Kings’ milestone man’s journey to top not possible without Taipans
SYDNEY Kings coach Chase Buford has hailed tonight’s clash against Cairns a “revenge game” for veteran guard Shaun Bruce, but Bruce says he couldn’t have achieved one of the NBL’s greatest turnarounds without the Taipans.
Bruce will become the 25th Kings player to play 100 games for the franchise when he takes on his former team at Qudos Bank Arena.
It’s a milestone that means everything to the 31-year-old, given he didn’t think he’d become a regular in the NBL, let alone go on to break records.
Bruce signed with Cairns in 2012 as an “unknown” development player.
He hadn’t been to college or the Australian Institute of Sport, so he felt lucky to get a chance via then Taipans coach Aaron Fearne.
Bruce spent four seasons in Cairns, splitting his time between the NBL and the second-tier state league.
He moved south in 2016 and spent two seasons at the Brisbane Bullets before overseas stints with the Wellington Saints and one game for Malaysia Dragons as an import.
Bruce’s journeyman path continued in 2019 when he joined the Adelaide 36ers as an injury replacement.
He thought his hoops career was destined for secondtier stints only when he signed with the Rockhampton Rockets in the QBL, but his sliding doors moment arrived weeks later when the Kings came calling with a one-year deal.
Three years on, he is a championship-winning guard who’ll be forever grateful for Sydney saving his career.
“It’s funny, when I reflect, I feel like I’ve really stumbled into this situation at the Kings,” Bruce told News Corp.
“I hadn’t played much basketball leading into that season with the Kings …
“I don’t know what Chris (Pongrass) and Will (Weaver) saw, but they saw something in me that I’m really grateful for.
“I’ve been able to play some of my best basketball at the Kings and it has been awesome. Winning last year made a lot of that (the journey) worth it.”
Bruce had a laugh when he heard coach Buford had label Friday’s clash against Cairns a “revenge” game.
As much as he wants to beat the Taipans to keep the Kings’ unbeaten start to the season alive, he harbours no ill will towards his former team.
“There is no revenge on my end – it has been a long time since I played for Cairns …” Bruce said.
“I had some great years in Cairns. We got to a grand final while I was there, and I have a lot of fond memories playing there, so there are no hard feelings or points to prove at all.”
Bruce feels blessed to play 100 NBL games for such an iconic, and successful, club like the Kings.
“It means a ton,” he said. “A club with great history like the Kings, it’s something to be really proud of.
SYDNEY KINGS V CAIRNS TAIPANS, QUDOS BANK ARENA TONIGHT FROM 7.30PM (AEDT) AND LIVE ON ESPN AND KAYO