BIO: Born in Wichita, Kansas (USA) in 1975, Calvin Thomas “C.J.” Bruton, Jr. moved to Australia at the age of three when his father Calvin Bruton, Sr. moved to Australia to play for the Brisbane Bullets in 1979. CJ grew up primarily in Perth and played his junior basketball at the Perry Lakes Stadium while his father was playing for the Wildcats.

FAMILY: CJ Bruton is the son of Cal Bruton who played 250 games in the NBL. He and his wife, Jessica, have three sons: Rio, Roc and Diggy.

NBL EXPERIENCE

CJ Bruton made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 18 years of age. He scored six points in his first game.

1994 saw Perth return with almost their entire roster (all bar the retiring Steve Davis) after falling short against Melbourne in the previous year’s Grand Final. In a effort to build towards the future, however, up and coming talent in the form of AIS graduate Aaron Trahair and CJ Bruton, son of Wildcats’ legend Cal, were added to the roster.

Perth started the season by winning their first three games and sat atop the NBL ladder with a record of 7-2 after the first five rounds. Around the halfway mark of the season, Perth suffered losses to Brisbane (127–126), Hobart (93–92) and South East Melbourne (112–94), which saw them drop down to the middle of the ladder with a record of 10-5. Whilst many believed the Wildcats would rebound from the Grand Final loss and be among the league’s top team’s, they struggled to replicate last season’s form. Whilst they would show signs of brilliance, as they did in their beat down of Melbourne in Round 18 (131–108), they also lost to multiple team’s that weren’t even in the playoff picture, as they did the very next round, suffering a home loss to the Newcastle Falcons (83–92).

Scott Fisher (20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals) led the team in scoring for the second year in a row, with the Wildcats’other key players Ricky Grace (18.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.5 steals), James Crawford (18.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.3 blocks) and Andrew Vlahov (17.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.1 steals) putting up great numbers all season but Perth was unable to recapture the success of the previous season.

Perth finished the season with a record equal to Sydney (16-10) but was given the higher playoff seed (sixth) thanks to a 2-0 head to head record against the Kings. In the quarterfinals, Perth would face South East Melbourne, who outclassed them in game one, winning by 31 points (113-82). With the series then returning to Melbourne, the Magic defeated them by 14 points (100-86) to end the Wildcats season prematurely.

Rookies Trahair (5.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists) and Bruton (4.9 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists) showed enough to get fans excited about the future. Bruton nailed a remarkable half court buzzer beater as his first shot in the NBL, but playing as a backup to Perth Wildcats legend Ricky Grace, Bruton decided college was a better place to develop his game and chose to play college basketball in the United States the following season.

BRISBANE BULLETS
1998
After two first-round exits, Dave Ingham would be released and replaced with returning head coach Brian Kerle who had led the team to hampionship success in 1985 and 1987. Also during this time, the high cost of playing home games at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre (along with falling attendances) forced the Bullets to move to the smaller (4,000) capacity Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from the 1998 season.

Brisbane were led again by Steve Woodberry (26.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists) and a 40 year old Leroy Loggins (18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per game), who, remarkably, was still starting for the team at small forward.

The Bullets also added CJ Bruton (15.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4 assists), fresh from playing college basketball. Together, the trio formed one of the league’s most effective perimeter attacks and finished the regular season in fourth place (16-14).

After four consecutive seasons of being eliminated during the first round of the playoffs, Brisbane defeated Melbourne in two straight games to move on to the semi finals.

South East Melbourne had destroyed most team’s during the season, losing only four games for the year. With Brisbane responsible for one of those defeats (a 81-76 win in round five) Bullets fans had reason to believe a upset was possible. The Magic wouldn’t let things fall that way, however, winning game one (98–106) and game two (90-84) in straight sets, ending the Bullets’ season.

Bruton appeared in 34 games and averaged 15.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4 assists for the season.

WOLLONGONG HAWKS
1998/99
Coinciding with the NBL’s move to summer, the Hawks shifted base to the Wollongong Entertainment Centre and swapped their Illawarra prefix to Wollongong. Coming off a 14 win season that saw the Hawks reach the postseason, the Hawks were able to retain almost their entire and add CJ Bruton (via Brisbane) who immediately became Wollongong’s starting point guard and primary offensive weapon. With the addition of Bruton, there was no need for import guard Elliot Hatcher and they replaced him with Theron Wilson. Also, talented big man David Andersen was recruited from the AIS to replace the outgoing Matt Zauner.

Bruton (20.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists) would be given the ‘green light’ as he boosted his scoring from 15.4 points to 20.8 points per game in 46 minutes per game. Clayton Ritter (17.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists 1.1 steals) and Mat Campbell (15.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists) also finished among the team’s high scorers.

The Hawks finished the season winning two more games than the year prior, improving upon their previous record for the third year in a row and finishing in third place (16-10).

A disappointing postseason first saw the Hawks lose to the Victoria Titans in two straight games during the Qualifying Finals, but thanks to the league’s of the ‘lucky loser’ rule, which allowed the highest placed loser from the Qualifying Finals to proceed to the next round. There, a matchup with Adelaide saw Illawarra eliminated in two straight games, ending their season for good this time.

1999/00
After a disappointing playoff campaign that ended in four consecutive losses, Wollongong entered the 1999/00 season eager to re-establish themselves as a contender. Coach Brendan Joyce made significant changes to the roster, opting not to re-sign Clayton Ritter (to Canberra) and bringing back former Hawks MVP Melvin Thomas after a four-year absence. The return of Thomas, along with the continued development of rising star CJ Bruton, gave the team renewed optimism heading into the season.

With Bruton (22.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists) running the offense, expectations were high for the Hawks to make a leap forward. Bruton emerged as one of the league’s most dynamic scoring guards, using his speed and outside shooting to lead Wollongong’s offensive attack. However, despite his individual brilliance, the team struggled to find consistency against the NBL’s elite squads, often relying too heavily on Bruton to carry the scoring load.

The Hawks bolstered their lineup with veteran additions, including Mike McKay (5.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists) from Canberra and Darren Perry, who returned to the NBL after several years in the state league. Mat Campbell (14.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists) stepped into a leadership role as team captain, a position he would hold for more than a decade. Meanwhile, former NBA lottery pick Todd Mundt (8.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists) was brought in to provide size in the frontcourt but struggled to make a significant impact, failing to play extended minutes.

Melvin Thomas (19.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) proved to be a vital contributor in his return season, forming a solid duo with Glen Saville (14.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists), who continued to develop into a two-way force. Despite these contributions, the Hawks found themselves unable to keep pace with the league’s top teams, leading to an eventual roster shake-up.

With nine games remaining in the season, Wollongong released Mundt and signed Matt Garrison (17.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists), who provided an immediate spark. Although Garrison’s arrival helped the Hawks become more competitive down the stretch, the move came too late to turn their season around. Wollongong finished in eighth place with an 11-17 record, falling short of expectations.

The team’s struggles were widely attributed to the heavy reliance on Bruton, who shouldered much of the offensive burden throughout the year. Despite his best efforts, the Hawks lacked the depth to consistently compete with the league’s top contenders. Bruton’s standout performances kept Wollongong in games, but without sufficient support, the team was unable to string together enough wins to challenge for a higher playoff seed.

Melvin Thomas and Glen Saville were named co-MVPs for the Hawks, both delivering strong all-around seasons.

Simon Kerle thought he had sent it to OT. but CJ single handedly dismantled the D and hit the game winner!! @NBL @nblhistory pic.twitter.com/bavjukBB4s— RANDOM HOOPS (@HoopsRandom) March 18, 2023

CANBERRA CANNONS
2001/02
After a season playing in Europe, CJ Bruton signed a deal with play with Canberra, aiming to help his father and head coach Calvin turn the team around after a woeful season where the Cannons managed only three wins for the season. Coach Bruton also added players George Banks (via Perth), Brendan Mann (via Brisbane) and rookie big man Cameron Rigby to the roster.

Banks (23.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assists) would lead the team in scoring while Bruton (19.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists) led the team in assists. Canberra finished the season with 12 wins and 18 losses and failed to reach the playoffs.

2002/03
Although Canberra entered 2002 struggling to stay afloat financially, the team added imports Mike Chappell (via Wollongong) and Reginald Poole (via Europe) to the roster and hoped a competitive team would draw enough fans to cover their costs.

With Chappell (21.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) leading the team in scoring, alongside Dave Thomas (18.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.4 steals), CJ Bruton (15.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.1 steals) and Poole (14.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.7 steals, and 2.2 blocks) the Cannons started the season on fire. The part of the plan that involved building a successful team worked with Canberra winning seven of their first nine games, but by December, Cannon’s ownership couldn’t afford to keep paying the bills, and the team was forced into voluntary administration just three months into the season. Back-up big man Pero Vasiljevic (5.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists) and Thomas, who had both just signed two-year deals with the Cannons, exited the club to find alternative employment. A few games later, Bruton and Chappell both requested their release and signed elsewhere also.

Veterans Matthew Shanahan (14.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists) and Willie Simmons (6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks) were added mid-season to help cover the loss of their starting lineup but it wasn’t nearly enough.

In a combined attempt to raise enough money to keep the team in the league and add a few bodies to the roster, a number of NBL legends made cameo appearances with Cannons throughout the last half of the season. 41-year-old Butch Hays suited up for four games for the Cannons, and Perth Wildcats’ legend James Crawford also came out of retirement for one game. The Cannons season ended with the club going 4-17 across their remaining games, and at the end of 2003, Canberra’s licence was moved to Newcastle, where it operated as the Hunter Pirates.

Instead of relocating with the club to Newcastle, Bruton signed to play with the Sydney Kings.

SYDNEY KINGS
2003/04
After winning the 2003 NBL championship, team captain Shane Heal chose to retire from basketball. Strangely enough, while retired Heal was offered a contract to play with the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, which he accepted. CJ Bruton was signed as Heal’s replacement for Kings as the looked to rebuild the roster for a chance at back to back titles. With the Kings losing both imports Chris Williams and Kavossy Franklin to bigger deals overseas, import Ebe Ere was signed, and instead of finding a second import, coach Brian Goorjian added Jason Smith, who had just returned from Europe, and Brett Wheeler, who had both played for Goorjian whilst with the Victoria Titans.

With only one import, this allowed up-and-coming talent, Matthew Neilsen (22.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steal, and 2.5 blocks), to deliver a breakout season and alongside Bruton (16.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists) and Ere (19.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals) that propelled the Kings’ to back-to-back championships.

The team began the season scorching hot, winning ten straight games before losing Smith (11.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals) when he suffered a season-ending injury. Unable to return, Goorjian would replace him with import Chris Carrawell (13.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals), who played out the team’s last 11 regular season games.

Sydney would finish first place finish in the regular season with a 26-7 record and go on to win their second championship after their best-of-five grand final series with crosstown rivals West Sydney Razorbacks went down to the deciding fifth game. Nielsen would win the regular season and finals MVP in 2003/04 before leaving to play overseas.

2004/05
After winning back-to-back championships, Sydney lost Matthew Nielsen (to PAOK), Ebi Ere, Chris Carrawell, David Stiff, Adrian Bauk and Joe Brown, while Jason Smith, CJ Bruton, Brad Sheridan, Luke Martin, Brett Wheeler, BJ Carter and David Barlow returned from the previous season’s group.

Head coach Brian Goorjian added Mark Sanford, Ben Knight, Luke Kendall, Luke Brennan and import Thalo Green as the Kings looked to become the first team in NBL history to win three consecutive championships.

Sydney opened the season with a 94-96 overtime loss to New Zealand, before rebounding with back-to-back wins over Melbourne, first at home (90-89) and then on the road (112-109).

Bruton (16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.8 steals across 30 games) again became Sydney’s main guard, giving the Kings scoring, playmaking and defensive pressure as the team adjusted to life without Nielsen and Ere.

With rookie Kendall beginning the season in the backcourt, Bruton was able to shift between point guard and shooting guard, giving him more offensive freedom while Kendall handled stretches of the playmaking load.

Sydney defeated Brisbane 120-99 in its third game of the season, then added wins over Hunter (107-94), Cairns (98-82) and Adelaide (122-106) as the Kings quickly moved back into the title race.

Bruton’s best regular-season scoring game came against Cairns on 8 November, where Bruton (32 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) hit seven three-pointers to lead Sydney past the Taipans.

Just days earlier against Adelaide, Bruton (29 points and 5 assists) shot 12-of-18 from the field as Sydney defeated the ladder-leading 36ers 122-106 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, with Knight (18 points) and Sanford (16 points and 15 rebounds) also strong, while Brett Maher (28 points) and Willie Farley (26 points) led Adelaide.

Bruton also delivered another strong all-round performance against Victoria on 19 February, finishing with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists as Sydney continued its push towards top spot.

The season was disrupted on 17 November when Bruton suffered an elbow injury in Sydney’s 91-109 home loss to Townsville, with the Kings later losing Kendall (12.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.7 steals across 12 games) to a season-ending ACL injury after he had started the season as one of the league’s best young guards.

Kendall’s injury forced Bruton back into his primary role as the Kings’ floor general, with Sydney leaning more heavily on his ability to organise the offence, create for teammates and defend opposing guards.

Eight games into the season, Sydney released Green (5.3 points across 8 games) after a lingering virus limited his impact, replacing him with Rolan Roberts, who immediately strengthened the frontcourt and gave Goorjian another interior scorer and rebounder.

Bruton returned to the lineup as Sydney rebuilt its rhythm through the middle of the season, and the Kings closed the regular season with a 112-85 road win over West Sydney after dropping their previous game to Wollongong.

Sydney finished first with a 21-11 record, giving the Kings home-court advantage through the playoffs as they chased the league’s first three-peat.

Smith (19.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.8 steals across 37 games) and Sanford (16.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals across 36 games) led Sydney’s offence, while Roberts (16.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks across 23 games) gave the Kings a major mid-season lift after replacing Green.

Other key contributors included Knight (13.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists), Martin (9.4 points and 3.7 assists), Sheridan (8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals) and Wheeler (3.5 points and 4.3 rebounds).

Smith was named to the All-NBL First Team, while Goorjian won Coach of the Month for December as Sydney remained at the top of the league despite the roster changes and injury interruptions.

Bruton’s leadership and scoring ability were just as important in the postseason, and despite carrying a knee concern during the semifinals against Brisbane, he remained determined to chase the championship, saying, “You don’t get these chances very often… to be a part of this and achieve what we’re chasing here is something special.”

Sydney opened the semifinals at the Sydney Entertainment Centre with a 113-79 win over Brisbane, with Smith (16 points), Roberts (16 points), Sheridan (16 points), Knight (15 points), Bruton (14 points), Barlow (12 points) and Sanford (12 points) all reaching double figures, while Derek Rucker (13 points) led the Bullets.

Game two moved to Brisbane, where Sydney completed the sweep with a 111-105 win behind Smith (24 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists), Knight (22 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists), Roberts (19 points and 9 rebounds), Sanford (16 points and 5 rebounds) and Bruton (15 points, 9 assists, and 2 steals), while Rucker (26 points) and Bobby Brannen (25 points) led Brisbane.

The Grand Final series opened in Sydney, where the Kings defeated Wollongong 96-73 behind Smith (28 points and 9 rebounds), Roberts (16 points and 8 rebounds), Bruton (13 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 blocks) and Knight (12 points), while Glen Saville (15 points), C. J. Bruton’s former Wollongong teammate C. Rigby (13 points) and Mat Campbell (12 points) led the Hawks.

Game two moved to Wollongong, where Sydney won 105-80 as Bruton produced his best game of the season, finishing with 26 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 6 steals, while Sanford (23 points), Roberts (21 points and 13 rebounds) and Smith (12 points and 7 rebounds) helped the Kings take a 2-0 series lead.

Game three returned to Sydney in front of almost 9,000 fans at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, where the Kings outscored the Hawks 38-21 in the second quarter and completed the sweep with a 112-85 win. Bruton (11 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals) was active in several areas, while behind Smith (38 points and 12 rebounds), Sanford (15 points and 7 rebounds) and Sheridan (14 points) led the team offensively. Wollongong were led by Darnell Mee (18 points) as Sydney became the first team in NBL history to win three consecutive championships, with Smith named Grand Final MVP.

2005/06
After becoming the first team in NBL history to win three straight championships, Sydney lost Mark Sanford, Thalo Green, Brett Wheeler, Luke Brennan and Graeme Dann, while Jason Smith, CJ Bruton, Rolan Roberts, Ben Knight, Luke Kendall, David Barlow, Brad Sheridan, BJ Carter and Luke Martin returned from the previous season’s group.

Head coach Brian Goorjian added Mark Worthington, Ian Crosswhite, Anthony Susnjara and Damon Thornton, giving the Kings another young Australian core around its championship backcourt and frontcourt rotation.

Bruton (18.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.7 steals across 33 games) became Sydney’s leading scorer and main playmaker, moving into a bigger role after the departure of Sanford and the ongoing changes around the Kings’ frontcourt.

Early in the season, Bruton (27 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists) led Sydney past Melbourne 116-104 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, a result that mattered for the Kings because Melbourne would become their closest ladder rival and eventual Grand Final opponent.

Bruton’s scoring peaked with a season-high 34 points during the regular season, while his ability to shoot the three at high volume and still create for others helped Sydney win a franchise-record 15 straight games and build the league’s best record.

The season was disrupted when Roberts (12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 22 games) suffered a torn pectoral muscle during the NBL All-Star Dunk Contest, forcing Sydney to sign Sedric Webber as a late-season replacement.

Webber (13.8 points and 6.4 rebounds across 12 games) gave Sydney another athletic frontcourt option, helping the Kings maintain first place despite losing their starting import big man before the playoffs.

Sydney finished the regular season first with a 26-6 record, earning a bye through the elimination and quarterfinal rounds and moving directly into the semifinals.

Bruton and Smith were Sydney’s two leading offensive players, with Smith (16.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across 36 games) again giving the Kings wing scoring and defence.

Other key contributors included Kendall (12.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists across 37 games), Worthington (11.2 points and 4.2 rebounds across 37 games), Barlow (10.6 points and 4.3 rebounds across 36 games), Knight (10.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists across 37 games), Crosswhite (6.8 points and 4.7 rebounds across 30 games) and Sheridan (6.5 points and 3.6 rebounds across 35 games).

Bruton was named to the All-NBL First Team, while Worthington won NBL Rookie of the Year as Sydney again finished with the league’s strongest regular-season record.

Sydney opened the semifinals at home with a 112-87 win over Cairns, taking immediate control of the series after earning the direct path into the final four.

Game two moved to Cairns, where Sydney won 84-82 to complete the sweep and advance to its fourth straight Grand Final series.

The Grand Final series opened in Sydney, where Melbourne defeated the Kings 100-93 behind Chris Anstey (24 points and 12 rebounds) and Dave Thomas (23 points), while Smith (20 points) led Sydney.

Game two moved to Melbourne and proved even tighter, with Anstey (30 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Thomas (23 points and 13 rebounds) leading the Tigers, while David Barlow (22 points) and Smith (16 points) kept Sydney close before Melbourne won 103-99 in overtime.

Game three returned to Sydney, where Melbourne completed the sweep 88-83 behind Anstey (16 points and 10 rebounds), Thomas (13 points) and Darryl McDonald (13 points), while Smith (20 points) and Bruton (15 points) were best for Sydney.

BRISBANE BULLETS
2006/07
After being eliminated by Perth in the 2005/06 elimination finals, Brisbane moved on from Derek Rucker, Bobby Brannen, Lanard Copeland (to Adelaide) and Daniel Egan (to Townsville), while Sam MacKinnon, Mark Bradtke, Stephen Black, Michael Hill, Adam Gibson, Brad Williamson and Callum Baynes returned from the previous season’s group.

Head coach Joey Wright added CJ Bruton (via Sydney), Ebi Ere, Dusty Rychart (via Adelaide), Dillon Boucher (via Perth), Cameron Tragardh and Chris Goulding, giving Brisbane a deeper roster built around MacKinnon, Bradtke and a new championship backcourt.

The Bullets began the season by winning the NBL Preseason Blitz in Coffs Harbour, with Bruton named MVP of the tournament and selected in the All-Star Five before joining the regular season rotation as Brisbane’s starting point guard.

Bruton (14 points and 4.5 assists across 39 games) gave Brisbane another proven winner after three championships with Sydney, reuniting with Ere from the Kings’ 2004 title team and allowing Black to share more of the backcourt scoring and playmaking load.

Brisbane started the regular season at 3-3, and by the midway point sat at 10-5, but the Bullets then moved into one of the strongest runs in NBL history, winning their final 18 regular-season games.

One of Bruton’s key regular-season moments came in Brisbane’s 100-99 road win over Perth at Challenge Stadium, where Bruton (15 points) got the Bullets back in front in the final seconds before Shawn Redhage’s buzzer shot bounced off the rim, ending Brisbane’s seven-game losing streak against the Wildcats.

The winning streak included seven victories by 30 points or more, with Brisbane also producing a three-game stretch where it defeated Adelaide, New Zealand and Singapore by 32, 34 and 32 points, respectively.

Brisbane finished first with a 28-5 record, winning the minor premiership and entering the playoffs on a 18-game winning streak.

MacKinnon (18.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.4 blocks across 39 games) delivered one of the league’s great all-round seasons, while Ere (17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across 39 games) gave Brisbane another explosive scoring option.

Other key contributors included Rychart (15.1 points and 8.1 rebounds across 39 games), Black (13.9 points and 3.8 assists across 37 games), Bradtke (10.2 points and 6.5 rebounds across 28 games), Hill (9.6 points across 39 games), Gibson (6.8 points across 39 games), Boucher (4.5 points and 1.6 steals across 39 games) and Williamson (4.5 points across 38 games).

MacKinnon became the first player in NBL history to win the regular season MVP and Best Defensive Player awards in the same season, while Wright was named Coach of the Year and Bruton’s arrival helped Brisbane add championship experience to a roster that already had size, defence and scoring depth.

Brisbane opened the semifinals at home with a 91-84 win over Sydney, with Ere (22 points) leading the Bullets in game one as the Bullets extended their winning streak to 19 games.

Game two moved to Sydney, where Brisbane defeated the Kings 93-86 behind Ere (23 points) and Bruton (21 points), with Bruton scoring 16 points in the fourth quarter to eliminate his former club and move Brisbane into its first Grand Final series since 1990.

The Grand Final series opened in Brisbane, where the Bullets defeated Melbourne 98-95 behind Black (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) and MacKinnon (18 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 blocks), while Chris Anstey (21 points and 9 rebounds) led the Tigers.

Game two moved to Melbourne, where the Tigers ended Brisbane’s 21-game winning streak with a 105-91 win behind Anstey (31 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks), with Melbourne controlling the glass 59-44 to level the series.

Game three returned to Brisbane, where the Bullets answered with a 113-93 win as Black (22 points) led the scoring and MacKinnon (19 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals) filled the box score, while Bruton (7 points and 10 assists) controlled the point guard spot without a turnover.

Game four moved back to Melbourne, where Brisbane defeated the Tigers 103-94 to win the championship, with Bruton (22 points, 7 assists, and 2 steals) and Rychart (21 points and 2 steals) leading the Bullets, while Rashad Tucker (17 points and 12 rebounds) and Anstey (16 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks) led Melbourne, with MacKinnon named Grand Final MVP after adding the Larry Sengstock Medal to his regular season MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBL First Team selection and Brisbane’s third NBL championship.

2007/08
In 2007/08, Bruton averaged 19.1 points and 3.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists as the Bullets finished in third place with a 20-10 record.

BRISBANE BULLETS
2006/07 – THE GREATEST NBL TEAM OF ALL-TIME?
Brisbane continued to develop its roster in 2007, adding the country’s best backcourt player in CJ Bruton (via Sydney) to the existing combo of two of Australia’s greatest frontcourt talents, Sam MacKinnon and Mark Bradtke. Signing Bruton also led to the Bullets moving on from long-term import duo Derek Rucker and Bobby Brannen. Ebi Ere, Bruton’s backcourt partner for the Kings championship in 2004, and do-it-all forward Dusty Rychart (via Adelaide) were signed as import replacements and, with the roster having a number of scoring options, chose not to re-sign Lanard Copeland (to Adelaide) and Daniel Egan (to Townsville) and brought in defensive stopper Dillon Boucher (via Perth) who Bullets front office felt was responsible for the Wildcats eliminating the team from the playoffs the previous season, after shutting down leading scorer Stephen Black.

The Bullets began the season by winning the NBL Preseason Blitz (Coffs Harbour), with Bruton being named MVP of the tournament. In contrast, Brisbane began the regular season with a largely indifferent record (3-3), which by the season’s mid-way point was a respectable, but not at all earth-shattering 10 wins and 5 losses. Reigning champions Melbourne (11-4) sat on top of the ladder, although Brisbane had managed to defeat them in their first matchup of the season (98-85). From here, the Bullets reached a level that has many considering this team to be the greatest of all time. Brisbane wouldn’t lose for the remainder of the regular season, heading into the playoffs on a 18 game winning streak. During this time, seven of the team’s victories come in wins by 30 points or more, including a run of three games against Adelaide, New Zealand and Singapore, where they won by 32, 34, and 32, respectively.

Mackinnon (18.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.4 blocks) would deliver perhaps the greatest season of all time, becoming the first player in NBL history to win both the Best Defensive Player and Most Valuable Player award in the same season. Making Brisbane even tougher to stop is the fact that besides MacKinnon, they had five guys who could take over a game at any time in Ere (17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists), Rychart (15.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.0 steals), Bruton (14 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists), Black (13.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists) and Bradtke (10.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists).

Joey Wright would be named coach of the year before leading Brisbane to a seven-point win over Sydney (91-84) in the first game of the semi-finals. Ere (22 points) led the Bullets in scoring. Game two moved to Sydney, where Ere (23 points) would again finish as the game-high scorer, but it was Bruton (21 points) that sealed the series, scoring 16 points in the fourth quarter to eliminate his former club from the playoffs (93-86).

Melbourne (25-8) had finished second on the ladder and defeated Cairns (2-0) to meet Brisbane in the Grand Final. Playing at home, Brisbane extended their winning streak to 21, narrowly defeating Melbourne by three points (98-95). Stephen Black (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) top scoring, alongside Sam Mackinnon (18 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 blocks), who came close to racking up a triple-double. Chris Anstey (21 points and 9 rebounds) would lead the Tigers in the loss.

Melbourne would end the streak in game two, defeating Brisbane (105-91) thanks to a huge game from Anstey (31 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks) and the Tigers dominating the Bullets on the glass (59 to 44 rebounds).

Brisbane returned home for game three where they had only lost one game for the entire season and made sure Anstey (9 points and 13 rebounds) wouldn’t have a repeat performance. MacKinnon, Bradtke and Rychart were instrumental in keeping him off the scoreboard, limiting him to 4 of 15 shooting. Black (22 points) again finished as the game’s high scorer, with MacKinnon (19 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals) filling every other column of the stat sheet to give the Bullets a 20 point victory (113-93).

In game four, Brisbane defied the odds and defeated Melbourne by nine points (103-94), despite the Tigers shooting a better percentage from the field, beyond the arc and winning the rebound battle. However, Melbourne finishing with 26 turnovers, compared to Brisbane’s 14 was the true indicator of the championship. Rashad Tucker (17 points and 12 rebounds) would lead the Tigers in scoring, while the Bullets held Anstey (16 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks) well below his usual scoring averages again, making him shoot 6 from 15 from the field. Bruton (22 points, 7 assists, and 2 steals) and Dusty Rychart (21 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals) were instrumental at both ends of the floor, while MacKinnon (13 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals), who may have had his quietest game of the series, was awarded the Finals MVP.

MacKinnon would become the first player to ever be selected to the All-NBL First team, win the regular season and finals MVP awards, be the defensive player of the year and win a championship in the same season (Until Chris Anstey would repeat the effort in the following season).

During the 2007 NBL offseason, Bruton coached the South West Metro Pirates in Queensland’s state league.

2007/08
The 2007/08 season saw the Brisbane Bullets enter the year as defending champions, but financial struggles and roster changes created a turbulent campaign. The biggest change was the retirement of veteran center Mark Bradtke, who had played a crucial role in the team’s championship run. To replace him, Brisbane signed promising forward Craig Bradshaw. Despite this move, the Bullets retained much of their championship core, including CJ Bruton, Sam Mackinnon, Ebi Ere, Dusty Rychart, and Adam Gibson, as they set their sights on back-to-back titles.

Bruton took on an expanded offensive role in 2007/08, stepping up as one of Brisbane’s primary scorers and playmakers. He averaged 19.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game while also contributing 1.2 steals. His leadership helped guide the Bullets to a third-place finish with a 20-10 record, and his performances earned him a spot on the All-NBL Second Team. However, Brisbane’s season was not without its challenges.

Mackinnon, the reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, struggled with injuries and was limited to just 15 games. His production dipped significantly, but Brisbane remained competitive thanks to Ebi Ere, who had a career-best season. Ere’s scoring exploded from 17.3 points per game the previous season to a league-leading 26.0 points per game, along with 6.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals. Dusty Rychart (16.2 points and 9.3 rebounds) and Craig Bradshaw (13.5 points and 5.7 rebounds) also provided key contributions, ensuring Brisbane remained a dangerous team despite Mackinnon’s absence.

The Bullets put together another strong regular season, finishing third on the ladder with a 20-10 record. Their postseason run began with a dominant 106-89 victory over the New Zealand Breakers in the Elimination Finals, with Ere and Bruton leading the charge. This set up a semifinal matchup against the Melbourne Tigers, the team Brisbane had defeated in the previous year’s Grand Final.

In Game 1 of the semifinals, Melbourne took control with a commanding 116-98 win, led by Chris Anstey’s 26 points. The Bullets returned home for Game 2, where Ere (19 points) and Bradshaw (19 points) kept them in the contest, but they ultimately fell short in a 115-112 loss, bringing an end to their championship defense.

Instead of regrouping for another title push in 2008/09, financial struggles caught up with the franchise. Owner Eddy Groves, who had built his fortune through ABC Learning Centres, faced financial ruin, forcing him to put the team up for sale. In April 2008, Logan businessman David Kemp was announced as the new owner, but the sale later fell through. With no viable ownership stepping in, the Bullets’ license was officially returned to the NBL on June 30, 2008, marking the end of the franchise.

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
2008/09
After the Brisbane Bullets fell into financial hardship and withdrew from the league, head coach Andrej Lemanis recruited free agent pair CJ Bruton (two-year deal) and former Breaker Dillon Boucher (three-year deal) to play for the Breakers with the explicit intentions to win a championship that season.

“The Breakers have proved they’re a playoff team and I’d like to help take them up to that next level,” Bruton said upon signing with New Zealand.

“I’ve seen the Breakers change their team and their culture to become more competitive. They’re serious about becoming number one and I want to be a part of New Zealand’s first championship. You don’t play this sport just to be in it.”

The duo joined the existing roster of Paul Henare, Kirk Penney, Phill Jones, Oscar Forman, Tony Ronaldson and Tim Behrendorff. The Breakers later signed import Rick Rickert and elevated development player Thomas Abercrombie into the full squad to finalise their roster.

Bruton’s signing gave the Breakers’ stability and direction at the point guard position, something that had previously been missing. Behind Bruton (16.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.7 steals) and sharp-shooting Kirk Penney (24.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists), the Breakers started the season off firing with 15 wins and 4 losses. But, the loss of Bruton to a high-ankle sprain in late December saw the Breakers stumbled through January to lose eight of their next nine games.

Heading into the playoffs with a win in their last game regular season game, the Breakers finished with a 18–12 record, setting the team up with their first-ever home playoff game. New Zealand went on to win their elimination playoff, routing Adelaide (131–101) to set up a best-of-three semi final series with the defending champions Melbourne. In their first-ever semi finals appearance, the Breakers suffered the same fate as Bruton’s Bullets a year ago, being swept 2-0 in the semifinals.

2009/10
Having achieved their first-ever playoff appearance the season prior, coach Andrej Lemanis returned with the majority of Breakers roster intact, losing only Phill Jones (to Cairns) and Tim Behrendorff (to Wollongong). Having played with one import last season, Rick Rickert, the Breakers added Dave Thomas (via Cairns) to add veteran leadership to the club but prior to the season starting, he was forced to retire from playing in the NBL due to injury. Former NBA talent Awvee Storey was then signed as his replacement and development player Thomas Abercrombie was elevated to the full squad.

New Zealand struggled through the first half of the season, mainly due to missing their leading scorer Kirk Penney (23.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists) due to a back injury that saw him sidelined for nine games. In addition to this, Storey (7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 0.8 assists) fell well short of expectations and was released after nine games with the club stating ‘things weren’t working out’. John Rillie (4.3 points and 1.6 rebounds), who had been released by Townsville the season prior, signed with the club as a interim replacement and appeared in 12 games.

New Zealand was then boosted by the midseason addition of import Kevin Braswell (9.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 2.3 steals), who played in the Breakers final seven games, winning the last six in a row.

New Zealand’s late-season surge proved to be in vain, as the Breakers missed the playoffs during one of the closest NBL seasons of all-time. Despite New Zealand being only two games behind league leaders Perth, they would miss the playoffs and finish in fifth place (15-13).

Bruton appeared in all 28 games for the Breakers and averaged 16.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

2010/11
A key to the Breakers’ success this season were the return of both Kevin Braswell and Mika Vukona. Braswell initially decided to play the 2010/11 season with Turkish team Aliağa Belediyesi SK but before the season could start, left the team to play a second season with the New Zealand Breakers. Vukona, who had won a championship with the South Dragons in 2009, returned to the team and replaced Paul Henare as team captain. Another key move saw declining import Rick Rickert replaced with former Utah State University standout Gary Wilkinson.

The season began with Kirk Penney missing the start of the season while he attempted to earn a NBA contract. Failing to do that, he re-joined the Breakers after the season’s first month. Despite missing Penney, the Breakers won their first five games of the season before losing to the Wildcat’s in Perth (114–74).

Kirk Penney (20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists) would finish as the team’s leading scorer, with the Breakers finishing the regular season on top of the ladder (22–6). Wilkinson (15.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists), CJ Bruton (11.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists), Thomas Abercrombie (10.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) and Vukona (8.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists) rounded out New Zealand’s starting lineup, while Braswell (10.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists) add a spark from the bench, a role that would see him selected the NBL’s Best Sixth Man at the end of the year.

This season was also notable for the impact of 22-year-old Corey Webster (4.0 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists), who was elevated into the Breakers’ full-time roster this season and started to steal time away from Bruton this season. CJ played seven minutes less than the season prior, a testament to New Zealand much improved, much deeper roster.

New Zealand met fourth seed Perth in the semifinals and lost the opening game to the Wildcat’s at home. The Breakers returned to New Zealand for games two and three and recovered by winning both games, qualifying for their first-ever NBL Grand Final.

There, the Breakers met Cairns in the championship series and coasting to a easy win in game one (85–67) after leading by as much as 31 in the third quarter. The team’s then fought out a gripping game two in Cairns, which saw the game tied at the end of regulation (60-60) and at the end of the first overtime (73–73), before Cairns prevailed (85–81), sending the series to a third and deciding game.

With the final game played back on New Zealand soil, the Breakers recorded a comfortable win (71–53) and became the first team non-Australian team to win a NBL championship.

Thomas Abercrombie collected Grand Final MVP honours and while Bruton etched his name into Breakers folklore after he nailed two three-pointers in the fourth quarter to seal the game against the Cairns Taipans, winning his fourth NBL title.

2011/12
In 2011/12, Bruton averaged 10.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists as the Breakers finished with a record of 21-7 and in first place during the regular season.

2012/13
In 2012, the Breakers looked to become the second team in league history to record a three-peat. While Cedric Jackson, Leon Henry, Thomas Abercrombie, Dillon Boucher, Mika Vukona, CJ Bruton, and Daryl Corletto all re-signed, a major decision made this off-season was to not re-sign leading scorer Gary Wilkinson (to Europe) in favour of elevating promising Kiwi centre Alex Pledger into the starting lineup. Import forward Will Hudson (via Gold Coast) signed as his replacement, while Corey Webster, who had sat out the previous season due to a 12-month suspension for the use of banned substances.

The Breakers recorded a number of historic moments this season, beginning with Jackson recording his first career triple-double with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against the Melbourne Tigers (November 30, 2012). It was only the second triple-double recorded since the NBL went to 40-minute games at the start of the 2009/10 season.

By February, the Breakers extended their longest winning streak record to 11, a record that by mid-March had been extended to fifteen straight games.

On March 24, Jackson (14.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 2.8 steals) was selected to the All-NBL First Team and awarded the NBL Most Valuable Player award after leading the league in assists and steals for the second straight season.

Bruton would average 7.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists with New Zealand finished on top of the ladder for a second season (24-4) facing off against Perth in a Grand Final re-match of the previous year. The Wildcats entered the series shorthanded, having lost starting guard Damian Martin to a Achilles injury prior to the playoffs. To cover his absence Brad Robbins had been signed on to take Martin’s place, but with the team missing Martin, the Breakers defeated Perth in two straight games. The Breakers made history by delivering a clean sweep of the postseason, capping it all off with a dramatic 70–66 victory over the Wildcat’s in game two.

Bruton would claim his sixth NBL championship as a player and Jackson was subsequently named Grand Final MVP as the team delivered a historic three-peat win.

2013/14
After winning three consecutive championships with New Zealand, Lemanis was named head coach of the Australian men’s national basketball team. His departure saw assistant Dean Vickerman elevated to head coach and tasked with extending the Breakers championship streak.

Vickerman was taking over a Breakers squad that had lost star import Cedric Jackson (Europe) and Dillon Boucher through retirement and, as a result, started the season poorly, losing three out of their first four games. The poor start led to Vickerman sending out a SOS to former Breakers favourite and two-time champion Gary Wilkinson (15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists), who joined the team in late October. Then in December, perhaps motivated by the team’s sluggish start, veteran CJ Bruton (6.1 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) let it be known he would retire at the end of the season just prior to playing the 500th game of his career. By January, the Breakers made a second move and brought in Casey Frank (5.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) to replace the injured Alex Pledger (10.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks), who had multiple stints on the sidelines and only managed to appear in 13 games.

American guard Kerron Johnson (12.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.1 steals), who had signed as a replacement for Jackson, struggled to fill the large void left at the point guard spot, and Thomas Abercrombie (15.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists) had to shoulder the load for much of the season, finding himself with a lack of space due to Johnson’s lacklustre range. After not being able to put more than two consecutive wins together all year, they ended their season in seventh place (11–17).

The positives for the season came in the form of career-high scoring efforts from young guard duo Corey Webster (8.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists) and Reuben Te Rangi (5.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.6 assists) whose improving play showed promise for the Breakers future.

On 21 March 2014, Bruton played his final NBL game in front of a huge Breakers’ crowd at Vector Arena in a loss to Cairns (83-95). With his family and friends in attendance, he recorded 11 points, 3 assists and 1 rebound in what was his 516th NBL game.

Also this season, Bruton was also named in the Sydney Kings 25th Anniversary Team (10 October 2013) in recognition of his efforts during his time in with the club.

CJ Bruton played seventeen seasons across six NBL teams. This included the Perth Wildcats, Canberra Cannons, Wollongong Hawks, Sydney Kings, Brisbane Bullets and New Zealand Breakers. He averaged 14.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 516 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 11th in total games played.
– 18th in total points
– 11th in total assists
– 13rd in total steals

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