BIO: Michael Bryson was born in Sacramento, California (USA).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Michael Bryson made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 22 years of age. He scored five points in his first game.

After finishing last with a 6-22 record in 2015/16, Sydney appointed Australian basketball icon Andrew Gaze as head coach on a three-year deal and rebuilt the roster. Josh Childress and Al Harrington were not re-signed, while Angus Brandt (to Perth), Marcus Thornton, Rhys Carter and Jordan Vandenberg also departed. Tom Garlepp, Jason Cadee, Jeromie Hill and Julian Khazzouh returned, while reigning NBL MVP and Best Defensive Player Kevin Lisch (via Illawarra) turned down a contract extension with the Hawks to accept a more lucrative three-year deal with Sydney which made him the highest-paid player in the NBL. Brad Newley (via Gran Canaria) and Aleks Maric (via Obradoiro) were also added, while Lisch becoming an Australian citizen in March allowed Sydney to use all three import positions. Gaze and Kings general manager Jeff Van Groningen added Michael Bryson (via UC Santa Barbara), Greg Whittington (via Sioux Falls) and Josh Powell (via Luoyang Zhonghe), with Powell signed on the eve of the season as Khazzouh continued rehabilitating the quadriceps injury which ultimately ruled him out for the entire year. Craig Moller (via Ballarat) and Bo Liu (via Shenzhen) joined as development players, while Lisch was appointed captain.

Bryson signed with Sydney on August 6 for the 2016/17 season after completing the NBA Summer League with Phoenix and working out for Boston and Sacramento before the NBA Draft. He had finished his college career as UC Santa Barbara’s all-time leader in made three-pointers, including a school-record nine in one game. “As a Californian kid, growing up following our version of the Kings – in Sacramento – I’m excited now to be coming to Australia to play for the Sydney Kings. Can’t wait for the opportunity.” Gaze said, “As much as our coaching staff love what Michael brings to the Kings on the floor, we have been even more impressed with the feedback we have received about his personality and his character.” Van Groningen added, “His overall athleticism, commitment to the defensive end of the floor and open court explosiveness is something that was great to see in person. He possesses a deep three threat and has shot at a really good clip over the four years of his NCAA career. We are looking forward to the way he’ll complement our Kings squad.”

His best game came in his NBL debut against Brisbane at Qudos Bank Arena on October 8, where Bryson (5 points and 1 rebound) came from the bench for almost 20 minutes and made two of eight shots, including one three-pointer. Lisch (20 points and 3 steals) and Hill (14 points and 3 blocks) led Sydney, while Daniel Kickert (17 points and 4 assists) was Brisbane’s leading scorer as the Bullets defeated the Kings 77-73.

Bryson (1.8 points across 4 games) came from the bench in all four appearances and made only three of 17 field-goal attempts. He did not miss games through injury or illness, with his short season instead ending because Sydney released him after he struggled to make an impact in the Kings’ rotation.

Five days after the opener, Bryson (0 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal, and 1 block) played nine minutes as Sydney defeated Illawarra 88-84 at the WIN Entertainment Centre for Gaze’s first NBL victory. Cadee (20 points and 5 assists) and Lisch (20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) led the Kings, while Marvelle Harris (23 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) was Illawarra’s best. The win was followed by Sydney’s locker-room celebration video going viral and added to the excitement surrounding the rebuilt Kings.

Bryson’s final appearance came in Auckland on October 20, where Bryson (0 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 block) provided a chase-down rejection during his 14 minutes as Sydney defeated New Zealand 92-78. Whittington (22 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Powell (17 points) led the Kings, while Thomas Abercrombie (17 points) was New Zealand’s leading scorer as Sydney collected its third consecutive win and moved to 3-1 and outright first on the ladder.

Bryson (released) was cut the following day, beginning the major changes through Sydney’s import combination, and 13-year NBA veteran Steve Blake (5.9 points across 9 games) (via Detroit) was signed as his replacement. Dion Prewster (0.9 points across 17 games), who had initially remained with Sydney as a practice player before becoming Khazzouh’s temporary injury replacement, was subsequently retained on the 11-man roster for the remainder of the season. Blake was later granted indefinite compassionate leave (to United States) to be with a seriously ill family member and did not return. Moller (3.3 points across 13 games) was promoted from his development-player position to the full roster, while Garrett Jackson (3.8 points and 3.5 rebounds across 6 games) (via North-West Tasmania) was signed on December 22 after playing in the state league and spending time training with the Kings. Tony Tolovae (0 points across 1 game) then suffered a season-ending ankle injury, creating another roster position for William McDowell-White (2.1 points across 7 games), who joined as a development player after committing to Fresno State but being unable to gain NCAA clearance.

Newley (17.6 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.2 steals across 23 games) led Sydney in scoring, with Lisch (16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.8 steals across 27 games) providing the other major offensive threat. Cadee (13 points and 3.2 assists across 28 games), Whittington (11.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 28 games), Powell (9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds across 27 games), Garlepp (5.6 points across 28 games) and Maric (5.4 points and 4.7 rebounds across 28 games) completed the main rotation. Newley and Lisch were selected to the All-NBL Second Team, with Newley winning the Kings’ MVP and Members Player of the Year awards, Lisch named the club’s Defensive Player of the Year and Maric receiving the Mike Wrublewski Most Inspirational Player award. Sydney reached 8-4 on November 19 but went 5-11 from there and lost nine of its final twelve games.

With Bryson no longer on the roster, Sydney travelled to Perth Arena on February 10 needing a victory to keep its playoff hopes alive, where Newley (19 points) and Cadee (15 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Kings, while Casey Prather (29 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) carried Perth to a 101-74 victory, leaving Sydney seventh with a 13-15 record.

Michael Bryson played one season in the NBL. He averaged 1.7 points, 1 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 4 NBL games.