Team success paramount for Bruton

The success of the system is more important than the success of any individual according to Adelaide 36ers coach CJ Bruton, who says he doesn’t need his players to agree with his philosophy to be successful.

Bruton famously won six championships across his storied NBL playing career and has had his number 23 retired at the New Zealand Breakers.

Adelaide has started the season with a 2-1 record after their pre-season success in America – and have taken the scalp of the reigning champion Sydney Kings in the process.

“I remind them we’re here to play a great brand of 36ers basketball which includes all [their] skillsets and their talents, and when you’re on show it’s important you put your best foot forward,” Bruton told The Basketball Show.

“We don’t air out all our issues and our problems before the game, but we go into it with the mindset ‘here’s the best way to win as a staff’ and then we ask our players to play a certain way and do certain things on the floor that will hopefully give us the best chance to be successful.

“Sometimes the players don’t have to agree with that, and don’t agree with that, but when you’re on the floor if you don’t show your alignment with the philosophy then clearly you’re not going to get the best results out of yourself or from me. “

There’s no player who epitomises this team first philosophy more than Kai Sotto, with the young Filipino star struggling to earn minutes in the early stages of the season.

When he has got onto the floor he’s made a strong impact – particularly on the defensive end – but Bruton still wants to see more from his centre.

“I love Kai. He’s a special kid [and] his skillset helps us. While you haven’t seen it a whole lot I’m also playing to win games,” Bruton said.

“I need to be successful, I want the city to be successful, I want Kai to keep improving.

“I care for this kid getting better and improving and one day achieving his goal which is one day playing in the NBA.

“I need him to keep impacting the 36ers the right way that I need for us to be successful … when he does touch the floor he’s going to, bit by bit, keep improving … he is really developing the right way.”