CJ Bruton
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Position | Guard |
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Nickname | CJ |
Height | 188cm |
Weight | 88kg |
Team | New Zealand Breakers (NBL) |
Nationality | Australia |
Born | December 13, 1975 Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
Junior Association | Perry Lakes |
College/University | Indian Hills Junior College |
Debut | 1994 |
Games Played | 304[1] |
Previous Clubs | Perth Wildcats 1994 Brisbane Bullets 1998 Wollongong Hawks 1999-2000 Canberra Cannons 2002-2003 Sydney Kings 2004-2006 Brisbane Bullets 2007-2008 |
Championships | 2004, 2005, 2007 |
Career Highlights | NBL's Most Improved Player (1999) Current Boomers Squad Member |
Calvin Thomas Bruton Jr., commonly known by the name CJ Bruton (born December 13, 1975 in Wichita, Kansas, U.S.), is an Australian professional basketball player in the National Basketball League. CJ has played for numerous NBL teams over his career. He debuted with the Perth Wildcats in 1994, which made him ineligible to play in the NCAA and so upon returning to the USA he competed in the NJCAA for Indian Hills Junior College. While there he won an NJCAA National Championship with Indian Hills JC and was named as an NJCAA All-American. In 1997 he was selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the NBA Draft, but was not signed by the team.
Upon returning to the NBL in 1998, CJ played for the Brisbane Bullets for one season before heading to Wollongong to play for the Hawks until 2000. CJ then played for the Canberra Cannons with his father, Cal Bruton, as head coach. In 2003 the Canberra Cannons folded and instead of relocating with the club to Newcastle, CJ began a successful stint with the Sydney Kings. In his time in Sydney CJ would win two championships and co-captain the Kings with Jason Smith. This successful tenure also lead to him being selected in the Boomers squad for the 2004 Olympic Games and the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
In 2006 Bruton had an unsuccessful try-out with the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, and attended the veterans training camp with fellow aussie Chris Anstey. This try-out almost forced him to miss the 2006 basketball world championships. He did eventually compete in the championships.
Bruton has since returned to the Brisbane Bullets for the 2006/07 NBL season and remains a member of the Boomers squad for the upcoming 2006 FIBA World Championships.
In 2006 he was named as head coach for the QABL South West Metro Pirates.
[edit] Family
Calvin Bruton Jr. is married to dancer Jessica Strong. He is also the son of Calvin Bruton, Sr., former player and hall of fame inductee of the NBL and former head coach of the West Sydney Razorbacks.
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