Terry Johnson (200 NBL Games) talks 1990s Illawarra Hawks and the Cairns Taipans first NBL season
September 11, 2023
Bruce Palmer
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 12/11/55
- Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 196
- Weight (KG): #N/A
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: University of the Pacific (California)
- NBL DEBUT: 6/02/82
- AGE AT DEBUT: 26
- LAST NBL GAME: 16/07/82
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 26
- NBL History: Coburg 1982
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Bruce Palmer was born in Los Angeles, California (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Bruce Palmer made his NBL debut with the Coburg Giants at 26 years of age. He scored 15 points in his first game.
In 1982 Palmer was signed as a player/coach and asked to deliver success whilst on the court and from the sidelines for the Coburg Giants. As a player, Palmer averaged 8.2 points and 4.0 rebounds, and as a coach, he guided the Giants to a fourth place finish (18-8) and a semi-final matchup against the Geelong Cats.
Palmer and the Giants were eliminated by the Cats, losing 71-59. Palmer did not return to the club as either a player or a coach the next season.
Bruce Palmer played one season in the NBL. He averaged 8.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 27 NBL games.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 26 | Coburg | 18-8 (4) | 27 | 0.0 | 222 | 107 | 43 | 22 | 85 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 65 | 97 | 246 | 39.4% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 28 | 35 | 80.0% | 42% | 39% | 20 | Totals | 27 | 0 | 222 | 107 | 43 | 22 | 85 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 65 | 97 | 246 | 39.4% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 28 | 35 | 80.0% | 42% | 39% | 20 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 26 | Coburg | 18-8 (4) | 27 | 0.0 | 8.2 | 4.0 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 9.1 | 39% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 1.0 | 1.3 | 80.0% | 42% | 39% | 20 | Total | 27 | 0.0 | 8.2 | 4.0 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 9.1 | 39.4% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 80.0% | 42% | 39% | 20 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 20 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Melbourne 1977
Coaching Dandenong to the championship in 1986.
COACHING HISTORY
Palmer began coaching in the NBL in 1987 with the North Melbourne Giants, after coaching the Dandenong Rangers to the 1986 VBA championship.
In 1988 he was awarded NBL Coach of the Year though the Giants would lose the NBL Grand Final series to the Canberra Cannons.
The following year, Giant Scott Fisher was named the League Most Valuable Player and the Giants won the Championship over the Cannons in a reversal of the previous years series.
Palmer moved to the Brisbane Bullets in 1993, although he was unsuccessful in bringing the team the level of success he saw with the Giants.
He left the team after three seasons and took a break from coaching in the NBL, during which he coached representative youth basketball.
In 1998, he worked as an assistant coach with the Brisbane Bullets under head coach Brian Kerle.
Palmer took on the role of head coach with expansion team Hunter Pirates in 2003. Palmer was then controversially fired partway into the season and replaced by his assitant Dave Simmons.
Related
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