Cal Bruton

Calvin Thomas Bruton, (born 29 September 1954) is an American-born Australian former professional basketball player and coach. He has been an integral part of the National Basketball League (NBL) since its inception. Bruton won an NBL championship with the Brisbane Bullets in 1985, was a two-time member of the All-NBL First Team while playing for the Geelong Supercats and was named NBL Coach of the Year while he was a player-coach for the Supercats in 1982. He also won a second NBL championship while coaching the Perth Wildcats in 1990. As a result, Bruton became one of the first inductees into the NBL Hall of Fame when it opened in 1998. He acquired Australian citizenship and played for the Australian national basketball team.

Playing career High school and college career Bruton was a basketball playground legend from Jamaica, Queens in New York City. He played his high school basketball at Springfield Gardens. Bruton played college basketball for the Wichita State Shockers. On 20 November 1975, he pled no contest to a theft charge in relation to his possession of a stolen vehicle and was placed on a two-year probation. Bruton believed that the incident "put a damper" on his professional career as he had been viewed "as one of the best little men in the country" prior to his case. He averaged 12.9 points per game during his senior season and was selected to the All-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) first-team in 1976.

Bruton returned to his native New York City after his collegiate career ended in 1976 and played in local tournaments including at Rucker Park. He also helped to coach the basketball team at his alma mater, Springfield Gardens. Off the court, Bruton started drinking alcohol and using drugs which resulted in him being hospitalised. His childhood friend, professional basketball player Ricky Marsh, helped Bruton recover and gave him money to help him move back to Wichita, On 4 August 1977, Bruton signed a one-year deal with the Spurs. Bruton instead found a job as a hauler on a garbage truck and worked 12-hour days. instead playing for the Geelong Supercats in the Victorian league. He stayed with them when they joined the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) and won the SEABL championship in 1981.

The Supercats were elevated to the NBL in 1982.

Bruton now also helps out coaching for junior teams in his spare time, as a role model to the junior basketball players.

Bruton was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the 2021 Australia Day Honours, for "For service to basketball as a player and coach."

Honour roll NBL career: 1979–1989, 1992 NBL Grand Final appearances: 4 (1982, 1985, 1986, 1987) NBL Championships: 1 (1985) All-NBL First Team: 2 (1983, 1984) NBL Coach of the Year: 1 (1982) NBL Grand Finals (coach): 3 (1982, 1987, 1990) NBL Championships (coach): 1 (1990) NBL 20th Anniversary Team: 1998

NBL career stats Games: 250 (69 Bri, 79 Gee, 82 Per, 20 Hob) Points: 5,574 (19.3 pg) Free Throws: 727 / 871 (83.5%) Field goals: 1,864 / 4,098 (45.5%) 3 Points: 373 / 958 (38.9%) Steals: 1.2 pg Assists: 3.9 pg Blocked Shots: 0.1 pg

Personal life Originally an American import, Bruton became a naturalised Australian in 1983. He renounced his American citizenship to play for the Australia men's national basketball team in 1986.

Bruton appeared in a celebrity episode of 1980s gameshow It's a Knockout where he dressed in a horse suit alongside Big Sports Breakfast co-host and journalist Terry Kennedy.

Bruton has children by three women. His son, C. J., played in the NBL.