated the series. He delivered 21 points and 9 rebounds in the Tiger’s 108-106 win in game one and then backed it up with 28 points and 15 rebounds in their 89-72 win in game two, ending the Magic’s season in two games.

1994
After losing to heated rivals, the Melbourne Tigers head coach Brian Goorjian decided the Magic needed to go younger and chose not to re-sign veteran guards, Darren Perry and Robert Rose, replacing them with younger talent. 18-year-old Sam MacKinnon and Rupert Sapwell, who had just returned from playing college basketball, were added to the roster, and Adonis Jordan, who had led the Kansas Jayhawks to the 1993 NCAA Final Four only six months prior, became the Magic’s sole import.

Jordan (19.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 2.6 steals) would lead the team in scoring and assists, alongside frontcourt duo Tony Ronaldson (19.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 steals) and Bruce Bolden (16.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals) doing the damage inside. Bolden would also add 16.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists during the season and Sam MacKinnon (5.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.8) would also make a immediate impact, earning his way into the team’s regular rotation (19.2 minutes per game) and delivering one of the greatest seasons ever by a 18-year-old which made him a easy choice for the league’s Rookie Of The Year Award.

In a interesting nod to the future, due to injury the Magic replaced him with state league star Mike Kelly who would become a major part of the Magic roster in 1997.

South East Melbourne was unbeatable at home all season (11-2) butcould never replicate that on the road, losing half their away games and finishing third on the ladder (18-18).

In the postseason, South East swept Perth in two games to set up a semi-finals matchup against crosstown rival North Melbourne. The Giants delivered a major upset in game one, convincingly defeating the Magic (108-87). In game two, it was much closer. In fact, the game was only decided in the final minute (76-79), and if Adonis Jordan hadn’t missed a three-point heave at the buzzer (many thought he could have made a extra pass to a open David Graham for a better shot), the Magic might have been able to force a third game. Instead, the South East Melbourne’s season came to a end.

SYDNEY KINGS
1995
After a great start to the 1994 season, the Kings collapsed during the second half of the year with the team’s young roster felt to be the cause. Veteran talent Phil Smyth (Adelaide), Justin Withers (Canberra) and import Bruce Bolden (SE Melbourne), who would replace fan favourite Mario Donaldson, would bring the experience required in spades.

The Kings starting lineup had increased from the average age of 28 to 31, which meant although they had added a ton of experience, this roster would only have one or two years to make it count.

The season started with a narrow 85-86 loss to Bolden’s former team, the Magic, before a up-and-down season, where the Kings defeated a number of league’s top team’s but failed to close out games against those at the bottom of the ladder. Sydney would start the season with a 3-6 record, which included wins over Perth and North Melbourne, who would finish first and third, respectively, but suffered back-to-back losses to Canberra (who would finish tenth) and lost games to Townsville (finished 12th) and Gold Coast (finished 13th).

Leon Trimmingham (27.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 2.1 steals and 2.2 blocks) was named Kings team MVP after leading the team in scoring, rebounds, steals and blocks as Bolden (20.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals) and captain Damian Keogh (14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.6 steals) provided the additional scoring power. Sydney finished the season in tenth place with a record of 10-16 and failed to reach the playoffs.

1996
Sydney went through a period of major change prior to the 1996 season. From 1989 to 1995, the Kings had been coached by Bob Turner and had established themselves as a powerhouse franchise, particularly off the court. Corporate sponsorship through global juggernauts like Coca-Cola and Reebok had assisted in the enormous growth of the brand, resulting in numerous sell-outs at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

But in 1995, the Kings struggled on the floor and failed to make the playoffs. And for a club that every year expected to not only make the playoffs but contend for a championship, that wasn’t good enough.

Bob Turner was replaced as coach by Alan Black, who had taken the Illawarra Hawks to the playoffs in 1993, 1994 and 1995 and was named NBL Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1995. Two foundation members of the Sydney Kings – Mark Dalton and Damian Keogh – were released from the club, as were a number of other players from the unsuccessful 1995 squad.

Black brought Hawks MVP Melvin Thomas along with him to the Kings and signed former Charlotte Hornets guard Tony Bennett as the team’s two imports. 25-year-old Stephen Whitehead (via Melbourne) joined the team, looking for more playing opportunities after serving a ‘apprenticeship’ behind stars Andrew Gaze and Lanard Copeland. But the key addition this year was owner Mike Wrublewski convincing Australia’s Boomers guard Shane Heal to move to Sydney and become the face of the franchise and captain of the team. Wrublewski even had the Kings swap their traditional purple and gold uniforms in favour of a black pin-striped design as a way to signify a new direction for Sydney in the hopes of re-energising a fan base.

Some addition by subtraction saw the Kings release Bennett during the pre-season and replace him with the high-flying excitement machine, Isaac ‘Ice’ Burton, out of Arizona State University. Right from the start, they got the old Kingdome rocking, with Heal dropping 20 points in the fourth quarter of a unforgettable comeback win in the season opener at home against the North Melbourne Giants.

That set the scene for a incredible first two months, with Sydney jumping to a 11-3 record, winning their first eight games at home and leading the NBL standings. In one amazing stretch, the Kings won nine straight games, averaging 120.4 points per game over that span.

Those wins included a blowout win over the Gold Coast (131-112), which saw Shane Heal (35 points and 7 assists) and Melvin Thomas (26 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocked shots) putting up big numbers. A nail biter over Perthat home (122-121), where three players scored at least 20 points, and Thomas finished just two assists shy of a triple-double, and win over NSW rival Illawarra (128-106), where Isaac Burton (32 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists) dominated both ends of the court.

Unfortunately, a mid-season injury to Heal slowed the team down. Burton, who had started slowly at the offensive end, averaging 17 points per game during his first month with the Kings, faced rumours that he was at risk of being cut from the team due to a lack of scoring. Understanding he was signed to the team primarily as a defensive presence to assist Shane Heal in the backcourt, he had decided to focus on defence and defer to Heal offensively. The rumours led Bruton to fire up on the offensive end. He averaged 27 points per game in May, becoming a instant ‘fan-favourite’, and when Shane returned, the Kings won four of their last five games, taking them to a fifth-place (16-10) and a chance to play in the playoffs.

With Burton (24.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.1 steals) and Heal (23.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists) forming a deadly combination in the backcourt, Melvin Thomas (20.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.9 blocks) and Bruce Bolden (16.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks) were a unstoppable tandem down low, adding toughness, rebounding and a deadly ability to knock down the midrange jumper.

Sydney (16-10) faced off against Canberra (16-10) in the Quarter-finals, behind import duo Robert Rose and Darnell Mee. On the back of a season-high scoring night, Stephen Whitehead (24 points and 5 rebounds) surprised everyone in game one, winning by 24 points in the opening game (113-89). The Cannons would get a huge boost from their supporting cast in game two, with Jamie Pearlman (29 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists), David Close (25 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Ray Borner (21 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals) as well as Mee (29 points, 7 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks) all scoring over 20 points. Rose (11 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists) finished just shy of a triple-double with Canberra defeating Sydney by 47 points (146-99). The deciding game saw the stars of the series come out firing, with Canberra’s Rose (23 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Mee (20 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists) going head-to-head with Sydney’s Heal (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Burton (25 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 steals) but it was the team’s supporting casts the made the difference. Outside of Heal and Bruton, the Kings managed to score a mere 43 points, while the Cannons remaining roster tallied 58 points, with Borner (18 points and 7 rebounds), Blakemore (17 points and 6 rebounds), and Pearlman (17 points and 3 assists) all having big games. Canberra closed out the series with the win (101-89) and headed into a semi final against Melbourne.

While the Kings were unable to progress past the first round of the playoffs, it was still a season to remember.. Sydney averaged 108.8 points per game in the regular season – the most points scored per game in a regular season in franchise history – and also set team records that have never been broken for regular season field goal percentage (51.6%) and three-point percentage (41.2%).

Burton led the entire league in three-point percentage, was third in the NBL in steals and would go on to become the first Sydney King to win NBL Defensive Player of the Year. Heal would finish among the league’s best when he earned selection in the All-NBL Second Team.

After their 1996 elimination, the Kings would not make the NBL playoffs again until 2001, when they made it to the first round before being eliminated by the Townsville Crocodiles.

1997
A year into the Kings rebuilding around Boomers guard Shane Heal, a incredible 1996 Olympic campaign saw him sign a contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, leaving Sydney with a huge hole to fill. The decision was made to sign up-and-coming guard Aaron Trahair, who had shown a lot of promise playing in Perth despite being stuck behind legendary guard Ricky Grace. The Kings also added Cameron Dickinson (via Townsville) to help cover the perimeter shooting lost by Heal’s departure.

With Hobart, Geelong, and Gold Coast exiting the league after the 1996 season and the talent from those rosters distributed among the league’s remaining team’s, the 1997 season was one of the most competitive in NBL history. This, combined with the unexpected loss of Shane Heal, saw the Kings struggle, losing three of their first four games. Much of the responsibility would be thrown onto import Isaac Burton (20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.0 steals), who led both the team in scoring and the league in steals for the second year in a row. His all-around brilliance was on full display when he recorded a near quadruple-double when Burton recorded 44 points, nine rebounds, eight assists & seven steals, hitting 15 of 22 from the field in a 123-107 win over the Illawarra Hawks.

Melvin Thomas (18.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals) led the team in rebounds in his second year in Sydney. 26-year-old Stephen Whitehead would blossom into the team’s third-leading scorer (12.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists), a young Matthew Nielsen (9.9 points and 4.9 rebounds in 27 minutes per game), who had been a training player with the Kings since 1995, claimed Rookie of the Year honours and Bolden, who was named team captain in Heal’s absence, averaged 11.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.

Sydney would lose their last three games (12-18) and finish second-last (tenth) on the ladder.

1998
After a single season in the NBA, Heal returned to the Kings in 1998. With two years remaining on his NBA deal, Heal left Minnesota, citing the lack of playing time behind Stephon Marbury, disliking the cold weather and suffering a calf injury the week before the opening round, which would require him to earn his way back into the rotation and returned to Australia.

Since Heal’s departure in 1996, the team had undergone a number of changes. Bill Tomlinson replaced coach Alan Black, imports Melvin Thomas and Isaac Burton were replaced by Matt Nover, a former NCAA Final Four centre better known as ‘Ricky Roe’ from the movie Blue Chips and a 19-year-old forward named Stephen Jackson, who became the youngest import signing in NBL history.

Jackson had been the leading scorer in the 1996 McDonald’s All-American Game on a team that included future NBA All-Stars Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O’Neal and Richard Hamilton. He’d been headed to the University of Arizona but was ruled academically ineligible, throwing him into the ’97 NBA Draft (while the Wildcat’s won the NCAA title without him), where Phoenix selected him in the second round. He failed to make the Suns roster and, instead, chose to play his first year as a pro in Australia.

The Kings had built themselves around a young core of Aussie talent, which included Aaron Trahair, Matthew Nielsen, Stephen Whitehead and Scott McGregor.

Nover (7.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 0.9 assists) and Jackson (6.0 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 1 assist) got off to rocky starts, combing for a total of 36 points across the team’s first three games. Jackson, who would later average 20+ points per game across numerous seasons in the NBA, had become the first import in NBL history to go scoreless in his debut game. Nonetheless, the Kings were rolling, with wins over Canberra, Newcastle and Melbourne firing them to a undefeated start.

In Round 3, the team travelled to Adelaide looking to keep their steak alive when, late in the third quarter, disaster struck for Jackson. Attempting to block 36ers’ star Kevin Brooks, Jackson landed awkwardly, broke his foot and would miss the remainder of the season.

In round 6, even with Aaron Trahair dropping 40 points on 13 of 16 shooting, the Kings lost to Wollongong (99-108) and shortly after released Nover. Former King Dave Simmons, who had been released by Newcastle, and former Sacramento King’s big man Evers Burns were signed as import replacements.

After six games, Simmons (6.5 points and 6.3 rebounds) was released as the Kings made room to sign former North Carolina State point guard Kelsey Weems and allow Shane Heal and Aaron Trahair to play more minutes at shooting guard.

Through the multiple import changes and roster juggling, the Kings dropped ten of their next twelve games, missed the playoffs and finished in the tenth spot (12-18). Heal (20.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists) would lead the team in scoring while rising star Nielsen continued to improve, boosting his numbers from 9.9 points and 4.9 rebounds in 27 minutes per game to 16.4 points and 8.3 rebounds in 34 minutes per game. During their short NBL stints, Weems (20.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.5 steals) filled the stat sheet during his 12 games, while Burns (16.5 points and 9.4 rebounds) on the other hand, wasn’t quite the player he was in the NBA. Jackson went on to play 858 NBA games, winning a championship with San Antonio in 2003.

Bolden finished the season averaging 10.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1 assists per game.

WEST SYDNEY RAZORBACKS
1998/99
The 1998/99 season marked the arrival of the West Sydney Razorbacks, a brand-new NBL franchise led by former Olympians Robbie Cadee as General Manager and Gordie McLeod as head coach. The team built a competitive roster from the outset, headlined by seasoned veteran Bruce Bolden (via Sydney), former league MVP Derek Rucker (via Townsville), and rising stars John Rillie (via Adelaide) and Simon Dwight (via Canberra).

West Sydney made an immediate impression in their league debut, securing a hard-fought victory over cross-town rivals Sydney (103-97) on the Kings’ home floor. The momentum carried over into their second game, where they defeated Canberra (104-89). However, their unbeaten start ended in a narrow defeat to Newcastle (87-89), marking their first setback of the season.

The Razorbacks continued to showcase flashes of potential, notably becoming the first team in NBL history to complete the “Doomsday Double” with consecutive road victories over Adelaide (112-95) and Perth (98-95). Despite these early highlights, consistency became a challenge. A tough road loss to Wollongong (91-100) was followed by their first home defeat at the hands of Victoria (81-92), signaling the start of a difficult stretch.

Derek Rucker (20.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 7.3 assists), named team captain, orchestrated the Razorbacks’ offense, while John Rillie (17.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists) provided outside shooting, leading the league with an impressive 47.5% from beyond the arc. Simon Dwight (14.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks) anchored the defense, finishing as the NBL’s top shot-blocker, while Bruce Bolden (15.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) delivered veteran leadership and claimed the NBL Best Sixth Man award.

Despite standout performances from their core players, West Sydney’s road struggles prevented them from maintaining momentum. Costly defeats, including a second loss to Victoria (73-101) and a 19-point setback against Melbourne (90-109), made a playoff push increasingly difficult. One of the season’s most notable moments came in a home win over Sydney (78-72), where the Razorbacks’ defense held their rivals to just 72 points. However, their inconsistency away from home ultimately proved to be their undoing.

West Sydney concluded their inaugural campaign in eighth place on the NBL ladder (12-14), with their struggles on the road playing a significant role in falling short of the postseason.

1999/00
The Razorbacks’ second season saw head coach Gordie McLeod looking to build on the foundation established in their inaugural campaign. The team’s core remained intact, with import Cheikh Ya Ya Dia replacing Ernest Nzigamasabo in the frontcourt and Greg Blake (via Newcastle) being the only other major addition. Bruce Bolden, a veteran presence in the squad, was expected to provide leadership and stability in the team’s rotation while continuing to make key contributions on both ends of the floor.

West Sydney opened the season with a 98-82 victory over Brisbane at the Sydney SuperDome. The momentum carried into round two, where they secured a 104-78 win over Victoria, followed by a statement 95-85 victory over Perth to start the season 3-0.

Bolden (11.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) played a crucial role off the bench, bringing energy and experience to a Razorbacks team looking to solidify itself as a playoff contender. Derek Rucker (20.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists) continued to lead the team’s offense, while John Rillie (18.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists) provided perimeter scoring. In the frontcourt, Simon Dwight (14.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks) was a dominant force defensively, once again leading the NBL in blocked shots. Cheikh Ya Ya Dia (13.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks) strengthened the team’s interior presence, complementing Bolden’s contributions in the rotation.

Despite a strong start, inconsistency became an issue for West Sydney as the season progressed. A 101-86 road loss to Brisbane was their first setback, followed by a 102-113 defeat against Perth in round seven. The Razorbacks managed to bounce back with wins over Canberra (103-90) and Melbourne (121-107), but costly road losses, including a 19-point loss to Victoria (81-100) and a heavy 94-121 defeat to Canberra, hurt their playoff positioning.

One of the defining moments of the season came in round 11, when the Razorbacks took on Sydney at the SuperDome in front of an NBL-record crowd of 17,803. West Sydney secured a hard-fought 88-81 victory over their crosstown rivals, a significant win in the franchise’s history.

West Sydney finished the regular season in sixth place with a 12-16 record, earning their first-ever playoff appearance. In the elimination finals, the Razorbacks hosted Perth in game one at the Whitlam Centre, coming away with a 91-80 victory thanks to contributions across the board, including Bolden’s veteran presence in key moments.

Game two shifted to Perth, where the Wildcats responded with a 99-88 win, forcing a decisive third game. Back at the Perth Entertainment Centre, the Wildcats proved too strong, defeating the Razorbacks 82-74 to end their playoff run.

2000/01
The Razorbacks entered the 2000/01 season with high expectations following their first playoff appearance the previous year. The team relocated from Liverpool’s Whitlam Centre to the State Sports Centre in Homebush Bay, signaling a new era for the franchise. Head coach Gordie McLeod retained the core of the roster, led by team captain Derek Rucker, alongside John Rillie, Simon Dwight, Cheikh Ya Ya Dia, and veteran Bruce Bolden. The team added forward Scott McGregor (via Sydney) for additional frontcourt depth, while Bolden’s naturalisation allowed the Razorbacks to sign a second import in Jason Singleton.

West Sydney opened the season on a strong note, securing a commanding 115-97 victory over Wollongong. However, inconsistency quickly became an issue as the Razorbacks lost their next three games, falling to Victoria (93-110), Adelaide (94-114), and Townsville (96-112). A hard-fought 103-99 road win over Cairns helped stabilize the team, but they struggled to find sustained success.

Bruce Bolden (12.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists) provided steady veteran leadership for the Razorbacks, offering a reliable presence in the frontcourt. His ability to contribute on both ends of the floor remained a key asset for West Sydney, complementing the production of team leaders Derek Rucker (19.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.6 assists) and John Rillie (19.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists). Simon Dwight (16.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks) once again led the NBL in blocked shots, while Cheikh Ya Ya Dia (15.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks) brought toughness inside.

The team’s struggles were evident in a round-four loss to Sydney (101-113), where the Razorbacks failed to keep pace with their crosstown rivals. Consecutive defeats to Victoria (101-112) and Perth (91-92) pushed West Sydney further down the standings. A 114-92 victory over Brisbane in round 10 was one of the few bright spots, along with a dominant 121-93 win over Melbourne in round 15, showcasing what the team was capable of when firing on all cylinders.

Midseason changes saw the departure of Jason Singleton (12.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists), who was released after 12 games. In February, the Razorbacks signed former NBA player James Cotton, but his impact was minimal, appearing in only three games before being released, averaging 4.3 points, 1.0 rebound, and 0.7 assists.

Despite some encouraging performances, the Razorbacks struggled to maintain consistency and dropped several crucial games late in the season, including losses to Perth (75-110), Melbourne (101-125), and Sydney (101-122).

West Sydney finished the season in eighth place with a 9-19 record, missing the playoffs and failing to build on their previous postseason success.

2001/02
After missing the playoffs the previous season, the Razorbacks entered the 2001/02 campaign looking to establish themselves as serious contenders. The team made a major offseason move by signing Sam MacKinnon (via Townsville), one of the league’s most versatile players. However, MacKinnon suffered a knee injury before the season, ruling him out for the entire year. To compensate for his absence, West Sydney brought in import Phil Handy and forward David Hinton to add depth alongside the returning core of Derek Rucker, John Rillie, Simon Dwight, Bruce Bolden, Cheikh Ya Ya Dia, and Scott McGregor.

West Sydney opened the season with a tough road loss to Sydney (99-117) but quickly rebounded with a dominant 107-81 win over Wollongong. They built on this momentum with back-to-back victories over Melbourne (110-89) and Perth (119-98), signaling their potential as a playoff contender.

Bruce Bolden (13.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) provided veteran leadership in the frontcourt, serving as a stabilizing presence for the Razorbacks throughout the season. His experience and inside presence helped complement the production of teammates John Rillie (22.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists) and Simon Dwight (17.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks), while Derek Rucker (16.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 6.9 assists) orchestrated the offense. Phil Handy (11.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists) contributed as a key perimeter option, and David Hinton (9.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists) provided depth off the bench.

The Razorbacks hit a rough patch in November, suffering losses to Brisbane (104-108) and Sydney (98-114), but responded emphatically with a 130-80 rout of Cairns. Bolden played a key role in maintaining the team’s composure during this stretch, contributing with his rebounding and mid-range scoring. As the season progressed, West Sydney remained competitive, securing important wins over Perth (106-99) and Victoria (81-79) while struggling against Melbourne (85-104) and Adelaide (93-104).

One of the highlights of the season came on February 9 when the Razorbacks dominated the Kings 124-95 at the SuperDome. Bolden was instrumental in the victory, providing veteran leadership and an interior presence as West Sydney overwhelmed their crosstown rivals.

West Sydney finished the regular season with a 16-14 record, tying with Wollongong and Melbourne. Due to a three-way head-to-head tiebreaker, the Razorbacks secured the fifth seed and returned to the playoffs.

In the elimination finals, West Sydney hosted Perth in game one at the State Sports Centre, delivering a commanding 106-85 victory. Bolden’s experience proved invaluable as the Razorbacks controlled the tempo.

Game two in Perth saw the Razorbacks complete the sweep with a 109-98 win, advancing to the semifinals.

In game one of the semifinals, West Sydney fell to Melbourne (93-114) at Hisense Arena. Returning home, the Razorbacks responded in game two with a 125-109 victory, setting up a decisive third game.

West Sydney completed the comeback in game three, defeating Melbourne 115-103 to become the first Sydney-based team to reach the NBL Grand Final.

In the Grand Final series, the Razorbacks lost game one to Adelaide (106-97) at the Adelaide Arena. They bounced back with a 103-100 victory at the State Sports Centre in game two.

Game three saw the 36ers shoot a Grand Final record 19-of-31 from three-point range (61.2%), securing a 125-107 victory to claim their fourth NBL championship and deny West Sydney their first title.

2002/03
In 2002/03, Bolden averaged 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists as the Razorbacks finished with a record of 14-16 and in seventh place during the regular season.

Bolden’s jersey was later retired by the West Sydney Razorbacks, where it hung in the rafters until the team disbanded in 2009.

Bruce Bolden played seventeen seasons across five NBL teams. This included the Eastside Melbourne Spectres, Westside Melbourne Saints, South East Melbourne Magic, Sydney Kings and West Sydney Razorbacks. He averaged 17.7 points, 9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 480 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 21st in total games played.
– 13rd in total points
– 4th in total rebounds
– 38th in total assists
– 18th in total steals
– 15th in total blocks

HIGHLIGHTS:

Dan Boyce (827 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.