Scott Ninnis on constructing the 36ers roster for NBL25, previously overspending on players, and the unique challenges Adelaide face in the NBL
June 1, 2024
Kevin Brooks
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 12/10/1969
- Place of Birth: Beaufort, South Carolina (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 198
- Weight (KG): 91
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Louisiana (1987–1991)
- NBL DEBUT: 31/01/98
- AGE AT DEBUT: 28
- LAST NBL GAME: 29/02/04
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 34
- NBL History: Adelaide 1998-99, 2001 | Sydney 2000 | Hunter 2004
- Championships: 2
- Adelaide (1998-99)
BIO: Kevin Brooks was born in Beaufort, South Carolina (USA).
FAMILY: Brooks has two sons – Kyan, 8, and Kobe to his wife Melissa.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Kevin Brooks made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 28 years of age. He scored 20 points in his first game.
At the end of 1997, the 36ers replaced head coach Dave Claxton, who was only signed by the club at the last moment due to unexpectedly losing Mike Dunlap. He was only signed for one season and was subsequently replaced by rookie coach and former player Phil Smyth. Smyth had been hired without any head coaching experience. In fact, his only previous coaching experience being a specialist coach at the Australian Institute of Sport during his playing days in Canberra.
During the off-season, local product Brett Maher engaged in serious talks with the Sydney Kings and almost moved to the nation’s capital to form a all-Australian backcourt with Aaron Trahair. Ultimately, he decided to re-sign with the Adelaide 36ers, who then recruited 205 cm centre Paul Rees (via North Melbourne).
Shortly after, Smyth signed Canberra Cannons guard Darnell Mee who had just spent a season in France after rehabilitating the knee that limited his productivity in his first NBL season.
Once signed, Mee recommended his former teammate Kevin Brooks to the 36ers, and they signed the former NBA forward to a two-year deal. After his first training session with the team, Brooks’ teammates thought he wouldn’t last a week in the NBL with a shooting style that saw him release the ball almost from behind his head. However, they soon found Brooks (19.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists) was for real as he went on to lead the team in points per game with Brett Maher (17.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists) and Mee (14.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4 assists) providing the additional scoring punch.
The 36ers’ gamble on Smyth’s playing experience translating into coaching success also paid off, with Adelaide recording the most wins since 1988 and finished in second place (19–11).
Brett Maher’s led the 36ers into the playoffs for the first time as captain and delivered a emphatic punch to Perth’s playoff chin. The 36ers seized a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three semi-final series behind a sensational 36-point career-high game by Maher, who also led the Sixers with six assists (shooting 74 percent, including 7-of-11 three-pointers). Darnell Mee was his usual effective self, adding a game-high 14 rebounds to his 16 points as he terrorised Perth’s backcourt and set a aggressive defensive tone from the outset. Adelaide would defeat Perth just as easily as it had in game one, winning 117–110 to set up a Grand Final matchup against the South East Melbourne Magic.
Adelaide was not expected to defeat the Brian Goorjian led Magic, who had compiled a 26-4 record during the regular season and then swept the Brisbane Bullets in the semifinals. In game one, Brooks finished game-high scorer with 24 points (10/18 shooting), and 8 rebounds as the 36ers stunned all, delivering a 100-93 defeat to the defending champs on their home court. Amazingly, game one of the Grand Final was only the second time the 36ers had defeated the Magic since the Eastside Melbourne Spectres and Southern Melbourne Saints had merged to form the Magic in 1992.
The 36ers, who had started the season off slowly, had really found their form by the time of the Grand Final series and, come game two, obliterated the Magic at home (90-62). Adelaide held the Magic to less than 15 points in three of the game’s quarters. Kevin Brooks (21 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks) was again the star, with Martin Cattalini (20 points and 6 rebounds) also a key contributor in a game decided by turnovers (the Magic finished with 26 turnovers compared to the 36ers’ 14) and free throws (The 36ers shot 25 from 33 from the free throw line compared to the Magics 6 from 8).
Adelaide collected their first NBL championship since 1986, and Kevin Brooks was named Grand Final MVP in what was the last winter season for the National Basketball League.
1998/99
The NBL’s move to summer didn’t stop the defending champions, Adelaide, as they finished the 1998-99 regular season with their first minor premiership since 1988 with a 18–8 record. Adelaide was able to return with almost their entire championship team from 1998, the only key change being John Rillie, who left for more playing opportunities in West Sydney. The team replaced Rillie with David Stiff, who was able to pair with Mark Davis as the team’s ‘two-headed’ centre.
Captain Brett Maher (19.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 steals) led the team in most categories, alongside high scoring forward Martin Cattalini (14.9 points and 7.0 rebounds) and import duo Kevin Brooks (17.3 points and 6.1 rebounds) and Darnell Mee (14.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals), who both elevated their games in the second season.
The 36ers made their way into the grand final undefeated in the postseason, eliminating Perth in the Qualifying Finals and Wollongong in the semifinals, both in two straight games. Once into the Grand Final, Adelaide faced off against the Victoria Titans, a team comprised mostly from the roster of the South East Melbourne Magic roster whom they defeated in the previous year’s grand final.
The opening matchup delivered a battle of the point guards with McDonald (23 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists and 2 steals) and 36ers import Darnell Mee (25 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks) led both team’s in scoring. Mee was able to come out on top in this one, with Adelaide winning the game (104-94) and Mee also forcing McDonald into making 8 turnovers.
The Titans would even the series in game two, winning 88-82. Brett Maher led Adelaide with 25 points, but the Titans’ defence saw the remainder of the 36ers struggle, with no one else able to score more than 12 points and the team shooting 39% from the field. Tony Ronaldson (22 points), Brett Wheeler (18 points, 9 rebounds) and McDonald (12 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists) doing most of the damage for the Titans.
With the 36ers finishing in first place during the regular season the deciding game would be held in Adelaide where more than 7,000 Sixers fans willed the team over the line to become back-to-back NBL champions. Martin Cattalini (19 points and 9 rebounds) led the 36ers in scoring while Brett Maher (15 points and 7 rebounds) was named Grand Final MVP. Ben Pepper (15 points) top scored for the Titans who shot a woeful 26/78 from the field (38%) in the deciding game.
Adelaide became three-time NBL champions and the first team to win back-to-back titles since Perth in 1990 and 1991. Captain Brett Maher was voted the Grand Final MVP, and coach Phil Smyth claimed his second championship win in just two years of coaching in the NBL.
SYDNEY KINGS
1999/00
Sydney underwent a familiar narrative during the 1999/00 season. One that began with compiling a impressive roster on paper to start the season, only to see it fall apart (like a violet crumble) by the end of the year. Expectations were high with the continued development of Sydney underwent a familiar narrative during the 1999/00 season. One that began with compiling a impressive roster on paper to start the season, only to see it fall apart (like a violet crumble) by the end of the year. It started with a coaching change, Brett Brown replacing Bill Tomlinson (the team’s fourth coach in six seasons). Then, with Sydney seemingly stockpiling much of the league’s best young talent, adding Ben Melmeth (Newcastle) and Derek Moore (South Carolina-Aiken University) and to the talented young core of Matthew Nielsen, Aaron Trahair and Scott McGregor, re-signing one of the most dominant big men in NBL history, Acie Earl and poaching the reigning league MVP, Steve Woodberry from the Brisbane Bullets expectations were high.
The Kings started the year with a 98–76 win over Canberra, but it was clear Earl’s fitness wasn’t where it was the previous season. He managed 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists and was released before their next game. Meanwhile, Kevin Brooks who had just led Adelaide to back-to-back championships. Brooks’s signing was unusual, with Adelaide signing him to a contract which the league determined it would not approve, claiming it would put the club over the salary cap considering it also had added Paul Maley to its championship unit only a few weeks earlier. Brooks found himself without a team to play for until the Kings contacted him and signed him as Earl’s replacement.
After a mediocre start to the season (2-2), import Steve Woodberry suffered a season ending injury forcing the Kings to find a replacement for him also. This came in the form of NBA talent Drew Barry who was also the son of NBA legend Rick Barry.
The Kings went 6-5 with Barry (7.6 points, 4 rebounds and 6.3 assists) but with his production not being anywhere near where they expected for a NBA level point guard, he too received the axe and was replaced with Kendrick Johnson.
From here, Johnson (21.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists) led the team in scoring, alongside Brooks (16.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists) and Nielsen (16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists) and the team finished their season with a record of 11-17. Brooks averaged 16.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists as the Kings missed the playoffs for the fourth season in a row.
One of the few bright spots for the Kings roller-coaster season was the development of Derek Moore (9.2 points and 5.1 rebounds) who was named Rookie of the Year at season’s end.
ADELAIDE 36ERS
2000/01
Brooks production increased from his “one and done” year with the Kings to 19.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists and helped the 36ers finish with a record of 16-12 to end the regular season in sixth place. Brooks was able to lead the 36ers to the semi finals before losing to eventual champions Wollongong.
At the end of the season, Brooks set off to Sweden to play in 2001/02 season before playing in the New Zealand NBL in the offseason.
HUNTER PIRATES
2003/04
As a result of Canberra’s NBL licence moving to Newcastle, former Cannons players Brendan Mann, Matthew Shanahan and Cameron Rigby all came across to the Pirates to form the beginnings of the Pirates roster. Hunter chose not to retain Cannons coach Cal Bruton and signed Bruce Palmer as their first head coach.
Hunter signed rookie point guard Chris Harriman (via Augusta State) straight out of college and filled the remainder of the roster with low-cost imports Kevin Brooks and Chris Brown, local players Josh Morgan and Adam Melmeth, and a number of players who had been discarded by their former clubs like Geordie Cullen (via Wollongong), Michael Kingma (via Sydney) and Travis Lindstrom (via Perth) who were all unable to secure deals elsewhere.
It took six games before the Pirates won their first game, a four-point victory over Adelaide at home (103–99) and then managed to win only one more, a home win against Cairns (109–103) and ended their first season on a 15-game losing streak. Their two win season was the second worst in NBL history (outside of Geelong’s zero win season in 1988).
Initial coach Bruce Palmer was controversially fired partway into the season and was replaced by assistant coach David Simmons but that made little difference to the team’s success.
Cullen (17.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) would lead the team in scoring and win the league’s Most Improved Player award at the end of the season. Kevin Brooks (16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists), Matthew Shanahan (15.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists) and Chris Brown (10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) would lead the team in scoring. Starting point guard Brendan Mann (9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals) suffered a season ending injury only three games into the season, resulting in rookie Chris Harriman (7.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4 assists) stepping into the starting lineup. Harriman would narrowly miss out of winning the Rookie of the Year award, finishing second to West Sydney’s Steven Markovic.
His season in Newcastle would be his final season in the league as a player.
Kevin Brooks played five seasons across three NBL teams. This included the Adelaide 36ers, Sydney Kings and Hunter Pirates. He averaged 18 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 158 NBL games.
HIGHLIGHTS:
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-04 | 34 | Hunter | 2-31 (12) | 33 | 1,245.0 | 556 | 188 | 60 | 49 | 139 | 20 | 17 | 90 | 54 | 190 | 459 | 41% | 79 | 236 | 33% | 97 | 108 | 90% | 54% | 50% | 31 |
| 2000-01 | 31 | Adelaide | 16-12 (6) | 34 | 1,335.0 | 666 | 242 | 71 | 70 | 172 | 12 | 17 | 94 | 59 | 228 | 543 | 42% | 99 | 254 | 39% | 111 | 131 | 85% | 55% | 51% | 34 |
| 1999-00 | 30 | Sydney | 11-17 (7) | 27 | 1,113.0 | 454 | 168 | 41 | 43 | 125 | 16 | 16 | 59 | 50 | 168 | 368 | 46% | 68 | 161 | 42% | 50 | 60 | 83% | 57% | 55% | 32 |
| 1998-99 | 29 | Adelaide | 18-9 (1) | 33 | 1,375.0 | 570 | 200 | 49 | 55 | 145 | 19 | 14 | 70 | 64 | 200 | 480 | 42% | 76 | 203 | 37% | 94 | 121 | 78% | 53% | 50% | 27 |
| 1998 | 28 | Adelaide | 19-11 (2) | 31 | 1,207.0 | 602 | 207 | 41 | 46 | 161 | 22 | 18 | 59 | 53 | 225 | 454 | 50% | 85 | 191 | 45% | 67 | 84 | 80% | 61% | 59% | 34 | Totals | 158 | 6275 | 2848 | 1005 | 262 | 263 | 742 | 89 | 82 | 372 | 280 | 1011 | 2304 | 43.9% | 407 | 1045 | 38.9% | 419 | 504 | 83.1% | 56% | 53% | 34 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-04 | 34 | Hunter | 2-31 (12) | 33 | 37.7 | 16.8 | 5.7 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 4.2 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 5.8 | 13.9 | 41% | 2.4 | 7.2 | 33% | 2.9 | 3.3 | 90% | 54% | 50% | 31 |
| 2000-01 | 31 | Adelaide | 16-12 (6) | 34 | 39.3 | 19.6 | 7.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 5.1 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 6.7 | 16.0 | 42% | 2.9 | 7.5 | 39% | 3.3 | 3.9 | 85% | 55% | 51% | 34 |
| 1999-00 | 30 | Sydney | 11-17 (7) | 27 | 41.2 | 16.8 | 6.2 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 4.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 6.2 | 13.6 | 46% | 2.5 | 6.0 | 42% | 1.9 | 2.2 | 83% | 57% | 55% | 32 |
| 1998-99 | 29 | Adelaide | 18-9 (1) | 33 | 41.7 | 17.3 | 6.1 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 4.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 6.1 | 14.5 | 42% | 2.3 | 6.2 | 37% | 2.8 | 3.7 | 78% | 53% | 50% | 27 |
| 1998 | 28 | Adelaide | 19-11 (2) | 31 | 38.9 | 19.4 | 6.7 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 5.2 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 7.3 | 14.6 | 50% | 2.7 | 6.2 | 45% | 2.2 | 2.7 | 80% | 61% | 59% | 34 | Total | 158 | 39.7 | 18.0 | 6.4 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 4.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 6.4 | 14.6 | 43.9% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 38.9% | 2.6 | 6.6 | 83.1% | 56% | 53% | 34 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 34 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
Coached Woodville Warriors to ABA title in 2005
NBA EXPERIENCE
Kevin Brooks was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with pick #18 in the 1991 NBA Draft.
After being drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks he was traded to Denver prior to the start of the season in a three-team trade.
Brooks, along with the Bucks 1994 2nd round draft pick (Rodney Dent was later selected) was sent to the Nuggets. The Atlanta Hawks traded a 1993 2nd round draft pick (Josh Grant was later selected) to the Nuggets. The Hawks traded Anthony Avent to the Bucks and the Nuggets traded Blair Rasmussen to the Hawks.
He also spent time playing in the NBAs development leagues, spending the 1994/95 season in the CBA with both the Rapid City Thrillers and the Shreveport Crawdads. He then spent the 1995/96 CBA season with the San Diego Wildcards.
Brooks played 126 games in the NBA. He averaged 3.3 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game over his NBA career.
NBA TRANSACTIONS:
- June 26, 1991: Drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1st round (18th pick) of the 1991 NBA Draft.
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July 1, 1991: As part of a 3-team trade, traded by the Milwaukee Bucks with a 1994 2nd round draft pick (Rodney Dent was later selected) to the Denver Nuggets; the Atlanta Hawks traded a 1993 2nd round draft pick (Josh Grant was later selected) to the Denver Nuggets; the Atlanta Hawks traded Anthony Avent to the Milwaukee Bucks; and the Denver Nuggets traded Blair Rasmussen to the Atlanta Hawks.
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 90% | 71% | 62% | 82% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 34 | 6 | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Total | 1011 | 2304 | 43.9% | 407 | 1045 | 38.9% |
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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 24 | Denver | SF | 34 | 0 | 190 | 85 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 19 | 36 | 99 | 36% | 4 | 23 | 17% | 9 | 10 | 90% | 41% | 38% |
| 1992-93 | 23 | Denver | SF | 55 | 2 | 571 | 227 | 81 | 34 | 22 | 59 | 10 | 2 | 39 | 46 | 93 | 233 | 40% | 6 | 26 | 23% | 35 | 40 | 88% | 45% | 41% |
| 1991-92 | 22 | Denver | SF | 37 | 0 | 270 | 105 | 39 | 11 | 13 | 26 | 8 | 2 | 18 | 19 | 43 | 97 | 44% | 2 | 11 | 18% | 17 | 21 | 81% | 49% | 45% |
| 1991-92 | 22 | Denver | SF | 37 | 0 | 270 | 105 | 39 | 11 | 13 | 26 | 8 | 2 | 18 | 19 | 43 | 97 | 44% | 2 | 11 | 18% | 17 | 21 | 81% | 49% | 45% |
| 1992-93 | 23 | Denver | SF | 55 | 2 | 571 | 227 | 81 | 34 | 22 | 59 | 10 | 2 | 39 | 46 | 93 | 233 | 40% | 6 | 26 | 23% | 35 | 40 | 88% | 45% | 41% |
| 1993-94 | 24 | Denver | SF | 34 | 0 | 190 | 85 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 19 | 36 | 99 | 36% | 4 | 23 | 17% | 9 | 10 | 90% | 41% | 38% |
| 1991-92 | 22 | Denver | SF | 37 | 0 | 270 | 105 | 39 | 11 | 13 | 26 | 8 | 2 | 18 | 19 | 43 | 97 | 44% | 2 | 11 | 18% | 17 | 21 | 81% | 49% | 45% |
| 1992-93 | 23 | Denver | SF | 55 | 2 | 571 | 227 | 81 | 34 | 22 | 59 | 10 | 2 | 39 | 46 | 93 | 233 | 40% | 6 | 26 | 23% | 35 | 40 | 88% | 45% | 41% |
| 1993-94 | 24 | Denver | SF | 34 | 0 | 190 | 85 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 19 | 36 | 99 | 36% | 4 | 23 | 17% | 9 | 10 | 90% | 41% | 38% | Total | 126 | 2 | 1031 | 417 | 141 | 48 | 40 | 101 | 18 | 6 | 69 | 84 | 172 | 429 | 40% | 12 | 60 | 20% | 61 | 71 | 86% |
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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991-92 | 22 | Denver | SF | 37 | 0 | 7.3 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 44% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 18% | 0.5 | 0.6 | 81% | 49% | 45% |
| 1992-93 | 23 | Denver | SF | 55 | 2 | 10.4 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 4.2 | 40% | 0.1 | 0.5 | 23% | 0.6 | 0.7 | 88% | 45% | 41% |
| 1993-94 | 24 | Denver | SF | 34 | 0 | 5.6 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 36% | 0.1 | 0.7 | 17% | 0.3 | 0.3 | 90% | 41% | 38% | Total | 126 | 2 | 8.2 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 3.4 | 40% | 0.1 | 0.5 | 20% | 0.5 | 0.6 | 86% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Argentina - Atenas de Cordoba (1998, 2001-02) | Brazil - AA Guaru (1997-98) | New Zealand - Wellington Saints (2002) | Sweden - Sodertalje BBK (2001-02)
In 2001 Brooks headed to Sweden and played for Södertälje BBK for one season before returning down under, this time to New Zealand when he joined the Wellington Saints for the 2002 NZNBL season.
COLLEGE
As a freshman Brooks hit the ground running as the American South Conference’s Newcomer of the Year and the Louisiana Freshman of the Year in 1988, while averaging 16.8 points and 6.3 rebounds and shooting 56.5% from the field. During his sophomore season he averaged 20.7 points and 5.4 rebounds and had a 52.2% field goal percentage. Then as a junior he averaged 20.1 points and 7.0 rebounds, while shooting three-pointers at a 40.4% clip and making 81.6% of his free throws. As a senior, Brooks averaged 21.2 points (1st in ASC) and 6.0 rebounds and made 44.7% of his 3-point attempts.
Over his USL career, he was as a two-time honorable mention All-American and four-time All-ASC and All-Louisiana performer, as well as a two-time ASC All-Tournament and second team NABC All-District selection. When he finished his college basketball career for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (then USL) Ragin’ Cajuns in 1991, Brooks was the third-leading scorer in school history – only trailing legendary performers Bo Lamar and Andrew Toney. From 1987-91, the skinny 6-foot-8 Brooks scored 2,294 points and shot 52.2% from the field and 40.9% from 3-point land for his career. For his career, he averaged 19.8 points and 6.2 rebounds a game, while making 77.4% of his free throws.
AWARDS
- 1x time NBL Finals MVP (1998)
- 1x All-NBL First Team
- 1x All-NBL Second Team- 3× First-team All-American South (1989–1991)
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Second-team All-American South (1988)
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American South Newcomer of the Year (1988)
COACHING HISTORY
Brooks started his managerial career as head coach of the Australian Basketball Association Woodville Warriors in Adelaide where in his inaugural year, led the Warriors to the 2005 ABA championship. In June 2005 he joined the Stamford Grand Basketball Academy in Adelaide, South Australia as first an assistant coach and then head coach the following season, training a future player-base for the 36ers.
Shortly thereafter, Brooks accepted the position of 2nd assistant coach with his former team, the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL. The following season, he became the 1st assistant coach with the Wollongong Hawks for the next two years. He was also the head coach of his former New Zealand NBL team the Wellington Saints in 2007.
Brooks is currently the Executive Producer and Analyst of a weekly live, internet basketball show on Australia Live TV entitled, Inside the Game, as well as assistant coach for the Pembroke School and head coach at St Paul's College (based in Adelaide) basketball team's. In 2017, Brooks became the head coach of the Nazareth Catholic College basketball program.
On 21 May 2013, Brooks signed with the Adelaide 36ers as one of the 2013–14 assistant coaches to new head coach Joey Wright, returning for his second assistant coaching stint with the club.
Under Wright, the 36ers went from the bottom of the league in 2012–13, to Grand Finalists in 2013–14. He served as Wright's assistant coach with the 36ers until Wright's departure in 2020. Brooks had been backed by Wright as his successor but lost the role to Conner Henry after an unsuccessful attempt at the role.
Related
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