Cal Bruton

NBL Player Infobox
name = Calvin Bruton


nickname = The Black Pearl
position = Guard
height = 175cm
weight = 80 kg
team =
nationality = Australia
birth_date = birth date and age|1954|9|29
birth_place = New York City, U.S.
first_nbl_game = 1979
last_nbl_game = 1992
games_played = 250 [http://www.nblstats.com/players.php?playerid=10143 NBL Stats]
junior_association =
college =
previous_clubs = Brisbane Bullets 1979
Geelong Supercats 1982-1984
Brisbane Bullets 1985-1986
Perth Wildcats 1987-1989
Hobart Devils 1992
championships = 1985
career_highlights =
NBL's First Team (1983, 1984)
NBL's 20th Anniversary Team (1998)
NBL's 25th Anniversary Team (2003)
NBL Hall of Fame Member

Calvin Bruton (born September 29 1954 in New York City, U.S.) is a former player and a current coach in the Australian National Basketball League. Originally an American import, but later becoming a naturalised Australian, Bruton has been an integral part of the league since its inception. As a result Bruton became one of the first inductees into the NBL Hall Of Fame when it opened in 1998.

Bruton also has a son that plays in the NBL, Calvin "CJ" Bruton Jr., who has become quite successful in his own right.

Career

Bruton was a basketball playground legend from Jamaica Queens New York. Bruton played his high school basketball at Springfield Gardens. Bruton attended Wichita State University on a basketball scholarship and as a senior was first team all Missouri Valley Conference on an NCAA Tournament Team and was rated as one of the top point guards in the nation at 5'9. Bruton was one of the first imports to play in the NBL, joining the Brisbane Bullets for the inaugural 1979 season. Bruton led all scorers in the NBL's first year (see NBL (Australia) Points per game), averaging over 33 points per game.

Bruton later joined the Geelong Supercats in 1982. During his tenure with the Supercats, Bruton was named to the All-NBL First Team in 1983 and 1984.

Bruton rejoined the Bullets in 1985 and helped them to their first NBL championship. This success was followed in 1986 when the naturalised Bruton represented Australia in the FIBA World Championships in Spain.

In 1987 Bruton began his tenure with the Perth Wildcats. He played three seasons at the club (two of which he shared playing and coaching duties), before becoming the head coach in 1990 in somewhat controversial circumstances. Alan Black was the head coach for the Wildcats at the beginning of the 1990 season, but after only two matches he was replaced by Bruton. Despite this eventful start to the season Bruton guided the Wildcats to its first NBL championship. Bruton himself was replaced the following year by Murray Arnold.

In 1992, Bruton suited up to play another NBL season. His one season tenure with the Hobart Devils would later result in Bruton becoming the head coach for the Devils in their final season in 1996.

In 2000 Bruton once again returned to coaching, this time for the Canberra Cannons. Like with the Hobart Devils, the Cannons were in financial difficulty at the time and their future was looking bleak. The 2002/03 season saw the financial difficulties of the Cannons reaching boiling point and it was announced their license would be sold. This series of events resulted in Bruton quitting the Cannons and not following the club in their move to Newcastle as the Hunter Pirates.

In 2006, Bruton was signed as head coach of the West Sydney Razorbacks, taking over in the middle of the season. [West Sydney Razorbacks (2006). "Bruton to replace Watkins". http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&aid=4220] .

However, he wasn't retained by the West Sydney Razorbacks for the 2007-2008 season.

References

* [http://www.ozhoopsalmanac.com/wiki/index.php/Cal_Bruton Oz Hoops Almanac]