200 Up for Shaun Bruce

Written by Matt McQuade for Kings Media 

Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings point guard Shaun Bruce reaches a significant milestone in his team’s game against the New Zealand Breakers on Thursday in Melbourne.

200 games in the National Basketball League.

Not bad for a young man who has gone under the radar for much of his career.

He’s not a guy who went to a big college in the United States like his brother Aaron did when he played for Baylor University.

Nor did he attend that noted basketball factory the Australian Institute of Sport.

And he’s not either a flashy dunker or a long-range bomber.

The average fan might have said “Shaun Who?” when former Sydney Kings Head Coach Will Weaver recruited Bruce to the team prior to last season.

But he proved his mettle during a brilliant NBL20 campaign from the purple and gold, leading the second unit superbly as the team went 20-8 and made their sixth Grand Final in franchise history.

As ever, the unassuming Bruce didn’t get many accolades for his performance last season. But those in the industry understood his importance to the squad, and he received votes for both NBL Sixth Man of the Year and NBL Most Improved awards, more than a trifle unlucky not to at least garner recognition as the league’s top reserve.

He’s become even more crucial to the Kings’ fortunes this season given the number of injuries the roster has suffered over the past few months, and his steady hand coupled with his innate competitive drive has helped Sydney to a 4-5 record at a time when some thought the team would struggle to win any game, let alone four.

Based on what he’s accomplished lately, and indeed during an NBL career that’s seen him play several years with the Cairns Taipans and a couple of seasons with the Brisbane Bullets before joining the Kings, you might expect Shaun to think that this 200-game record was something he felt was in his future when he started his journey.

Of course, the opposite is the case for this hard-working ballplayer, who joined his brother Aaron this season as one of only two pairs of siblings to have dished off for 10 assists in a single NBL game, joining Rod and Terry Johnson in a very select group.

“To be honest, it’s not something I thought a whole lot about,” Shaun said.

“Coming into the league, I just wanted to play one game.”

“To be now at 200 – it’s gone very quickly and it feels like yesterday that I was a development player in Cairns.”

“I’ve never thought too far ahead and playing so many games, but being here now it’s something to be proud of I guess, and something I’ll probably reflect on a bit more when I get done playing.”

You might also think that a guy who has played that many games in the NBL would have a favourite individual moment, or some kind of great personal performance that’s he’s most proud of.

But unsurprisingly, the answer to that is also a big no. Bruce is all about team, and that’s what makes him so valuable as a teammate. And so, as he reflects on his career heading into game 200, there’s two highlights that standout through those first 199. And they have nothing to do with anything he’s achieved at an individual level.

“Definitely the two seasons that I’ve been to the playoffs and gotten to the Grand Final both times,” Shaun said of his 2014/15 season with Cairns and NBL20 with the Kings.

“They’ve probably been the ones that stand out. When I was in Cairns, we nearly set a record and then last season with the Kings we set the regular season record by staying on top the whole way through.”

“Those teams were really special. The connectiveness and the chemistry they had is what stands out the most to me.”

And as that unquestioned great teammate, Shaun has been willing throughout his career to play whatever role his coaches have deemed necessary, from being a defensive stopper to floor leader or even just a guy who provides great energy and intensity at training.

He’s what is known in the parlance as your classic ‘glue guy’, a player willing to do anything to help the team succeed, someone who brings everyone together on the same page – even if that means sacrificing parts of his own game to make it all work.

This season, he’s seen yet another role change – this time moving from his previous role on the bench to becoming a starter alongside Casper Ware. That partnership of two noted point guards in the starting unit is unusual, but it is already paying dividends, with Ware looking more confident and comfortable by the week.

That’s due in no small part to Shaun’s presence. He has taken pressure off Casper and allowed him to flourish – yet another example of what being a great teammate is really all about.

“It’s something new, but something I’ve enjoyed doing,” Shaun said.

“Obviously starting the game with Cas – that’s great. He’s a guard you just love to play with. His competitiveness is second to none and that’s just the type of guy that you want to go out there with.”

“To play alongside him has been a lot of fun. I wasn’t really expecting it, but it’s something that ‘Fordey’ floated when he took over from Will, that he wanted to play with two point guards. From there I’ve just had to adjust a little bit, play a little bit off the ball at times and sometimes with it.”

“It’s something I’ve prided myself on, being able to adapt to not only the different teams I’ve been on, but different line-ups; do what’s needed at that environment at the time or that line-up at the time. It has been different to what my role was last year but I’ve found ways to contribute.”

Indeed, he has. Whatever any of his teams have needed throughout his NBL career, Shaun Bruce has been there to provide.

He’s been a consummate teammate, a leader, and has set an example of others to follow.

And now he hits 200 NBL games.

Everyone at the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings is proud to have been a part of his basketball journey.

200-up. And many more to come.

Rise With Us Sydney.