BIO: Born and raised in Horsham, Victoria, Shaun Bruce attended Horsham College where he graduated from in 2008.

Two years earlier, as a 15 year old, Bruce began playing for the Horsham Hornets in the Big V Division Two, joining his brother Cameron at the club.

Is featured on the ‘Culture of Champions’ mural at Horsham Basketball Stadium.

FAMILY: Shaun’s brother, Aaron Bruce also played 90 games in the NBL. 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, played in the Australian Football League. He also has a third brother Cameron who played state level basketball as well.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Shaun Bruce made his NBL debut with the Cairns Taipans at 21 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

Bruce began his NBL career as a development player with the Cairns Taipans, before earning a full-time roster spot for the 2012/13 season. He averaged 1.1 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.6 assists as the Taipans finished in sixth place (11-17) during the 2012/13 season.

2013/14
In 2013/14, Bruce averaged 1.2 points, 1 rebounds, and 0.6 assists, playing a key role in the Taipans rotation, helping the team finish reach a fifth place finish in the regular season with a 12-16 record.

2014/15
In 2015, Cairns made history by becoming the first regional team to finish an NBL season in first place (21-7) since Geelong in 1984. Cairns also set a league record when coach Aaron Fearne used the same starting five—Scottie Wilbekin, Cameron Gliddon, Stephen Weigh, captain Alex Loughton, and Matt Burston—for all 28 games.

The roster did undergo some changes during the season, with training player Nathan Sobey (1.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.1 assists) being elevated to the squad mid-season following injuries to Corey Maynard (1.1 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.6 assists) and Shaun Bruce (3.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists).

In the semifinals, Cairns faced the 4th-seeded Perth Wildcats. Behind the dominant performance of Wilbekin (28 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists), Cairns secured a Game 1 win (71-64). Wilbekin (16 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists) again led the way in Game 2 (80-68), guiding the Taipans to the Grand Final series.

Cairns then faced the New Zealand Breakers in the Grand Final, but despite having home-court advantage, they lost the opening game 86-71. A buzzer-beating fadeaway by Breakers forward Ekene Ibekwe resulted in a heartbreaking Game 2 loss (83-81), denying Cairns their first NBL championship.

Wilbekin (15.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists) led the team in scoring and assists and earned the club’s MVP award, while Bruce finished the season with averages of 3.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.

2015/16
By the 2015/16 season Bruce had gained attention across the league as a quality backup point guard and a regular part of the Taipans rotation. He averaged 5.9 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists as the Taipans finished with a 12-16 record (sixth place) and during the off-season was offered a number of deals for opposition clubs for more money and more opportunity.

BRISBANE BULLETS
2016/17
During the 2016/17 season, Bruce averaged 5.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists and was a part of the Bullets squad which finished in eighth place with a record of 10-18.

2017/18
Due to a large guard rotation at the Bullets during the 2017/18 Bruce saw his productivity go backwards. He averaged 3 points and 1.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists as the Bullets finished in eighth place (9-19) and was not offered a contract to return for the following season.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2018/19
After narrowly missing out on the NBL championship the previous season, Adelaide entered a rebuilding phase with the departure of several key players, most notably second-leading scorer Mitch Creek. Creek left to pursue his NBA dream after extended negotiations between Adelaide and Basketball Australia.

During the 2018 NBL off-season, Creek was given approval to play in Germany, with the understanding that he would return to the 36ers for the 2018/19 season. However, after strong performances in Germany, Creek caught the attention of the Brooklyn Nets, who signed him to their G-League team. Adelaide then filed an injunction to prevent Basketball Australia from approving Creek’s NBA deal without compensation, but a resolution was eventually reached, allowing Creek to pursue his NBA ambitions.

Other departures included Shannon Shorter (to Japan), Josh Childress (retired), and Matthew Hodgson (to Brisbane). Adelaide responded by signing import Jacob Wiley (via Germany) to replace Creek and adding point guard Adris De León for additional scoring and playmaking. Rising stars Harry Froling and Jack McVeigh were also signed straight out of college, injecting youthful energy into the roster.

Despite the changes, Adelaide retained several key players from the previous season, including Nathan Sobey, Majok Deng, Adam Doyle, Brendan Teys, and import Ramone Moore. Leading scorer Daniel Johnson also returned and took over as team captain, replacing the departing Creek.

The 36ers started the season with a loss to Perth (91–99) at home in Round 1 but bounced back with a win over the Sydney Kings (94–83) on the road. In Round 3, Sobey delivered a standout moment by recording a triple-double (22 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists) in a victory over Cairns (91–83).

Adelaide then hit a rough patch, losing four consecutive games, starting with a loss to New Zealand (114–94) and ending with a close defeat to Brisbane (93–90) in Round 4. Injuries, including a calf injury to Ramone Moore, disrupted their momentum. An ultimatum was issued to De León, who had to deliver a win against Sydney or face being replaced. Despite a solid performance (11 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists in 25 minutes), Adelaide suffered their fourth consecutive loss, and De León (7.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists) was released. Former Illawarra import Demitrius Conger was brought in as his replacement. With Moore still sidelined, Adelaide also signed Shaun Bruce, who had been without a contract after three seasons with Cairns.

Adelaide’s inconsistency persisted. After back-to-back wins against Cairns (109–95) and Illawarra (120–109) in Round 7, they lost a heartbreaker to Illawarra at home (86–87). They followed up a win over Brisbane (101–91) in Round 9 with another loss to Illawarra (90–93).

The 36ers found some form in Round 14, winning four consecutive games, including a crucial victory over Perth (97–84) and a dominant win against Sydney (119–99). However, inconsistency returned with losses to Melbourne (114–91) in Round 16 and Brisbane (98–87 OT) in Round 17, which hurt their playoff chances.

Shaun Bruce (2.4 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.9 assists), who joined mid-season, contributed in limited minutes. His best game came against Cairns, where he scored 9 points, with 1 rebound and 1 assist in 18 minutes off the bench (2 Feb 2019). Another solid performance was his 6 points and 2 rebounds against Melbourne United (10 Feb 2019), demonstrating his ability to make an impact in short bursts of playing time.

Adelaide’s season was marked by injuries and roster changes, and despite some strong performances in the latter part of the season, they were ultimately inconsistent. The 36ers hovered between fourth and fifth place for much of the second half before finishing equal with Brisbane at 14-14. However, the Bullets advanced to the playoffs due to a higher points percentage, leaving Adelaide in fifth place and missing the postseason.

Alongside Bruce, Daniel Johnson (17.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) and Nathan Sobey (16.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists) were named to the All-NBL Second Team. Other key contributors included Jacob Wiley (12.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1 assist), Demitrius Conger (11.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists), Anthony Drmic (9.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists), and Harry Froling (7.9 points, 4.6 rebounds), who won the NBL Rookie of the Year award.

SYDNEY KINGS
2019/20
After underperforming with Andrew Gaze as coach, the Sydney Kings shifted gears in 2019 by signing Will Weaver, an assistant coach with the Australian Boomers, as their new head coach. Melbourne declined to take up the optional third year of Craig Moller’s contract, leading to his return to Sydney on a two-year deal (15 April 2019).

Sydney’s off-season moves also included re-signing Kevin Lisch to a multi-year deal and replacing imports Jerome Randle with Casper Ware (via Melbourne) and David Wear with Jae’Sean Tate. Weaver further strengthened the roster by adding Xavier Cooks (Winthrop University), Lucas Walker (via Cairns), and Shaun Bruce. As part of the NBL’s ‘Next Stars’ program, the Kings also acquired Didi Louzada, who had recently been drafted by the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans.

The Kings suffered an early setback when Kevin Lisch (6.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals) fractured his left ankle in Round 2, sidelining him for two months. In response, Sydney signed Deshon Taylor (6.6 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1 assist), who had been released by Adelaide, to fill in until Lisch returned in February.

By the 11th game of the season, Sydney held an impressive 10-1 record, with their only loss coming in Round 5 against Melbourne (104-107), decided by a single shot. Lisch returned for the final three games of the regular season, helping Sydney secure a first-place finish (20–8).

Moller played the first 11 games before missing the next 16 due to a right ankle injury. He returned for the Kings’ final regular season game, just in time for the playoffs, finishing the season with averages of 7.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.

Weaver built a well-balanced Kings team that was dominant throughout the regular season. Casper Ware (19.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists) led the team in scoring, while Jae’Sean Tate (16.4 points, 6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.1 steals) showcased his all-around skills, earning a spot on the All-NBL First Team and winning the Kings’ MVP award. His performance also earned him an NBA contract with the Houston Rockets the following year. Despite showing signs of slowing down, Andrew Bogut (8.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 blocks) remained a defensive force and was named to the All-NBL Second Team.

Sydney defeated Melbourne 2-1 in the semifinals, advancing to face Perth in the Grand Final. In Game 1, the Kings lost a tight contest (86-88), with Lisch leading the team with 17 points. Before Game 2, it was decided that the remaining games would be played without fans due to the growing coronavirus pandemic. Despite the empty arena, the Kings evened the series (1-1) with Jae’Sean Tate (21 points) shooting 7-of-9 and Andrew Bogut (24 points, 14 rebounds) delivering one of his best performances of the season.

In Game 3, Perth’s Nick Kay (30 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Bryce Cotton (31 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists) were unstoppable, leading the Wildcats to a 111-96 victory. With the series at 2-1 in favor of Perth, the Kings chose to withdraw from Game 4 due to uncertainties around COVID-19 and international travel restrictions, as many of their players were based overseas. After a week of deliberation, Perth was awarded the championship, securing their 10th title. Bryce Cotton, who averaged 30.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists over the series, was named Grand Final MVP for the second time in four years, becoming the first player in Wildcats history to be named league MVP, Grand Final MVP, and win a championship all in the same season.

Shaun Bruce had a breakout season, averaging 7.4 points and 1.4 rebounds per game, earning nominations for the league’s Most Improved Player and Sixth Man awards. He also won the Sydney Kings Coaches’ Award.

2020/21
Sydney experienced significant roster turnover after finishing runners-up to Perth in the COVID-shortened 2020 Grand Final. The team faced the loss of All-NBL First Team forward Jae’Sean Tate and head coach Will Weaver, both of whom signed contracts with the NBA’s Houston Rockets. Additionally, veterans Kevin Lisch, Andrew Bogut, and Lucas Walker retired. Kings assistant Adam Forde took over as head coach, having been with the organisation since 2019, and replaced the outgoing talent with import Jarell Martin, Angus Glover (via Illawarra), and rookie Dejan Vasiljevic (via Miami University). Before the season began, the Kings lost promising forward Xavier Cooks to a foot injury, leading them to sign Tom Vodanovich (via New Zealand) as an injury replacement just before the opening game. The injury struggles continued when Angus Glover tore his ACL, limiting him to just two games for the season.

As the season started, Sydney leaned on their young core to step up in the absence of key veterans, resulting in early struggles. After losing three of their first four games, the Kings found themselves in seventh place. Mid-season, the league relocated all teams to Melbourne for the NBL Cup, an in-season tournament designed to mitigate COVID-related travel disruptions. Sydney found some rhythm during the Cup, going 4-4, and carried that momentum into consecutive wins at home, pushing them into the top four by Round 12.

Co-captain Casper Ware (17.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists) and Jarell Martin (17.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists) became the primary offensive weapons, with Martin’s best game coming against New Zealand, where he scored 29 points.

Dejan Vasiljevic (15.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) and Jordan Hunter (9.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks) emerged as key contributors, with Hunter finishing runner-up in the Most Improved Player voting and Vasiljevic being named Rookie of the Year. Xavier Cooks (10.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 blocks) also had a strong impact during the Kings’ later-season surge, including a career-high 19 points and 11 rebounds against the Hawks in Round 21.

Sydney’s main struggles throughout the season were their perimeter shooting—tied with Illawarra for the worst three-point percentage in the league (33.4%)—and inconsistency on the road, where they lost 50% of their games. With four rounds remaining, the Kings were positioned inside the top four, but a stretch of five losses in seven games, including two by over 20 points, derailed their playoff hopes. Despite ending the season on a three-game winning streak, Sydney finished in fifth place (19-17) and missed out on the playoffs.

Shaun Bruce played in 35 games for the Kings, averaging 6.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists.

2021/22
In 2021, the Sydney Kings replaced Adam Forde with unproven US coach Chase Buford. Buford, the son of RC Buford, the mastermind behind the San Antonio Spurs, inherited a strong core of players including Xavier Cooks, Jarell Martin, and Dejan Vasiljevic, and added former NBA talent Jaylen Adams and fellow import RJ Hunter.

The change in leadership and early-season injuries to RJ Hunter (who played only one game), Adams (who missed a third of the season), and young big man Jordan Hunter (who missed the entire season) led to a sluggish start for the Kings. After losing four consecutive games in January, Adams returned, and the team added former NBA player Ian Clark, a former teammate of Kings co-owner Andrew Bogut. From that point, the Kings’ fortunes began to improve.

Bruce averaged 4.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists as the Kings finished the season in spectacular fashion, winning 13 consecutive games to close out the regular season.

In the semifinals, the Kings faced Brian Goorjian’s Illawarra Hawks and comfortably defeated them in two straight games. Meanwhile, on the other side of the bracket, the Tasmania JackJumpers, in their debut NBL season, upset Melbourne United in three games to secure a spot in the Grand Final. Tasmania had finished fifth in the regular season but qualified for the playoffs thanks to points percentage, after South East Melbourne beat Perth in the final game of the season.

In the Grand Final series, Sydney asserted their dominance, defeating Tasmania (95-78) in Game 1. Adams, who had been named NBL MVP the previous week, scored 18 points in the win but suffered a left hamstring injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the series.

In Game 2, Tasmania’s fan favorite Josh Adams erupted for 36 points in front of a sell-out crowd, but Sydney, led by 20-point efforts from captain Xavier Cooks, Jarell Martin (who shot 80% from the field), and Dejan Vasiljevic, clinched a 90-86 win. Vasiljevic nailed a long-range dagger in the closing minutes to seal the win, which was also Sydney’s 12th consecutive road victory—an NBL record for the most away wins in a single season.

Dejan Vasiljevic with the ???????????????????????? ????️
–
– ???? Watch the #NBLFinals Live on ESPN pic.twitter.com/XDIgoHVKo9

— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) May 8, 2022

The Kings closed out the series in Game 3, ending their 17-year championship drought in front of 16,000 fans at Qudos Bank Arena. Xavier Cooks and Jarell Martin combined for 45 points and 29 rebounds as the Kings secured their 19th win in their final 21 games.

Bruce stepped up in the absence of Adams, playing a crucial role in the Kings’ victories in Games 2 and 3. During the Grand Final series, Bruce celebrated his 250th NBL game, becoming the 41st King to reach this milestone while playing for the club.

Cooks was named MVP of the finals series, averaging 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists over the three games. At 33, Chase Buford became the fourth-youngest championship-winning coach in league history, following Bob Turner (1983), Ken Richardson (1982), and Jim Ericksen (1981), two of whom were player-coaches.

17 years in the making ????????#WeTheKings #NBL22 pic.twitter.com/Wz7uIGjTr6

— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) May 14, 2022

2022/23
After winning the championship, Sydney lost its star import trio of Jaylen Adams, Jarell Martin, and Ian Clark to larger overseas deals, prompting a roster overhaul. The Kings chose to build around local talent, including Xavier Cooks, Dejan Vasiljevic, and Angus Glover, while bringing in Derrick Walton Jr to replace Adams, Tim Soares (via Europe) as a sharpshooting center, and former Defensive Player of the Year Justin Simon (via Illawarra). Kouat Noi (via Cairns) was also signed, and rookie Jackson Makoi joined the roster.

Sydney started the season strong, defeating Illawarra, Brisbane, and Melbourne (3-0). Their win over Melbourne (91-71) included a dominant 25-0 run, extending their road winning streak to 15 games, a new NBL record.

However, the Kings then suffered their first loss to Cairns (83-78) before losing again to Adelaide (92-88). Despite this, Sydney bounced back with a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Noi to defeat Cairns (106-103), keeping them at the top of the ladder (8-2).

Next, the Kings faced the New Zealand Breakers in a highly anticipated first vs second matchup. Sydney held off a fierce last-quarter comeback from the Breakers to secure an 81-77 victory, but the win came at a cost as both Walton Jr and Cooks were sidelined with injuries.

In their following game, an epic buzzer-beater from Shaun Bruce lifted the Kings to a dramatic 83-82 win over Illawarra, who had seemed poised for an upset with a four-point lead (82-78) and just 10 seconds remaining.

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE ⚡

THE SYDNEY KINGS HAVE DONE IT AGAIN ????

Watch #NBL23 live & free ???? 10 Peach & 10play | Live on ESPN via Kayo & Foxtel pic.twitter.com/CvxWVxOkI8

— NBL (@NBL) November 20, 2022

The Kings locked themselves into the top spot with a 49-point blowout win over Brisbane (116-67), the largest margin of victory in franchise history. Despite some losses, Sydney finished the regular season on top of the ladder (19-9), with Xavier Cooks named NBL MVP. Bruce averaged 4.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.

In the semi-finals, Cairns upset Sydney in Game 2, forcing a decider after a drama-filled game that saw several hard fouls and injuries. However, Bruce and the Kings bounced back in Game 3, securing a 79-64 win and advancing to the Grand Final series.

In Game 1 of the finals, Sydney fell to New Zealand (95-87), but they responded by winning the next two games, including a record-breaking home crowd of 18,049 in Game 3. Despite losing Game 4, Sydney clinched their second consecutive championship in Game 5, with Walton Jr named Finals MVP. Bruce played a vital role in Sydney’s back-to-back titles and capped the season with solid performances throughout.

It was the last game of the season, and it delivered all sorts of drama.

Re-live the best bits thanks to @HungryJacksAU ⤵ pic.twitter.com/KxOiNZnVDW

— NBL (@NBL) March 15, 2023

2023/24
Shaun Bruce signed a new two-year deal with the Kings as the team prepared for a significant rebuild ahead of NBL24.

“I’ve really loved my time here in Sydney, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather play, so it was an easy decision,” said Bruce upon announcing his return.

“While last season was a little down, our expectation doesn’t change—we’ll all use this time to refresh before coming back with the mindset to win another title. That’s what I love about the Kings, they put you in a position from day one, and now with Goorj, it’ll be no different, and I can’t wait.”

Sydney entered the season having lost several key players to NBA opportunities. Reigning NBL MVP Xavier Cooks and DJ Vasiljevic both went to Washington, and coach Chase Buford was released to pursue NBA options, eventually joining Milwaukee. Imports Derrick Walton Jr, Justin Simon, and Tim Soares all headed overseas, leaving Jordan Hunter as the only returning starter from the championship squad.

Former league MVP Jaylen Adams returned after a season in Europe, joining new imports DJ Hogg (via Cairns), Denzel Valentine, and Australian Boomer Jonah Bolden, who returned to basketball after a four-year absence. G-League championship coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah replaced Buford as head coach, and despite the significant roster turnover, the Kings entered the season as championship favourites.

After ten games, Sydney sat in second place (7-3), with their only losses coming against the Tasmania JackJumpers (twice) and the Cairns Taipans. This was achieved despite marquee player DJ Hogg and Jaylin Galloway missing games due to injuries.

From Round 8 onwards, the Kings struggled to replicate their past dominance, giving up 100 points on nine occasions and finishing the season as one of the league’s weakest defensive teams.

Much of the team’s offensive success came from the pick-and-roll combination of Adams (19.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.1 steals) and Hunter (10.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks). Bolden (8.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists) had some standout games but understandably spent most of the season working back into basketball shape. Denzel Valentine (12.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals) and DJ Hogg (14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 blocks) underperformed on both ends of the floor. Sydney finished the season in fifth place and missed the playoffs after losing to New Zealand in the play-in qualifiers. Breakout seasons from rookie Alex Toohey (8 points and 4.0 rebounds), Kouat Noi (10.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists), who narrowly missed out on the Best Sixth Man award, and Galloway (10.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals) were some of the few bright spots for the Kings.

Bruce played in every game of the season, averaging 4.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. His best performances included starting in a loss to Melbourne (85-101), where he posted 16 points and 5 assists, and a subsequent win over Melbourne, where Bruce contributed 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists in a 98-85 victory.

Shaun Bruce currently plays for the Sydney Kings and has played 324 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 4.4 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2 assists since entering the league in 2012.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Sydney Kings – 2 Year Deal (2024-26)

Dan Boyce (811 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.