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Aaron Brooks: A Winding Career Path

By Nathan Van Hoff

Jan 17, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Aaron Brooks (0) drives past Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) during the second half at the United Center. Atlanta won 107-99. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Aaron Brooks (0) drives past Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) during the second half at the United Center. Atlanta won 107-99. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 12, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets point guard Aaron Brooks (0) controls the ball during the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 12, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets point guard Aaron Brooks (0) controls the ball during the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Promising Start

Aaron Jamal Brooks played basketball at Franklin High School in Seattle, Washington. He was a 2003 McDonald’s High School All-American and named Washington state’s player of the year after leading his team to the state championship, per University of Oregon Athletics.

He was also the fourth ranked point guard in the recruiting class of 2003 according to ESPN, ahead of somebody named Chris Paul.

He committed to nearby University of Oregon and helped lead them to a 29-8 season along with an Elite Eight appearance his senior year, per Sports-Reference.com. That season he averaged 17.7 points per game and shot 50.2 percent from three point range to go along with 4.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

Brooks declared for the 2007 NBA Draft and was was selected in the first-round, 26th overall by the Houston Rockets. He appeared in 51 games as a reserve behind starter Rafer Alston during his rookie season.

At the trade deadline of the 2008-09 season, Houston traded Alston to the Orlando Magic and made Brooks the starter for the rest of the season. As a second year player he had become the starting point guard on a playoff bound team, one that included often inured All-Stars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady.

Brooks’ reaction following the trade and his new role, from Joel Odom of the Oregonian,

“I was shocked,” he said. “But I’m just happy they have faith in me to go out there and be the leader of this team.”

The next season, Brooks third, he started all 82 games for the Rockets. He was second on the team in scoring and led the league in three-pointers made and attempted. It was a breakout year for him and he won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. Below is his box score from that season.

Season Age Tm Lg G FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT% TRB AST STL TOV PTS
2009-10 25 HOU NBA 82 .432 2.5 6.4 .398 .822 2.6 5.3 0.8 2.8 19.6

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/9/2015.

Brooks was only 25 at the time and his career arc seemed to be trending up. He was already one of the most prolific three point shooters in the game and his speed allowed him to get where he wanted to go as well as push the pace. It didn’t seem like 2009-10 would turn out to be his best career year and, at this point, an aberration in his career scoring average.

However, his 19.6 points per game in 2009-10 is 8.5 points higher than any other season long stretch he has put together in the NBA.

Next: What Happened?

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