Aaron Brooks

admin

In the last two seasons, smaller guards have thrived off the bench for the Chicago Bulls. 

Aaron Brooks, a 6-0, 161-pounder about to enter his seventh season in the NBA, hopes he can follow that trend. 

“It was about the opportunity,” Brooks said on Tuesday after signing a one-year deal with the Bulls. “A great team with a great coach. They’ve had successful guards like me in the past. I’ve never played in the Eastern Conference. I’m excited for the challenge and something different.” 

Brooks is well aware of the recent success in Chicago enjoyed by Nate Robinson, who like Brooks is a Seattle native, and D.J. Augustin. 

Two seasons ago, Robinson averaged 13.1 points and 4.4 assists in 82 games (23 of them starts), while last year, Augustin recorded 14.9 points and 5.0 assists in 61 games (nine starts). 

“You never know what’s going to happen,” said Brooks, 29. “I enjoyed some success this past year when I got the opportunity to play. I think they just want me to come in, work hard, and help push everyone. I’ll be playing behind Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich, two excellent point guards. So I’ll just go in and work, push them in practice and make them the best players they can be. I’ll help out in any way that I can.” 

As for Rose, Brooks can’t wait to play with the former NBA MVP. Though Rose suffered a season-ending knee injury 10 games into last season, Brooks was impressed by how good Rose had looked until that point. 

“When he came back last year, I thought he was on his way to looking better,” said Brooks of Rose. “It surprised me how quick he was so quickly after coming back. I haven’t met him yet, but I don’t have any doubts that he’ll be strong and healthy. 

“One thing I’ll say about him is that he’s a winner,” Brooks added of Rose. “I definitely got that when we played against him. He goes out there and he competes and he wins games. To me, he’s definitely the most athletic point guard in the league and he finds a way to get the job done.” 

Brooks also said he’s looking forward to the chance to play for Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. Thibodeau was an assistant coach in Houston from 2003-07 but departed for Boston the summer the Rockets selected Brooks with the 26th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.

“The one thing I remember about playing against Chicago, you always knew you were facing an extremely disciplined team,” said Brooks when asked about Thibodeau. “He maximizes what he gets out of his players and they all buy in and play hard. You can see he’s a very good coach and I look forward to playing for him, bringing my lunch pail to practice, buckling down and being ready to go.” 

Chicago’s offseason moves, namely the additions of Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic through free agency and trading for Doug McDermott on draft night, have given its roster significant depth. But it is some of the team’s intangibles that are so appealing to Brooks. 

“It’s a hardworking atmosphere,” said Brooks. “Joakim [Noah] brings a toughness to the team that everybody follows. Everybody plays hard and like I said, Thibodeau does a good job of maximizing the talent. Guys work hard and play for each other. It doesn’t seem like there are any egos on the team.” 

Statistically speaking, Brooks was at his best in 2009-10 when he averaged 19.6 points and 5.3 assists for the Rockets and won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. He’s confident that he can play at just as high of a level again. 

“I’ve had flashes of it since then,” said Brooks, who last year turned in notable performances of 24 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds in a loss to the Rockets in April and 27 points, 17 assists and six rebounds in a win over the Pistons in March. “I think it will take having the opportunity along with consistency. This is a chance to come in, play hard and see if I can find some minutes. So that’s what I’m going to do.”

brooks-finds-an-appealing-opportunity-in-chicago

Brooks finds an appealing opportunity in Chicago

July 22, 2014 -- The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has signed free agent guard Aaron Brooks.  In accordance with team policy, terms of the contract were not announced. 

“We’re excited to add a player as experienced and talented as Aaron to our group,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. 

Brooks (6-0, 161), a six-year NBA veteran, comes to the Bulls after spending last season with both the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets.  Drafted out of Oregon in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft (26th overall) by the Houston Rockets, Brooks has held stints with the Rockets (2007-11, 2012-13, 2013-14), Phoenix Suns (2010-11), Sacramento Kings (2012-13) and the Denver Nuggets (2013-14). 

Last season with the Rockets and Nuggets, Brooks appeared in 72 games (12 starts) and averaged 9.0 ppg, 3.2 apg and 1.9 rpg in 21.6 mpg.  He shot .401 from the field, .387 from downtown and .874 from the line.  

A native of Seattle, the 29-year old Brooks has played in 397 regular season games (161 starts) and posted averages of 11.1 ppg, 3.4 apg, 1.8 rpg, 0.61 spg, 23.6 mpg, .413 field goal shooting, .368 three-point shooting and .847 from the line.  During the 2009-10 campaign with the Rockets, he posted career highs in points per game (19.6), assists per game (5.3), rebounds per game (2.6), steals per game (0.84), three-point field goal percentage (.398) and games played (82) en route to being named the NBA’s Most Improved Player.  In 25 playoff appearances, he has averaged 10.9 ppg, 2.3 apg, 2.0 rpg, 22.4 mpg, shot .428 from the field, .337 from downtown and .790 from the line.  

bulls-sign-free-agent-guard-aaron-brooks

Bulls sign free agent guard Aaron Brooks

none

Presented By

AT&T

<a title="Bulls Play-In Tournament Tickets are On Sale Now" href="https://www.nba.com/bulls/postseason">Bulls Play-In Tournament Tickets are On Sale Now!</a>