Cameron Bairstow facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Cameron Bairstow

Bairstow in 2014
Power forward / center
Personal information
Born	(1990-12-07) 7 December 1990 (age 34) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
High school	Runcorn State (Brisbane, Queensland) Anglican Church Grammar School (Brisbane, Queensland)
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
College	New Mexico (2010–2014)
NBA Draft	2014 / Round: 2 / Pick: 49th overall
Selected by the Chicago Bulls
Pro career	2009–2022
Career history
2009–2010	Australian Institute of Sport
2014–2016	Chicago Bulls
2015	→Austin Spurs
2016–2019	Brisbane Bullets
2019–2020	Rytas Vilnius
2020–2021	Illawarra Hawks
2021–2022	Adelaide 36ers
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-Mountain West (2014) Mountain West tournament MVP (2014)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  Australia Summer Universiade Silver 2013 Kazan Team

Cameron David Bairstow (born 7 December 1990) is an Australian former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the University of New Mexico. Later, he was chosen by the Chicago Bulls in the 2014 NBA draft. He played for the Bulls for two seasons. After that, he spent five of his next six years playing in Australia's National Basketball League (NBL).

Early Life and Basketball Beginnings

Cameron Bairstow was born and grew up in Brisbane, Australia. He went to Runcorn State High School and then Anglican Church Grammar School. His parents, Ian and Penny, were also involved in youth basketball. Cameron is one of seven children. Many of his brothers and sisters also played college basketball.

Cameron played for local youth teams like the South West Metro Pirates. In 2009 and 2010, he joined the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra. He played two seasons with the AIS team. He also helped the Queensland team win a national championship in 2009. Cameron was part of the Australian Under 19 team that won a title in 2009.

College Basketball Journey

Starting at New Mexico

After playing in Australia, Cameron moved to the United States. He joined the University of New Mexico in 2010. In his first year, he played in 31 games. He learned a lot from older players on the team.

Growing as a Player

In his second year, Cameron played more often. He became a regular player for the Lobos. Another Australian player, Hugh Greenwood, joined the team. The Lobos had a great season, winning their conference tournament. They even played in the NCAA tournament.

Becoming a Starter

During his third year, Cameron became a starter for the team. The Lobos started the season very strong. Cameron's playing improved a lot. He helped the team win the conference title again. He was even named to the all-tournament team. The team went to the NCAA tournament again.

Senior Year Success

Cameron had an amazing senior year in 2013–14. He improved more than almost any other player in his team's history. He scored over 20 points in many games. The Lobos won their conference tournament for the third year in a row. Cameron was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was also recognized as one of the best players in college basketball.

Cameron was known for his hard work. He would often go to the weight room right after games. He grew taller and stronger during his time in college. He earned a degree in Exercise Science. He hopes to study physiotherapy later.

Professional Basketball Career

Time with the Chicago Bulls

In 2014, Cameron was chosen by the Chicago Bulls in the 2014 NBA draft. He signed a three-year contract with them. He played his first NBA game in October 2014. During his two seasons with the Bulls, he played in 36 games. He also spent some time playing for the Austin Spurs in the NBA Development League. In 2016, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons, but they later let him go.

Playing Back Home in Australia

In July 2016, Cameron signed with his hometown team, the Brisbane Bullets in Australia. He had a shoulder injury from playing for the Australian national team. This made him miss some games. In his first NBL game, he scored 15 points. However, he later suffered a serious knee injury. This injury kept him out for the rest of the season.

After missing the entire 2017–18 season, Cameron re-signed with the Bullets. He returned to play in the 2018–19 season.

Playing in Europe and More in Australia

In 2019, Cameron signed with Rytas Vilnius, a team in Lithuania. He played there for one season.

In 2020, he returned to Australia to play for the Illawarra Hawks. He missed some games due to a hip issue. In 2021, he joined the Adelaide 36ers. He was sidelined again late in the season with an ankle injury.

Retirement from Basketball

In August 2022, Cameron Bairstow announced he was retiring from basketball. He explained that many injuries and the challenges of recovery led to his decision.

NBA Career Statistics

These numbers show how Cameron played in the NBA.

Playing for His Country

Cameron also played for the Australian national basketball team, known as the Boomers.

• In 2012, he helped the Boomers finish second in the Stanković Cup.
• In 2013, he won a silver medal at the World University Games.
• He played for Australia in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.
• In 2016, he was part of the Boomers team for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

International Statistics

This table shows Cameron's average points, rebounds, and assists per game in international tournaments.

Source: FIBA.com

Giving Back to the Community

After his first NBA season, Cameron started a youth basketball camp. He taught kids skills and fundamentals. Many former New Mexico Lobo players helped him coach. He also organized an all-star game with former Lobo players. This event raised money for charity.

Cameron continued these camps and games in later summers. He even organized a game between former Lobo players and former Aggie players. These events brought together many professional players. Cameron showed great interest in continuing to help young players and his community.

See also

In Spanish: Cameron Bairstow para niños