Shaun Bruce (born 13 January 1991) is an Australian professional
basketball player for the
Sydney Kings of the
National Basketball League (NBL). He is also contracted with the
Logan Thunder of the
NBL1 North. He began his NBL career in 2012 as a development player with the
Cairns Taipans, before earning a full-time roster spot in 2013. In 2016, he moved south to join the
Brisbane Bullets. After half a season with the
Adelaide 36ers in 2019, he joined the Kings.
Bruce re-joined the Ballarat Miners for the 2013 SEABL season.[12] He missed eight games during the season with a torn
quadriceps.[13][14]
In August 2013, Bruce signed a full-time contract with the Taipans for the
2013–14 season.[15][16][17] He appeared in 21 of the team's 28 games in 2013–14, averaging 1.2 points 1.0 rebounds per game.
Bruce was retained by the Taipans for the
2014–15 season and received a more prominent role.[19] On 31 December 2014, he recorded his first double-digit scoring game of his NBL career with 12 points against the
Adelaide 36ers.[20] He helped the Taipans reach the NBL grand final series.[21] He appeared in 31 of the team's 32 games during the season, averaging 3.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.
On 19 June 2015, Bruce re-signed with the Taipans for the
2015–16 season.[23] He received more playing time around Christmas due to injuries to teammates
Markel Starks and
Stephen Weigh.[24] He had 17 points against the
Sydney Kings of 2 January.[25] He appeared in all 28 games for the club, averaging 5.9 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
Bruce joined the Mackay Meteors for the
2016 QBL season.[26][27] He was named QBL Player of the Week for round six.[28] He appeared in all 18 games for the Meteors in 2016, averaging 20.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game.[29] He was subsequently named to the QBL All-League Team.[30]
Brisbane Bullets (2016–2018)
On 29 April 2016, Bruce signed a two-year deal with the
Brisbane Bullets.[31][32] He made his debut for the Bullets in their season opener on 6 October 2016, scoring eight points off the bench in a 72–65 win over the
Perth Wildcats.[33] He helped the Bullets start the season 2–0 with a 12-point effort off the bench against the
Sydney Kings two days later.[34] On 24 November 2016, he had a second 12-point effort in a 101–83 loss to the
Adelaide 36ers.[35] On 27 January 2017, he scored a season-high 13 points in an 80–77 loss to
Melbourne United.[36] He appeared in all 28 games for the Bullets in
2016–17, averaging 5.9 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
In the 2017 off-season, Bruce again played for the Mackay Meteors in the QBL.[37] He recorded two triple-doubles[38][39][40][41] and two Player of the Week awards.[42][43] He helped the Meteors reach the QBL grand final series, but he injured his ankle in game one and the team lost 2–1 to the Townsville Heat.[44] He was subsequently named the QBL MVP for the
2017 season.[45][46] In 19 games, he averaged 22.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game.[47]
Bruce missed the start of the
2017–18 NBL season with the ankle injury.[48][49] On 28 October 2017, he scored a season-high 13 points in an 87–85 win over
Melbourne United.[50] In 27 games, he averaged 3.0 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.[51]
On 16 January 2019, Bruce signed a short-term contract with the
Adelaide 36ers as a replacement for injured import
Ramone Moore.[56] In seven games, he averaged 2.4 points per game.
Bruce joined the
Rockhampton Rockets for the 2019
QBL season.[57] In 20 games, he averaged 22.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 9.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game.[58]
Sydney Kings and Logan Thunder (2019–present)
On 26 April 2019, Bruce signed with the
Sydney Kings for the
2019–20 NBL season.[59] He played a key role off the bench and averaged career highs while stepping up in the absence of the injured
Kevin Lisch.[60]
On 15 June 2020, Bruce re-signed with the Kings on a two-year deal.[61] In February 2021, he played his 200th NBL game.[62]
On 23 May 2022, Bruce re-signed with the Kings on a two-year deal.[66] He helped the Kings win back-to-back championships in
2022–23.[67]
Bruce re-joined the Logan Thunder for the 2023 NBL1 North season[68] and earned All-NBL1 North Second Team honours.[69]
In December 2023, Bruce played his 300th NBL game.[70]
On 12 March 2024, Bruce re-signed with the Kings on a two-year deal.[71] He then re-joined the Thunder for the 2024 NBL1 North season.[72]
Personal life
Bruce is the son of Steve and Julie Bruce. His mother was a national-level swimmer, while two of his uncles,
Des and
Stephen Ryan,[73] played in the
Australian Football League (AFL).[74] He also has two older brothers,
Aaron and Cameron. Aaron formerly played in the NBL, while Cameron has played many years in the lower level Victorian basketball divisions.[75]