Basketball: Point made - now it's payback

CJ says the Tall Blacks don't back down for anyone. Picture / Martin Sykes

CJ Bruton began his professional basketballing career at the end of the court away from all the players - he was a floor wiper for the Perth Wildcats where dad Cal was player/coach.

And on Wednesday in game one of the Oceania series he wiped the floor with the Tall Blacks, shooting 25 points in the 82-69 win.

After the match, Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin could offer only this on shutting Bruton down: "I don't know how to defend against that other than in the first play put him on his arse once and let him worry about it for the rest of the game."

The Aussies and Kiwis will make adjustments around CJ during this Oceania series. There are two games to come: at Manukau Events Centre tomorrow and in Dunedin on Sunday, and everything is still on the line.

Bruton, 29, was born in Kansas but grew up in West Australia before returning to his country of origin.

He was unable to play top-level college basketball in the National Collegiate Athletic Association because he had one year as a pro in Perth as a teenager.

From college he was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers but when that didn't work out, he went "home". He regards himself as 100 per cent Aussie.

"Dad went to Aussie in 1979 and when you grow up somewhere it becomes home."

Bruton grew up playing with many of the guys who are now team-mates at the Sydney Kings or in the Boomers.

"I wouldn't have gotten this opportunity in the States," he says of playing for his adopted country as opposed to his country of birth.

Cal Bruton was an NBL Hall-of-Fame star as a player and a title-winning coach. A big weight to carry as a son?

"Early on he put his two cents-worth in. I put it back to him that I was a different player. He was a showman of the game. But I grew up in a different environment and the game was played differently. Different things were asked of me and my job was to get other people open. I told him that.

"When I won his respect it was much easier to move on in my own game."

Now Cal texts support rather than advice. And how proud he is.

Bruton agrees that the combination of Sydney Kings players in the Boomers and having the same coach in Brian Goorjian gives them a head-start.

He says the strength of Australian basketball is improving rapidly, but so is New Zealand's. There is great respect between the teams.

"I can't take anything for granted because there's always someone knocking at the door. When we come into camp you always know it's going to be tough. And we know New Zealand is always tough.

"New Zealand is by far one of the most physical teams we play. To me it's more like playing football - they don't back down for anyone."

The Aussies know the Tall Blacks will smother CJ so he can't score as easily as he has done in previous games.

Says Goorjian: "I'm sure they'll continue to go after him. But whether he's scoring, running or setting others up, he's going to have an impact."

Baldwin agrees they have to pay attention to CJ.

"Nothing special, but certainly we need to cut down his perimeter shooting. Our close-outs have to be more effective - we can't give him open looks. He'll get some special attention but tactically we can't do anything different."

If they two-man CJ, someone else will open up inside. But that's the value of a great point guard.

CJ BRUTON

Born: December 13, 1975 in Kansas, United States

Raised in Perth while father Cal Bruton was coach of the Wildcats

Joined Wildcats in the NBL 1997

Went to Indian Hills College, Iowa.

1997: Drafted by the Portland Trailblazers

1998: Brisbane Bullets

2000-03: Canberra Cannons under dad Cal

2003-05: Sydney Kings, won titles 03/04 and 04/05

2002-05: Boomers