Santa Cruz Warriors: Ronnie Brewer Trying for a Second Chance

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Many players go from D-League standout to productive NBA player. Few have gone the reverse path.

Such is the case for Ronnie Brewer, an eight-year NBA veteran whose career ran dry and is attempting a comeback for another chance in the show.

“I still have a lot of passion to play basketball,” Brewer told Blue Man Hoop. “I’m just 30 years old. I feel like I can play a couple of more years, and contribute on a team.”

So, the swingman entered the NBA D-League Draft in October and was drafted 30^th by the Santa Cruz Warriors.

Brewer started the Warriors’ season opener Friday night. He scored 10 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 36 minutes, the most amount of playing time he’s received in a long time.

“Yesterday was my first game in a while,” Brewer said prior to Santa Cruz’s game at the Los Angeles D-Fenders on Saturday night. “It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to play significant minutes. It’s good to be back out there. It will take some time, but I’m working hard with the coaches, trainers, and my teammates to get better every day.”

Ronnie Brewer with the Bulls in 2011 (Courtesy: WikiCommons)

The 14^th overall pick out of Arkansas by the Utah Jazz in 2006, Brewer was a starter for three of his four seasons with the Jazz. In his second season, he averaged 12.0 points during the 2007-2008 season and played in the Rookie-Sophomore Game during the All-Star Break. The following year, Brewer scored a career-high 13.7 points per game and shot over 50 percent from the field.

But just when it seemed like he was primed for lengthy and fruitful NBA career, Brewer instead saw a decline in subsequent seasons. He was traded to the Grizzlies in 2009, but appeared in only five games for them. Brewer’s last significant playing time came with the Bulls in the 2011-2012 season, where he averaged 6.9 points in 66 games, serving as an excellent defender and high-energy player off the bench.

After the Bulls declined his option, Brewer bounced around on four different teams over the next two seasons, but never caught on and saw little on-court action.

He left the game entirely after being waived by the Bulls in 2014 in his second stint with the club, and mulled over his options. He finished his degree at Arkansas, but the desire to play was still there.

“Watching the game of basketball makes you want harder to get out there,” he said. “I thought I was not going to have the passion to come back and do it. I went back to school, got my degree, and was thinking about moving on, but I still had that itch to come back and play basketball. That’s why I’m out here.”

Brewer doesn’t plan on simply relying on his status as an NBA veteran to get a call-up. Rather, he is looking to find his place in the game and re-establish himself as the player he once was.

“I’m trying to get back in shape,” Brewer said. “Trying to get back to a high level. I feel like this is a great start. Getting back to the grind, back to the basics. It’s like being a rookie again. Nothing’s given to you in life. Everything is earned. That’s how I made my name in the [NBA]. Hard worker, earning everything I got.”

More from Blue Man Hoop

• 3x champion may come to regret forgoing Golden State Warriors reunion
• Golden State Warriors: History shows USA may need Stephen Curry for more than the Olympics
• 7 players Golden State Warriors might replace Klay Thompson with by the trade deadline
• Golden State Warriors villain pours on more pain to end USA’s World Cup
• Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry continues philanthropic efforts off the court

He may not be a first or second option, but Brewer is more than capable as a wing defender and shoots the mid-range jumper well.

“He’s still got a lot to offer,” said Santa Cruz Warriors head coach Casey Hill. “He’s defensive savvy, and his offensive game is top-notch right now. He doesn’t try to do anything he’s not capable of. He plays within himself really well.

“To be honest with you, he’s the perfect call-up for a team looking for a veteran presence who’s going to come in and play a big role.”

Added Brewer: “I’ve never been a guy to go out there and score 30-40 points. But I can make plays offensively and defensively, be a good teammate in the locker room. I’m a hard worker.”

Furthermore, Brewer is more than willing to serve as a mentor and lend his knowledge to the younger players on the Santa Cruz roster.

“Leadership, showing these young guys how to prepare every game,” Brewer said when asked how he can help the team. “How to study film. How to study scouting reports. Coming in early, leaving late, how to take care of your body – just showing them how hard I play on both ends of the floor. Maybe that can rub off on them and show them the right way to play the game.”

Coach Hill believes Brewer will get a call-up once he gets back into shape, which may take some time. In Saturday night’s contest against the D-Fenders, a 104-101 loss for the Warriors, Brewer started and played the first five minutes. He connected on a fade-away jump shot while getting fouled, but headed to the bench at the first timeout and never re-entered. Perhaps fatigued from the night before, he may not be conditioned to play heavy minutes in back-to-back games at this point.

Ronnie Brewer warming up prior to Saturday night’s game against the LA D-Fenders. (Photo: Eric He)

Nevertheless, Brewer will serve as an excellent role model both on and off the court.

“In our locker room, he’s been great,” Hill said. “He’s got great advice. When he speaks, the team listens. From top to bottom, he’s been great.

“Anytime you hear [Brewer’s] name, it’s associated with character and professionalism. The players automatically had respect for him even before he got to Santa Cruz and put a uniform on. That just ups the level of our development another notch when it comes to the other guys on the team.”

How long Brewer stays in Santa Cruz remains to be seen. Still, he is looking to make a positive impact and set a good example.

“Everybody [in the D-League] wants to play at the next level,” Brewer said. “I’ve been there. I know what it takes. I’m not going to be a guy who’s going to come out here and force stuff. I’m going to try to play the right way every time. Doing that will rub off on my teammates, this team, and will make us really successful.”