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
The 2004/05 season was another standout campaign for C.J. Bruton as he played a pivotal role in leading the Sydney Kings to their historic third consecutive NBL Championship. Under the guidance of head coach Brian Goorjian, Bruton solidified his reputation as one of the league’s premier guards, blending scoring, playmaking, and veteran leadership to help Sydney maintain its dominance.

With the arrival of rookie Luke Kendall (12.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.7 steals), Bruton (16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game) initially shifted between point guard and shooting guard, giving him more offensive freedom. However, Kendall’s season was cut short after just 12 games due to a season-ending injury, forcing Bruton to return to his primary role as the team’s floor general at point guard.

Bruton was instrumental in helping Sydney finish the regular season atop the NBL ladder with a 21-11 record. Team captain Jason Smith (19.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists) set the tone with his leadership and two-way play, while Mark Sanford (16.7 points, 7.4 rebounds) and Rolan Roberts (16.4 points, 9.1 rebounds) anchored the frontcourt. Bruton’s ability to orchestrate the offense, create for his teammates, and step up in critical moments was a key factor in the Kings’ dominance.

Throughout the season, Bruton delivered several exceptional performances that underscored his ability to take over games. On November 8 against Cairns, he erupted for 32 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, hitting 7 three-pointers to propel the Kings to victory. Just days earlier, on November 3 against Adelaide, he showcased his scoring prowess by pouring in 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting while adding 5 assists. On February 19 against Victoria, he put together another impressive performance, tallying 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, displaying his all-around impact.

Bruton’s leadership and scoring ability were just as crucial in the postseason. Despite suffering a knee injury during the semifinals against Brisbane, he remained determined to compete for the championship, stating, “You don’t get these chances very often… to be a part of this and achieve what we’re chasing here is something special.”

The Kings entered the playoffs as minor premiers and continued their dominance. They swept the Brisbane Bullets 2-0 in the semifinals before facing the Illawarra Hawks in the Grand Final series. Sydney completely overwhelmed their opponents, winning in three straight games with decisive victories—96-73 in Game 1, 105-80 in Game 2, and 112-85 in Game 3. Bruton played a key role in the Kings’ commanding sweep, particularly in the series-clinching Game 3 on March 13, where he contributed 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists while knocking down 5 three-pointers.

The Kings’ third consecutive championship cemented them as the first team in NBL history to achieve a three-peat, solidifying their dynasty. In front of nearly 9,000 fans at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Jason Smith delivered a spectacular Grand Final performance with 38 points, earning Grand Final MVP honors. Meanwhile, Bruton’s consistent contributions throughout the season and playoffs were just as vital in securing Sydney’s place in the record books.

Bruton’s ability to lead the offense, create opportunities for teammates, and hit big shots under pressure was instrumental in the Kings’ championship run. His blend of experience, skill, and leadership helped Sydney dominate the league and complete one of the most commanding title runs in NBL history. While Jason Smith took home Finals MVP honors, Bruton’s impact throughout the season and playoffs played an undeniable role in shaping the Kings’ dynasty.

2005/06
During the 2005/06 season, Bruton averaged 18.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists and was a part of the Kings squad, which finished in first place with a record of 26-6.

BRISBANE BULLETS
2006/07
In 2006/07, Bruton averaged 14 points and 2.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists and helped guide the Bullets to a first-place finish in the regular season with a 28-5 record.

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

HIGHLIGHTS: