Tony Tolovae
July 23, 2020
David Gruber
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 23/09/81
- Place of Birth: Solon, Iowa (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 198
- Weight (KG): 104
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Northern Iowa (2001–2004)
- NBL DEBUT: 14/09/08
- AGE AT DEBUT: 26
- LAST NBL GAME: 17/10/14
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 33
- NBL History: Sydney 2009 | Wollongong 2010-15
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: David Gruber was born in Solon, Iowa (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
David Gruber made his NBL debut with the Sydney Spirit at 26 years of age. He scored five points in his first game.
During his time with the Hawks Gruber helped the team reach the Grand Final after they finished in second place (16-12) during the 2009/10 season. The Hawks eliminated the third placed Townsville Crocodiles where Gruber played a huge role in the deciding Game 3, scoring 15 points and collecting 5 rebounds, to advance to the NBL finals series to face the Perth Wildcats.
After Perth claimed game one in Perth (75–64), the series moved to Wollongong for game two, where the Hawks returned the favour, defeating Perth 75–63 and setting up a deciding Game 3. Back on their home court Perth comfortably defeated Wollongong in the decider, 96–72, with Gruber scoring 11 points and Perth’s Kevin Lisch being named Finals MVP.
Gruber became a naturalised Australian for 2011/12 season.
David Gruber played seven seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Wollongong Hawks and the Sydney Spirit. He averaged 6.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 164 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 33 | Wollongong | 6-22 (8) | 2 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| 2013-14 | 32 | Wollongong | 13-15 (4) | 30 | 673 | 228 | 155 | 27 | 73 | 82 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 72 | 93 | 166 | 56% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 42 | 63 | 67% | 58% | 56% | |
| 2012-13 | 31 | Wollongong | 13-15 (3) | 30 | 588 | 198 | 132 | 21 | 44 | 88 | 14 | 14 | 37 | 50 | 77 | 123 | 63% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 44 | 62 | 71% | 65% | 63% | 14 |
| 2011-12 | 30 | Wollongong | 9-19 (8) | 18 | 197 | 63 | 51 | 6 | 20 | 31 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 22 | 24 | 48 | 50% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 15 | 20 | 75% | 55% | 50% | 9 |
| 2010-11 | 29 | Wollongong | 15-13 (5) | 20 | 306 | 92 | 67 | 8 | 34 | 33 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 41 | 40 | 82 | 49% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 12 | 23 | 52% | 50% | 49% | 16 |
| 2009-10 | 28 | Wollongong | 16-12 (2) | 34 | 610 | 210 | 145 | 31 | 55 | 90 | 11 | 10 | 29 | 71 | 83 | 148 | 56% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 44 | 77 | 57% | 57% | 56% | 16 |
| 2008-09 | 27 | Sydney | 11-19 (8) | 30 | 689 | 313 | 191 | 26 | 84 | 107 | 23 | 21 | 53 | 80 | 132 | 216 | 61% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 49 | 86 | 57% | 61% | 61% | 26 | Totals | 164 | 3076 | 1104 | 742 | 120 | 310 | 432 | 78 | 79 | 174 | 338 | 449 | 783 | 57.3% | 0 | 3 | 0.0% | 206 | 331 | 62.2% | 59% | 57% | 26 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 33 | Wollongong | 6-22 (8) | 2 | 6.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| 2013-14 | 32 | Wollongong | 13-15 (4) | 30 | 22.4 | 7.6 | 5.2 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 5.5 | 56% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.4 | 2.1 | 67% | 58% | 56% | |
| 2012-13 | 31 | Wollongong | 13-15 (3) | 30 | 19.6 | 6.6 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 4.1 | 63% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.5 | 2.1 | 71% | 65% | 63% | 14 |
| 2011-12 | 30 | Wollongong | 9-19 (8) | 18 | 10.9 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 0.8 | 1.1 | 75% | 55% | 50% | 9 |
| 2010-11 | 29 | Wollongong | 15-13 (5) | 20 | 15.3 | 4.6 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 4.1 | 49% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 0.6 | 1.2 | 52% | 50% | 49% | 16 |
| 2009-10 | 28 | Wollongong | 16-12 (2) | 34 | 17.9 | 6.2 | 4.3 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 56% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.3 | 2.3 | 57% | 57% | 56% | 16 |
| 2008-09 | 27 | Sydney | 11-19 (8) | 30 | 23.0 | 10.4 | 6.4 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 4.4 | 7.2 | 61% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.6 | 2.9 | 57% | 61% | 61% | 26 | Total | 164 | 18.8 | 6.7 | 4.5 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 4.8 | 57.3% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 0.0 | 62.2% | 59% | 57% | 26 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 26 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Frankston (2005–2009)
Gruber joined Frankston for the 2005 SEABL season, moving into the Blues’ frontcourt after his college career at Northern Iowa. He was named to the All-SEABL East team in his first season with Frankston and was also named SEABL East Most Valuable Player for 2005, beginning a four-year run of All-SEABL conference selections with the club.
Gruber continued with Frankston for the 2006 SEABL season and remained one of the Blues’ leading interior players. His second season with the club brought another All-SEABL East team selection, keeping him among the conference’s top frontcourt players across his first two years in the competition.
Gruber returned to Frankston for the 2007 SEABL season and again featured as a key part of the Blues’ frontcourt. He was named to the All-SEABL East team for the third straight year, extending his run of conference recognition from 2005 through 2007.
Gruber stayed with Frankston for the 2008 SEABL season and added his strongest awards year with the Blues. He was named to the All-SEABL conference team for the fourth straight season, earned South Conference Most Valuable Player honours and was also named South Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Gruber played another season with Frankston in the 2009 SEABL season and helped the Blues win the South Conference title. Frankston reached the overall SEABL Championship game against Knox, where Gruber finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds in a 125–98 loss, while the Blues’ frontcourt group of Gruber, Andrew Harms and Rob Kampman all entered the game as South All-SEABL team selections.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- New Zealand - Southland (2014)
David Gruber joined the Southland Sharks for the 2014 New Zealand NBL season, playing his first season in New Zealand. Across five games with Southland, he averaged 12.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per contest.
During that 2014 stint, Gruber shot 48.6% from the field and averaged 24.8 minutes per game, adding 1.0 blocks per outing while contributing in a frontcourt rotation that included Alex Pledger and Leon Henry as the Sharks competed in the National Basketball League regular season.
COLLEGE
Gruber played college basketball at Northern Iowa during the 2001–02 season before continuing with the Panthers through the 2003–04 season under head coach Greg McDermott.
Gruber suited up for Northern Iowa during the 2001–02 season, which finished 14–15 overall (8–10 in Missouri Valley Conference play). In 2001–02, he played 29 games and averaged 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game while shooting 61.0% from the field, and he produced multiple high-rebound games early in the year including 13 rebounds against San Diego State (November 16, 2001) and another 13 rebounds against Iowa (December 4, 2001). His top scoring output that season included 23 points at Iowa State on December 29, 2001, and he was a frequent entry on UNI’s game-high rebound line across the schedule.
In 2002–03, Northern Iowa went 11–17 (7–11 MVC), and Gruber again operated as a core frontcourt piece across 28 games, averaging 13.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 61.0% from the field. One documented benchmark from that season was an 18-rebound game on November 22, 2002, which later UNI player notes referenced as a program marker when comparing single-game rebounding totals in subsequent years.
Gruber’s senior season came in 2003–04, when Northern Iowa improved to 21–10 overall (12–6 MVC) and won the MVC Tournament to reach the NCAA Tournament. In 2003–04 he started all 31 games and averaged 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game, shooting 58.6% from the field, as the Panthers earned a No. 14 seed and lost 65–60 to No. 3 seed Georgia Tech in the first round.
Across his Northern Iowa career, Gruber totaled 1,116 points, and UNI records list his career field-goal percentage at .602 on 421 made field goals in 699 attempts. His conference recognition included MVC All-Newcomer Team honors in 2002, MVC Honorable Mention selections in 2002 and 2003, a first-team All-MVC nod in 2004, and MVC All-Tournament Team recognition during the Panthers’ 2004 tournament run.
Related
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