Cameron Bairstow

Following the 2010 SEABL season, Bairstow moved to the United States to attend the University of New Mexico. In his freshman season, the young Lobo squad was led by senior Dairese Gary and transfer Drew Gordon and finished the year 22–13 with an appearance in the NIT. Bairstow was a member of one of the most accomplished freshman recruiting classes in Lobo history, along with Kendall Williams, Tony Snell and Alex Kirk.[9] He appeared in 31 games but played sparingly, averaging 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per game.[6][10]

As a sophomore, Bairstow became a regular rotation player, appearing in 34 games, averaging 3.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 15.4 minutes per game.[6][10] Fellow Australian Hugh Greenwood joined the Lobos as a freshman in 2011–12 – he and Bairstow were teammates at the AIS in 2009 and 2010. Gordon had a dominating senior season, while Williams and Snell each averaged in double figures. The Lobos finished the season 28–7 after earning a share of the regular season Mountain West Conference (MWC) title, winning the conference tournament championship, and appearing in the NCAA Tournament.[11]

In Bairstow's junior season, 2012–13, the Lobos jumped out to a 12–0 start against a difficult schedule and climbed into the national rankings, later peaking at No. 10. The team's offence struggled at times, leading to a couple of blowout losses, and Bairstow was inserted into the starting line-up in late January.[3] The Lobos then won nine of ten and clinched the regular season MWC title. Bairstow played in all 35 games and averaged 9.7 points and 5.9 rebounds in 24.1 minutes per game.[10] His numbers climbed to 12 points and seven rebounds a game after he became a starter. Williams, Snell and Kirk all averaged in double figures. The Lobos won the MWC tournament championship, and Bairstow was named to the all-tournament team after averaging 13 points and 8.7 rebounds.[6] The team suffered a disappointing upset to Harvard in the NCAA Tournament, finishing the season 29–6, but Bairstow was one of the bright spots for the Lobos, tallying 15 points and 9 rebounds.[12]

Bairstow had a break-out season as a senior in 2013–14, recording one of the most remarkable improvements ever by a Lobo player. In 34 games, 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.[10][13] The increase in his scoring average of 10.7 points was the third best in school history,[14] and he is the first Lobo player to average less than ten points one season and over twenty the next.[15] The Lobos finished second in the MWC but won the conference tournament championship for the third straight season, and Bairstow was named tournament MVP. The team was again upset in the NCAA Tournament, by Stanford, despite 24 points and eight rebounds by Bairstow. The Lobos completed the season 27–7, giving them a combined record of 106–33 during Bairstow's four years, making his the second-winningest class ever for the program.[16] Bairstow was named to the All-MWC first team after leading the conference in points scored, points per game, field goals made and attempted, field goal percentage, free throws made and attempted, and Player Efficiency Rating.[10] He was honoured as a Second Team All-American by Sports Illustrated, Third Team All-American by NBC Sports and CBS Sports, and Honorable Mention All-American by the Associated Press.[6]

Bairstow gained attention during his senior season for his ritual of going to the weight room to lift after games, while still in uniform, receiving praise from opposing coaches and the media for his commitment and work ethic.[17][18] When he arrived at New Mexico, he measured 6–8 and 210 pounds; by his senior season he was listed as 6–9 and 250 pounds; at the NBA Draft Combine in May 2014, he surprised observers by measuring just under 6–10, suggesting he had still been growing.[18][19][20] Bairstow was arguably the most improved player in the history of the Lobo program. Head coach Craig Neal stated, "I don't think there's anybody who's come farther in four years. I don't think there's anybody who could have predicted what he's done this season."[21]

After his success in international play during the summer of 2013, Bairstow received offers to play professionally, but he chose to return for his senior season and complete his degree.[21] He was honoured by the MWC as academic all-conference as a senior and earned a degree in Exercise Science at UNM; he aspires to study physiotherapy after his playing career has ended.[5][22]

Bairstow was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 49th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft,[18][23][24] and subsequently signed a three-year contract with the Bulls, with one and a half years guaranteed.[25][26] He made his NBA debut on 29 October 2014 in the Bulls' season opener against the New York Knicks, recording one turnover and missing his only field goal attempt in three and half minutes.[27] He appeared in 18 of the Bulls' 82 regular-season games, making one start.[27] In his one start on 25 November against the Denver Nuggets, he played a season-high 18 minutes and 46 seconds and had two points, two rebounds, one assist and one block, but also accumulated four fouls and two turnovers and made just one of four field goal attempts.[27] He failed to appear in any of the Bulls' 12 playoff games.[27]

The 2015–16 season saw Bairstow once again appear in just 18 regular-season games, while making two starts.[28] He played in five games on assignment with the Austin Spurs in the NBA Development League between 22 November and 7 December.[29][30] On 2 March 2016, he scored a career-high eight points in 10 minutes as a starter in a 102–89 loss to the Orlando Magic.[31][32]

On 17 June 2016, Bairstow was traded to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie.[33] He was waived by the Pistons on 10 July 2016.[34]

On 18 July 2016, Bairstow signed with his hometown team, the Brisbane Bullets of the National Basketball League.[35] Due to a shoulder injury he sustained while playing for the Boomers at the Rio Olympics, Bairstow missed the Bullets' entire preseason schedule,[36] as well as the first two games of the regular season. In his NBL debut on 16 October, Bairstow recorded 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists off the bench in a 96–93 overtime loss to the Adelaide 36ers.[37][38] On 20 December, he was ruled out for the rest of the season after scans revealed an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee. He suffered the injury during overtime in Brisbane's 91–85 loss to the Illawarra Hawks the previous night.[39] Having never previously suffered a serious injury, Bairstow had now copped two in the space of six months, including a career-threatening knee injury.[40] In 13 games over the first two months of the 2016–17 season, he averaged 12.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

After missing the entire 2017–18 season with the injury,[41] Bairstow re-signed with the Bullets on a two-year deal on 4 May 2018.[42] He returned to action in the 2018–19 season.[40] In March 2019, the Bullets elected not to take up the option on Bairstow's contract.[43]

On 25 July 2019, Bairstow signed with Lithuanian team Rytas Vilnius.[44]

On 4 August 2020, Bairstow signed with The Hawks for the 2020–21 NBL season, returning to the league for a second stint.[45]

Source: FIBA.com