Adelaide 36ers sign Cameron Bairstow

The Adelaide 36ers are pleased to announce the signing of Australian big man Cameron Bairstow for the NBL22 season.

Bairstow played 14 games for the Illawarra Hawks last season, averaging 11.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting the ball at 45.2% from the field and 72.7% from the free throw line. Overall he has played 56 NBL games, averaging 11.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game over that span.

Standing 206cm (6'9), the strongly built 30-year-old power forward brings to the 36ers international experience and significant basketball pedigree, with a standout career at the University of New Mexico followed by two seasons in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls and a year with powerhouse European club Rytas Vilnius.

He has also represented his country at both junior and senior level, playing for the Boomers at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

A hard-working, high IQ player, Bairstow is versatile offensively with the ability to work both inside and out. He has a quality low-post game, and can extend his range out to the three-point line and rebounds strongly.

Bairstow recently joined the 36ers squad for a lengthy stretch of practice sessions and demonstrated in that period his well-chronicled basketball skillset, a smooth integration with the current roster and physical conditioning indicative of his readiness for NBL 22.

Adelaide 36ers Chairman Grant Kelley welcomes Bairstow to the Club.

“We are delighted to have a player of Cam's proven ability join us at Sixers Nation. Cam will round out an already strong squad for whom we have high hopes this season" .

Adelaide 36ers General Manager Jeff Van Groningen believes Bairstow adds depth and nous to a frontcourt that already features quality bigs in Isaac Humphries and Daniel Johnson, as well as the emerging talents of Kai Sotto.

"Cam has played at the highest level, with the NBA, Olympics, and World Cup experience all sitting on his CV - he knows what he's doing. It came down to the ‘fit’ and it was apparent quite quickly that was there. That’s a reflection on Cam, the coaches and the group overall as they all connected well. Cam's approach is that he's here to do all he can to help us achieve our goals - and we are confident he will", Van Groningen stated.

Cameron is thrilled for the opportunity to resume his NBL career with the 36ers.

"I'm excited to be a 36er and contribute to the team's success this season. The opportunity to play for CJ and his staff, along with the players already here made it an easy decision - I want to be part of this team's journey. Adelaide is an awesome place to play, with great fans and a rich history. I'm looking forward to being part of it all", Bairstow said.  

Adelaide 36ers Head Coach, CJ Bruton, who worked with Bairstow at the Brisbane Bullets, is looking forward to reconnecting with the talented forward.

“I am thrilled to have Cam join the team. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the group. His versatility to be able to defend multiple positions, play inside and out with the group we have already assembled is something I am most excited about”, Bruton stated. 

Bairstow joins Dusty Hannahs, Mojave King, Mitch McCarron, Todd Withers, Kai Sotto, Emmanuel Malou, Tad Dufelmeier Jr and Hyrum Harris as new additions to this season's roster, which includes incumbent Sixers Isaac Humphries, Sunday Dech and Daniel Johnson.

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