Kings vs Hawks: Ep. 6 — LaMelo Ball, Spy-Gate and ‘The Hawks’ lose their Illawarra name
February 2, 2026
Aaron Brooks
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 14/01/85
- Place of Birth: Seattle, Washington (USA)
- Position: PG
- Height (CM): 183
- Weight (KG): 73
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Oregon (2003–2007)
- NBL DEBUT: 6/10/19
- AGE AT DEBUT: 34
- LAST NBL GAME: 27/10/19
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 34
- NBL History: Illawarra 2020
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Aaron Jamal Brooks was born in Seattle, Washington. Brooks was a high-profile recruit out of Franklin High School in Seattle, “earned just about every honor possible” while leading his team to the Washington 4A State Championship as a senior. As a high school senior he averaged 24.3 points, 7.0 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game.
In that championship game, Brooks went head-to-head with future Gonzaga Bulldog and two-time NBA champion Adam Morrison. Brooks finished with 38 points in the 67-55 win. Morrison finished with 37 in the loss but was still named Tournament MVP after matching then four-game scoring total.
Considered a four-star recruit by 247Sports.com, Brooks was listed as the No.4 point guard and the No. 30 player in the nation in 2003.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Aaron Brooks made his NBL debut with the Illawarra Hawks at 34 years of age. He scored 23 points in his first game.
After finishing seventh with a 12-16 record and missing the playoffs the previous season, Illawarra rebuilt its roster under new head coach Matt Flinn. Kevin White (to Adelaide), Brian Conklin (to Limoges), Jordair Jett (to Nelson) and Cedric Jackson departed, while Next Star LaMelo Ball, Josh Boone (via Melbourne), Sunday Dech (via Perth), Sam Froling (via Creighton) and returning guard Angus Glover were added around Todd Blanchfield, AJ Ogilvy, Tim Coenraad and David Andersen.
Brooks signed a one-year deal as Illawarra’s veteran import after a 645-game NBA career which included winning the NBA’s Most Improved Player award and scoring a career-high 43 points for Houston. The Hawks paired Brooks with Ball to provide the teenage Next Star with an experienced NBA point guard who could mentor him through his first NBL season and help prepare him for the professional game ahead of the 2020 NBA Draft. Brooks and Ball also shared the same agency, while the presence of an experienced NBA guard alongside Ball was considered an important part of Illawarra’s pitch.
Illawarra opened the season against Brisbane at the WIN Entertainment Centre on October 6, where Brooks (23 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Hawks in scoring but the Bullets won 90-81. Ogilvy (13 points and 5 rebounds) and Ball (12 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals) provided support, while Lamar Patterson (25 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Brisbane.
Brooks (17.9 points, 3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists across 7 games) immediately became Illawarra’s primary scorer and experienced ball-handler while continuing to work alongside Ball in the backcourt. He appeared in every Hawks game through the opening four rounds before injury ended his season.
Illawarra collected its first win against Cairns on October 14, where Brooks (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) helped the Hawks edge the Taipans 89-88 after Ogilvy (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 steals) made the decisive free throw with 1.1 seconds remaining. Blanchfield (20 points) led Illawarra in scoring, while DJ Newbill (26 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) was Cairns’ best.
Brooks’ best game of the season came against Adelaide at the WIN Entertainment Centre on October 21, where he made 13-of-20 shots and four three-pointers to finish with 31 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Ball (15 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists) and Froling (12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) provided support, but Daniel Johnson (21 points and 11 rebounds) led Adelaide to a 98-92 victory.
Three days later Brooks (19 points) was part of the most-watched NBL game in history at the time when Illawarra travelled to New Zealand for Ball’s first meeting with fellow Next Star RJ Hampton. Ball (10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) and Andersen (11 points and 5 rebounds) provided support, while Sek Henry (21 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) led the Breakers to a 103-72 victory in a game which attracted 1.9 million views globally on Facebook.
Brooks’ season ended against Perth on October 27 when he suffered a torn left Achilles late in the third quarter. Brooks (7 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) had helped keep Illawarra competitive before being carried to the locker room, with Coenraad (18 points and 4 rebounds) and Ball (16 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists) leading the Hawks after his departure while Bryce Cotton (21 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) carried Perth to an 81-76 victory. Scans confirmed the Achilles rupture the following day, ruling Brooks out for Illawarra’s remaining 21 games and ultimately ending his playing career. “As I expected, I tore my Achilles on this play,” Brooks said.
The loss of Brooks left Ball (17 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1.7 steals across 12 games) with a much larger role than originally planned, and he responded with consecutive triple-doubles before bruising his foot in practice and missing the remainder of the season. Darington Hobson (5.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.3 steals across 13 games) was added in December to provide another ball-handler, while Billy Preston (6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds across 3 games) was added later in the season before being released after multiple missed practices.
With Brooks and Ball unavailable, Blanchfield (13.3 points and 3.9 rebounds across 28 games) became Illawarra’s main scoring option and won the Hawks’ MVP award for the second consecutive season, while Ball was named NBL Rookie of the Year. Dech (9.2 points and 3.7 rebounds across 27 games), Ogilvy (8.5 points and 6.3 rebounds across 26 games), Boone (8.2 points and 5.8 rebounds across 24 games), Coenraad (8.1 points and 2.5 rebounds across 28 games), Andersen (6.6 points and 2.6 rebounds across 16 games), Froling (6 points and 3.4 rebounds across 17 games), Emmett Naar (5.6 points and 3.6 assists across 25 games) and Glover (5.2 points and 2.3 rebounds across 27 games) were the Hawks’ other main contributors.
Brooks remained sidelined when Illawarra closed the season against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on February 14, where Dech (26 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Glover (15 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the Hawks, while Jae’Sean Tate (19 points and 5 rebounds) helped Sydney to a 98-82 victory as Illawarra finished ninth with a 5-23 record and ten consecutive losses.
Aaron Brooks played one season in the NBL. He averaged 17.8 points, 3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 7 NBL games.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 35 | Illawarra | 5-23 (9) | 7 | 195.7 | 125 | 21 | 29 | 4 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 17 | 22 | 46 | 100 | 46% | 14 | 40 | 35% | 19 | 25 | 76% | 56% | 53% | 31 | Totals | 7 | 196 | 125 | 21 | 29 | 4 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 17 | 22 | 46 | 100 | 46.0% | 14 | 40 | 35.0% | 19 | 25 | 76.0% | 56% | 53% | 31 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 35 | Illawarra | 5-23 (9) | 7 | 28.0 | 17.9 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 6.6 | 14.3 | 46% | 2.0 | 5.7 | 35% | 2.7 | 3.6 | 76% | 56% | 53% | 31 | Total | 7 | 28.0 | 17.9 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 6.6 | 14.3 | 46.0% | 0.1 | 35.0% | 2.0 | 5.7 | 76.0% | 56% | 53% | 31 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 31 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
Aaron Brooks was drafted by the Houston Rockets with pick #26 in the 2007 NBA Draft.
On June 28, 2007, Brooks was taken 26th overall in the first round of the 2007 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. During the 2007/08 season, he spent time with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League.
During the 2008/09 season, Brooks was thrust into the starting lineup after Rafer Alston, the Rockets starting point guard at the time, was traded to the Orlando Magic minutes before the trading deadline. As a starter, he averaged around 14.0 Points and 4.5 assists per game. Brooks was remained a starter through the Rockets 2009 playoff run where he delivered a number of key performances. On April 21, 2009, Brooks scored 11 points in 27 seconds in a First Round 107–103 Playoff loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, in which Brooks played a huge part in Houstons rally, scoring three 3-pointers and a fast break lay-up. While the Rockets lost that game, they were able to eliminate Portland in six games. Aaron Brooks scored a then career-high 34 points in Game 4 of the 2009 Western Conference semifinals as the Rockets, without Yao Ming, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to even the series at 2–2. However, the Los Angeles Lakers eventually won the series in 7 games and go onto to become NBA champions.
On January 13, 2010, Brooks scored a new career high of 43 points in a triple overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. On March 15, 2010, Brooks scored the game winning shot against the Denver Nuggets with 2.9 seconds left in the game. On March 17, 2010, Brooks shot 7–7 from behind the three arc against the Memphis Grizzlies, setting a new franchise record. On April 11, 2010, Brooks became only the sixth player in NBA history to make over 200 3-pointers and over 400 assists in a single season. On April 23, 2010, he was named NBA Most Improved Player, averaging 19.6 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per game.
On November 6, 2010, Brooks suffered a sprained ankle. He returned on December 19, 2010 in a 102–93 win over the Sacramento Kings, in which he came off the bench for 15 minutes and recorded 9 points (all 3-pointers). In his first start since return from his injury, on January 10, 2011, he tied his season-high 24 points, in a win over the Boston Celtics.
On February 24, 2011, Brooks was traded to the Phoenix Suns for Goran Dragić and a first round pick the team got from the Orlando Magic in an earlier trade.
During the 2011 NBA lockout, Brooks played in China for the 2010/11 season before returning to the NBA the following season, signing with the Sacramento Kings in July 2012. He was waived by the Kings on March 1, 2013.
One week later Brooks signed with Houston on March 5, 2013. On June 30, 2013, he was waived by the Rockets, but on July 19, 2013, he rejoined the team, reaching an agreement on a one-year minimum contract.
On February 20, 2014, Brooks was traded to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Jordan Hamilton.
On July 22, 2014, Brooks signed with the Chicago Bulls.
On July 21, 2016, Brooks signed with the Indiana Pacers.
On September 21, 2017, Brooks signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves. This would be his last season in the NBA with Brooks choosing to spend the 2018/19 season in Australia.
Brooks played over 10 years for seven different clubs and scored 6,595 career points.
Brooks played 645 games in the NBA. He averaged 9.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game over his NBA career.
NBA TRANSACTIONS:
- June 28, 2007: Drafted by the Houston Rockets in the 1st round (26th pick) of the 2007 NBA Draft.
-
- December 6, 2007: Assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the G-League.
-
- December 14, 2007: Recalled from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the G-League.
-
- February 24, 2011: Traded by the Houston Rockets to the Phoenix Suns for Goran Dragić and a 2011 1st round draft pick (Nikola Mirotić was later selected).
-
- July 16, 2012: Signed as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings.
-
March 1, 2013: Waived by the Sacramento Kings.
-
March 5, 2013: Signed as a free agent with the Houston Rockets.
-
June 30, 2013: Waived by the Houston Rockets.
-
July 19, 2013: Signed as a free agent with the Houston Rockets.
-
February 20, 2014: Traded by the Houston Rockets to the Denver Nuggets for Jordan Hamilton.
-
July 22, 2014: Signed a contract with the Chicago Bulls
July 14, 2015: Signed a contract with the Chicago Bulls
July 21, 2016: Signed a contract with the Indiana Pacers
September 21, 2017: Signed a contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 89% | 95% | 81% | 70% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 31 | 7 | 2 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 46 | 100 | 46.0% | 14 | 40 | 35.0% |
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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 33 | Minnesota | PG | 32 | 1 | 189 | 7 | 17 | 20 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 28 | 28 | 69 | 41% | 11 | 31 | 35% | 8 | 11 | 73% | 5% | 49% |
| 2016-17 | 32 | Indiana | PG | 65 | 0 | 894 | 322 | 69 | 125 | 18 | 51 | 25 | 9 | 66 | 93 | 121 | 300 | 40% | 48 | 128 | 38% | 32 | 40 | 80% | 51% | 48% |
| 2015-16 | 31 | Chicago | PG | 69 | 0 | 1108 | 491 | 101 | 180 | 21 | 80 | 30 | 10 | 82 | 132 | 188 | 469 | 40% | 66 | 185 | 36% | 49 | 64 | 77% | 49% | 47% |
| 2014-15 | 30 | Chicago | PG | 82 | 21 | 1885 | 954 | 166 | 261 | 32 | 134 | 54 | 15 | 157 | 189 | 344 | 817 | 42% | 121 | 313 | 39% | 145 | 174 | 83% | 53% | 50% |
| 2013-14 | 29 | Denver | PG | 29 | 12 | 841 | 346 | 78 | 150 | 20 | 58 | 27 | 7 | 66 | 70 | 129 | 318 | 41% | 42 | 116 | 36% | 46 | 51 | 90% | 51% | 47% |
| 2013-14 | 29 | Houston | PG | 43 | 0 | 716 | 299 | 62 | 83 | 23 | 39 | 25 | 6 | 51 | 76 | 104 | 263 | 40% | 54 | 132 | 41% | 37 | 44 | 84% | 53% | 50% |
| 2012-13 | 28 | Houston | PG | 7 | 0 | 38 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 31% | 2 | 7 | 29% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 38% | 39% |
| 2012-13 | 28 | Sacramento | PG | 46 | 20 | 959 | 366 | 78 | 108 | 12 | 66 | 29 | 7 | 63 | 89 | 139 | 303 | 46% | 48 | 127 | 38% | 40 | 52 | 77% | 56% | 54% |
| 2010-11 | 26 | Houston | PG | 34 | 7 | 811 | 394 | 51 | 129 | 11 | 40 | 21 | 2 | 55 | 69 | 134 | 387 | 35% | 48 | 169 | 28% | 78 | 83 | 94% | 47% | 41% |
| 2010-11 | 26 | Phoenix | PG | 25 | 5 | 473 | 240 | 27 | 104 | 9 | 18 | 13 | 1 | 44 | 46 | 86 | 200 | 43% | 22 | 67 | 33% | 46 | 57 | 81% | 53% | 49% |
| 2009-10 | 25 | Houston | PG | 82 | 82 | 2919 | 1604 | 215 | 434 | 54 | 161 | 69 | 14 | 232 | 199 | 575 | 1331 | 43% | 209 | 525 | 40% | 245 | 298 | 82% | 55% | 51% |
| 2008-09 | 24 | Houston | PG | 80 | 35 | 1998 | 894 | 157 | 238 | 33 | 124 | 46 | 8 | 125 | 152 | 316 | 783 | 40% | 113 | 309 | 37% | 149 | 172 | 87% | 52% | 48% |
| 2007-08 | 23 | Houston | PG | 51 | 0 | 608 | 264 | 56 | 87 | 13 | 43 | 13 | 5 | 44 | 69 | 93 | 225 | 41% | 36 | 109 | 33% | 42 | 49 | 86% | 54% | 49% | Total | 645 | 183 | 13439 | 6191 | 1079 | 1925 | 254 | 825 | 359 | 87 | 1000 | 1217 | 2261 | 5478 | 41% | 820 | 2218 | 37% | 917 | 1095 | 84% |
NBA PER GAME 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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 33 | Minnesota | PG | 32 | 1 | 5.9 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 41% | 0.3 | 1.0 | 35% | 0.3 | 0.3 | 73% | 5% | 49% |
| 2016-17 | 32 | Indiana | PG | 65 | 0 | 13.8 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 4.6 | 40% | 0.7 | 2.0 | 38% | 0.5 | 0.6 | 80% | 51% | 48% |
| 2015-16 | 31 | Chicago | PG | 69 | 0 | 16.1 | 7.1 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 6.8 | 40% | 1.0 | 2.7 | 36% | 0.7 | 0.9 | 77% | 49% | 47% |
| 2014-15 | 30 | Chicago | PG | 82 | 21 | 23.0 | 11.6 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 4.2 | 10.0 | 42% | 1.5 | 3.8 | 39% | 1.8 | 2.1 | 83% | 53% | 50% |
| 2013-14 | 29 | Denver | PG | 29 | 12 | 29.0 | 11.9 | 2.7 | 5.2 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 11.0 | 41% | 1.4 | 4.0 | 36% | 1.6 | 1.8 | 90% | 51% | 47% |
| 2013-14 | 29 | Houston | PG | 43 | 0 | 16.7 | 7.0 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 6.1 | 40% | 1.3 | 3.1 | 41% | 0.9 | 1.0 | 84% | 53% | 50% |
| 2012-13 | 28 | Houston | PG | 7 | 0 | 5.4 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 31% | 0.3 | 1.0 | 29% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 38% | 39% |
| 2012-13 | 28 | Sacramento | PG | 46 | 20 | 20.8 | 8.0 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 3.0 | 6.6 | 46% | 1.0 | 2.8 | 38% | 0.9 | 1.1 | 77% | 56% | 54% |
| 2010-11 | 26 | Houston | PG | 34 | 7 | 23.9 | 11.6 | 1.5 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 3.9 | 11.4 | 35% | 1.4 | 5.0 | 28% | 2.3 | 2.4 | 94% | 47% | 41% |
| 2010-11 | 26 | Phoenix | PG | 25 | 5 | 18.9 | 9.6 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 8.0 | 43% | 0.9 | 2.7 | 33% | 1.8 | 2.3 | 81% | 53% | 49% |
| 2009-10 | 25 | Houston | PG | 82 | 82 | 35.6 | 19.6 | 2.6 | 5.3 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 7.0 | 16.2 | 43% | 2.5 | 6.4 | 40% | 3.0 | 3.6 | 82% | 55% | 51% |
| 2008-09 | 24 | Houston | PG | 80 | 35 | 25.0 | 11.2 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 4.0 | 9.8 | 40% | 1.4 | 3.9 | 37% | 1.9 | 2.2 | 87% | 52% | 48% |
| 2007-08 | 23 | Houston | PG | 51 | 0 | 11.9 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 4.4 | 41% | 0.7 | 2.1 | 33% | 0.8 | 1.0 | 86% | 54% | 49% | Total | 645 | 183 | 20.8 | 9.6 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 3.5 | 8.5 | 41% | 1.3 | 3.4 | 37% | 1.4 | 1.7 | 84% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- China - Guangdong (2011-2012)
Brooks spent the 2011–2012 season in China with Guangdong Southern Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association after signing during the 2011 NBA lockout, with team transactions listing his signing date as 22 November 2011, and early in his stint he scored 40 points in 38 minutes off the bench as Guangdong defeated Tianjin Ronggang 110–97, finishing five points short of tying the Guangdong single-game scoring record set by former player Du Feng.
Brooks spent the remainder of the 2011–2012 CBA campaign as Guangdong’s lead playmaker, with season stat listings crediting him with 41 games played while leading the club in assists and also ranking first on the team in scoring, and he was selected to the 2012 CBA All-Star Game as a replacement starter after J.R. Smith withdrew, where he led the All-Star Game in assists with nine while also entering the CBA Three-Point Shootout and finishing one point short of reaching the final round.
Brooks helped steer Guangdong into the 2012 CBA Finals as the team’s primary assist producer, but the Southern Tigers finished runners-up after losing the championship series to the Beijing Ducks led by Stephon Marbury, with Beijing clinching the title 4–1 in the best-of-seven series and Brooks posting 33 points and five assists in the series-ending loss as Marbury scored 41 in the deciding game.
COLLEGE
Aaron Brooks played four seasons at Oregon from 2003–04 to 2006–07 and finished as one of the most decorated point guards in school history, closing his Ducks career with 1,521 points, 471 assists, 124 steals, 205 three-pointers, and a .836 career free-throw percentage while ranking in Oregon’s career top 10 for scoring (9th), assists (4th), steals (6th), three-point field goals (4th), and free-throw percentage (4th).
As a freshman in 2003–04, Brooks stepped into the starting point guard role previously held by Luke Ridnour and earned Pac-10 All-Freshman honours despite missing 10 games after breaking a hamate bone in his right wrist that required surgery, returning in mid-February and immediately producing impact games including 16 points (4-of-6 threes) with five assists at California and 17 points two days later at Stanford.
Brooks broke out as a sophomore in 2004–05, earning All-Pac-10 honorable mention while leading Oregon in both scoring (14.7 points per game) and assists (4.6 per game), ranking 10th in the Pac-10 in scoring and third in the league in assists, and he produced the signature game of his underclass years with a career-high 34 points in a 90–83 win over USC, a performance that included 9-of-13 shooting and 12-of-13 at the line and tied the most points ever scored by an Oregon sophomore.
In 2005–06, Brooks started 31 of 32 games and averaged 10.8 points and 4.4 assists per game while leading the Pac-10 in assist-to-turnover ratio, recording his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 assists against Howard, and he delivered his season-high 20 points in a road win at USC while also leading Oregon in steals with 35 and ranking among the team’s most frequent leaders in assists across the year.
After an uneven junior season that included a suspension during a game against Washington, Brooks responded with a standout senior campaign in 2006–07, leading the Pac-10 in scoring at 17.7 points per game and producing 621 total points, one of the strongest single-season scoring totals in Oregon history, while stacking major conference and national honours including All-Pac-10 First Team and multiple All-America selections that placed him among the nation’s top guards.
Brooks’ senior year featured multiple defining moments, including game-winners over then No. 1 UCLA and then No. 10 Arizona in Tucson, plus a 31-point, eight-rebound performance in an overtime road win over then top-25 Washington State that handed the Cougars their first home loss of the 2006–07 season, and at the halfway point of Pac-10 play he was averaging 19.1 points and 4.5 assists while Oregon surged into the top-10 rankings with a 19–2 record.
Oregon finished tied for third in the Pac-10 and then won the 2007 Pac-10 Tournament following a three-day run over Arizona, California, and USC, with Brooks earning Pac-10 All-Tournament Team selection as the Ducks secured the league’s automatic NCAA tournament bid and launched a deep March run.
In the 2007 NCAA tournament, Brooks helped Oregon reach the Midwest Regional Final before falling to defending champion Florida, and his postseason résumé included selection to the NCAA All-Midwest Regional Team alongside national recognition such as being named a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award and earning Wooden Award All-America (Top 10) status while also receiving additional All-America selections and district honours.
Brooks also added a national event highlight at the end of his college career by winning the men’s three-point shootout on March 29, 2007 during Final Four week, and he graduated from Oregon in 2007 with a degree in political science after completing a four-year starting career that left him among the Ducks’ most accomplished guards on record.
AWARDS
- McDonald's All-American (2003)
- NBA Most Improved Player (2010)
-
CBA All-Star (2012)
-
Second-team All-American – SN (2007)
-
Third-team All-American – AP (2007)
-
First-team All-Pac-10 (2007)
-
Third-team Parade All-American (2003)
-
Washington Mr. Basketball (2003)
COACHING HISTORY
After his season with Illawarra in the NBL Brooks would retire and join the New York Knicks as an assistant coach working with players on two-way contracts under head coach Tom Thibodeau, whom he played for at stints in both Chicago and Minnesota.
Related
HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PLAYER?
Whilst we try to source as much information as we can for every player who has ever played in the NBL some information on a player profile may be missing. If you have additional information on a player you'd like us to add to a profile, please send it to us using the enquiry form below.
Submissions are then sent to info@aussiehoopla.com