Cameron Bairstow signs in Australia with Brisbane Bullets
In a coup for the NBL and the Brisbane Bullets, former Chicago Bulls power forward Cam Bairstow has signed with the Club for the 2016/17 season
In a coup for the NBL and the Brisbane Bullets, former Chicago Bulls power forward Cam Bairstow has signed with the Club for the 2016/17 season.
Raised in Runcorn on Brisbane’s Southside, Bairstow was selected as the 49th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls where he played for two seasons before being traded to Detroit after the 2015/16 NBA season. He was waived by the Pistons earlier this month.
“I’m very excited to be coming back to play for my hometown team,” said Bairstow, who has signed for one season with a second season option.
“The Bullets were a club that I looked up to growing up, so it’s fantastic to be given this opportunity.
“The squad is looking really strong especially under Andrej – he was a big factor in my decision to come back to Brisbane.
“The goal this year will be to win an NBL Championship and we definitely have the squad to do it.
“The guys that are already contracted are great players and there is no reason why we can’t have a good season and go all the way.”
Brisbane Bullets head coach Andrej Lemanis said securing Bairstow was an exciting signing for the Club.
“Cameron had many options available to him coming out of the NBA, so for him to come back and play in the NBL is a really positive statement on the league and where it currently sits.
“For the Bullets, it is fantastic to have a player of his calibre come back and play for his hometown team and help the club re-establish itself in the NBL.
“Cameron brings fantastic skills which will be an excellent fit for the team and the fans will really enjoy watching him. On top of that, like all our players, he is a good person who is connected to the community and wants to see the Bullets thrive.”
A key member of the Australian Boomers squad going for gold in Rio, 25-year-old Bairstow graduated from Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) in 2008.
He played for the South West Pirates and Brisbane Capitals youth teams before attending the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra in 2009 and 2010. He played two seasons with the AIS in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL).
Following the 2010 SEABL season, Bairstow moved to the United States to attend the University of New Mexico.
Nicknamed ‘Bear’, Bairstow had a break-out season as a senior in 2013/14. In 34 games for the Lobos that season, he averaged 20.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 blocks per game, scoring 20 points or more in 21 games.
Raised in Runcorn on Brisbane’s Southside, Bairstow was selected as the 49th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls where he played for two seasons before being traded to Detroit after the 2015/16 NBA season. He was waived by the Pistons earlier this month.
“I’m very excited to be coming back to play for my hometown team,” said Bairstow, who has signed for one season with a second season option.
“The Bullets were a club that I looked up to growing up, so it’s fantastic to be given this opportunity.
“The squad is looking really strong especially under Andrej – he was a big factor in my decision to come back to Brisbane.
“The goal this year will be to win an NBL Championship and we definitely have the squad to do it.
“The guys that are already contracted are great players and there is no reason why we can’t have a good season and go all the way.”
Brisbane Bullets head coach Andrej Lemanis said securing Bairstow was an exciting signing for the Club.
“Cameron had many options available to him coming out of the NBA, so for him to come back and play in the NBL is a really positive statement on the league and where it currently sits.
“For the Bullets, it is fantastic to have a player of his calibre come back and play for his hometown team and help the club re-establish itself in the NBL.
“Cameron brings fantastic skills which will be an excellent fit for the team and the fans will really enjoy watching him. On top of that, like all our players, he is a good person who is connected to the community and wants to see the Bullets thrive.”
A key member of the Australian Boomers squad going for gold in Rio, 25-year-old Bairstow graduated from Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) in 2008.
He played for the South West Pirates and Brisbane Capitals youth teams before attending the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra in 2009 and 2010. He played two seasons with the AIS in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL).
Following the 2010 SEABL season, Bairstow moved to the United States to attend the University of New Mexico.
Nicknamed ‘Bear’, Bairstow had a break-out season as a senior in 2013/14. In 34 games for the Lobos that season, he averaged 20.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 blocks per game, scoring 20 points or more in 21 games.
E. Carchia
@Sportando
You must be registered to post a comment