Stephen Whitehead
July 23, 2020
James Bullock
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 7/10/63
- Place of Birth: Gary, Indiana (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 198
- Weight (KG): 93
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Purdue (1981-1985)
NBL CAREER OVERVIEW
NBL DEBUT
12/02/88
Age 24
LAST NBL GAME
20/09/91
Age 27
TEAM HISTORY
3 seasons | 2 teams- 1988MT
Melbourne Tigers1 season - 1990-91NF
Newcastle Falcons2 seasons
CHAMPIONSHIPS
NoneBIO: James Bullock was born in Gary, Indiana (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
James Bullock made his NBL debut with the Melbourne Tigers at 24 years of age. He scored 29 points in his first game.
Bullock joined the Melbourne Tigers in 1988 after playing professionally in Malaysia, adding another major frontcourt scorer and rebounder alongside Andrew Gaze and Alvis Rogers.
On March 27, Melbourne defeated Adelaide 109–106 at Albert Park. Andrew Gaze led the Tigers with 46 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Bullock added 23 points and 9 rebounds and Alvis Rogers scored 20 points. Mark Davis led Adelaide with 22 points and 9 rebounds.
On May 28, Melbourne lost to Brisbane with Bullock producing 27 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 assists. Andrew Gaze and Alvis Rogers each scored 32 points for the Tigers, while Leroy Loggins led Brisbane with 36 points.
On June 26, Melbourne lost 94–90 to Sydney. Bullock led the Tigers with 32 points and 23 rebounds, while Andrew Gaze added 27 points and 6 assists. Mark Ridlen scored 27 points for Sydney.
Andrew Gaze (36.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists) led Melbourne in scoring, while Bullock (27.3 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists) was the team’s leading rebounder and second-leading scorer. Alvis Rogers (21.1 points and 10.3 rebounds) provided another major frontcourt presence.
Melbourne finished 12th with an 8–16 record and missed the playoffs.
NEWCASTLE FALCONS
1990
After not playing in the NBL in 1989, Bullock joined the Newcastle Falcons for the 1990 season and became the centrepiece of the team’s frontcourt.
On May 10 against Westside Melbourne, Bullock recorded 28 points, 22 rebounds, and 2 assists, while Michael Johnson scored 38 points for Newcastle.
On July 13 against North Melbourne, Bullock produced 34 points, 19 rebounds, and 2 assists, with Greg Lazard adding 32 points and 12 rebounds for Newcastle.
On August 25, Newcastle defeated Adelaide 125–116. Bullock delivered one of the biggest individual games of the season with 39 points, 30 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Michael Johnson added 28 points. Mark Davis led Adelaide with 27 points and Tom Schafer added 25 points and 13 rebounds.
Bullock (29.7 points and 16.2 rebounds) led Newcastle in scoring and the NBL in rebounding, while Michael Johnson (27.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists) and Greg Lazard (16.0 points and 12.0 rebounds) were the other main contributors.
Newcastle finished 13th with a 4–22 record and missed the playoffs.
1991
Bullock returned to Newcastle in 1991 as one of the league’s dominant rebounders, with the Falcons adding Jerry Everett, Troy Truvillion and veteran guard Al Green to the roster.
On June 29, Newcastle lost 111–103 to Sydney. Al Green led the Falcons with 32 points, Troy Truvillion added 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Bullock recorded 18 points and 25 rebounds. Dwayne McClain scored 41 points for Sydney.
On September 7, Newcastle fell 110–109 to Brisbane. Troy Truvillion scored 34 points, Bullock recorded 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 3 assists, and Al Green added 22 points and 9 rebounds. Andre Moore led Brisbane with 30 points and 12 rebounds.
Bullock (23.5 points and 16.0 rebounds) again led the NBL in rebounding, giving him the league rebounding title for a second consecutive season. Jerry Everett (26.8 points and 8.8 rebounds), Troy Truvillion (23.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists), Al Green (22.2 points and 5.1 rebounds) and Michael Johnson (20.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists) were Newcastle’s other major contributors.
Newcastle finished 14th with a 5–21 record and missed the playoffs, ending Bullock’s NBL career after three seasons.
James Bullock played three seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Newcastle Falcons and the Melbourne Tigers. He averaged 26.8 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 76 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 22nd in points per game.
– 1st in rebounds per game.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 28 | Newcastle | 5-21 (14) | 26 | 1,092 | 610 | 415 | 34 | 127 | 288 | 35 | 10 | 78 | 102 | 237 | 477 | 50% | 7 | 23 | 30% | 129 | 164 | 79% | 56% | 50% | 36 |
| 1990 | 26 | Newcastle | 4-22 (13) | 26 | 1,109 | 771 | 422 | 43 | 142 | 280 | 41 | 6 | 98 | 91 | 318 | 636 | 50% | 16 | 41 | 39% | 119 | 189 | 63% | 54% | 51% | 44 |
| 1988 | 24 | Melbourne | 8-16 (12) | 24 | 1,090 | 655 | 336 | 91 | 110 | 226 | 33 | 10 | 105 | 87 | 288 | 566 | 51% | 1 | 4 | 25% | 78 | 127 | 61% | 53% | 51% | 46 | Totals | 76 | 3291 | 2036 | 1173 | 168 | 379 | 794 | 109 | 26 | 281 | 280 | 843 | 1679 | 50.2% | 24 | 68 | 35.3% | 326 | 480 | 67.9% | 54% | 51% | 46 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 28 | Newcastle | 5-21 (14) | 26 | 42.0 | 23.5 | 16.0 | 1.3 | 4.9 | 11.1 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 3.0 | 3.9 | 9.1 | 18.3 | 50% | 0.3 | 0.9 | 30% | 5.0 | 6.3 | 79% | 56% | 50% | 36 |
| 1990 | 26 | Newcastle | 4-22 (13) | 26 | 42.7 | 29.7 | 16.2 | 1.7 | 5.5 | 10.8 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 12.2 | 24.5 | 50% | 0.6 | 1.6 | 39% | 4.6 | 7.3 | 63% | 54% | 51% | 44 |
| 1988 | 24 | Melbourne | 8-16 (12) | 24 | 45.4 | 27.3 | 14.0 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 9.4 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 12.0 | 23.6 | 51% | 0.0 | 0.2 | 25% | 3.3 | 5.3 | 61% | 53% | 51% | 46 | Total | 76 | 43.3 | 26.8 | 15.4 | 2.2 | 5.0 | 10.4 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 11.1 | 22.1 | 50.2% | 0.3 | 0.9 | 35.3% | 4.3 | 6.3 | 67.9% | 54% | 51% | 46 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 46 | 30 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
Bullock was not selected in the 1985 NBA Draft after completing his senior season at Purdue.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
-
Malaysia
- Malaysia1985–1987
Bullock joined Malaysia for the 1985 season, moving there after college to pursue a professional basketball opportunity in the country.
Bullock remained connected to the Malaysian basketball scene into 1987, when contemporary coverage noted American coach Tom Wisman and his countrymen James Bullock and Scott George as key figures who were not expected to be involved in that year’s Merlion Cup build-up in Singapore.
COLLEGE
Bullock played college basketball at Purdue from 1981 to 1985.
As a freshman in 1981–82, he appeared in 28 games with three starts and averaged 1.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.8 minutes per game while shooting 43.2% from the field and 76.2% at the free-throw line.
He finished that freshman season with 54 points, 31 rebounds, and eight assists across 218 minutes as Purdue went 18–14 overall and 11–7 in Big Ten play to place fifth under head coach Gene Keady.
As a sophomore in 1982–83, Bullock played in 30 games with 23 starts and averaged 7.3 points and 5.6 rebounds in 27.9 minutes per game while shooting 51.6% from the field and 65.9% at the free-throw line.
He totaled 220 points, 167 rebounds, and 26 assists in 837 minutes during Purdue’s 21–9 season, and his teammates selected him as the team’s Most Improved Player.
Purdue reached the NCAA Tournament in 1982–83 as a No. 5 seed in the Mideast Region, defeating Robert Morris 55–53 before losing 78–68 to Arkansas in the second round.
As a junior in 1983–84, Bullock appeared in 29 games with 14 starts and averaged 8.7 points and 5.2 rebounds in 28.0 minutes per game while shooting 55.5% from the field.
He posted 253 points, 150 rebounds, and 20 assists as Purdue finished 22–7 overall and 15–3 in the Big Ten to win the conference regular-season title and finish ranked No. 10 in the final AP poll.
Purdue advanced to the 1984 NCAA Tournament as a No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region and lost 66–48 to Memphis in its first tournament game after receiving a first-round bye.
As a senior in 1984–85, Bullock started all 29 games and averaged 14.2 points and 6.6 rebounds in 32.8 minutes per game while shooting 57.0% from the field and 54.6% at the free-throw line.
He totaled 411 points, 190 rebounds and 36 assists in 951 minutes. The previously recorded figures of 57 and 87 represented turnovers and personal fouls rather than steals and blocks.
Bullock was named First-Team All-Big Ten in 1985, received honorable mention All-American recognition and was Purdue's 1985 Varsity Walk Award recipient.
Purdue returned to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 6 seed in the Southeast Region and lost 59–58 to Auburn in the first round.
Across his Purdue career, Bullock played 116 games with 69 starts and totaled 938 points, 538 rebounds, and 90 assists while averaging 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in 2,818 minutes.
AWARDS
- 2x NBL Leading Rebounder
- 1985 First-Team All-Big Ten
- 1985 honorable mention All-American
- 1985 Purdue Varsity Walk Award
Related
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