#30 Brandon Bass Season 2022-23
ALL-CENTURY TEAM MEMBER
Although he only spent two years in a Tiger uniform, Brandon Bass made quite the impression at the LSU and within the SEC. The first of the Tigers’ three-straight SEC Freshmen of the Year in 2004, Bass led all conference freshmen in scoring and rebounding as he averaged 12.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He also shot 50.4 percent from the field and 78.3 percent from the free-throw line while logging nearly 35 minutes per game in his first year at LSU.
His sophomore season held even more great things in store for both Bass and LSU as he was named SEC Player of the Year in 2005, the first LSU player to win the award since Shaquille O-Neal in 1992. Bass led the Tigers to a SEC Western Division Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament and was named to the All-SEC Tournament team. LSU finished the year with a record of 20-10, 12-4 in SEC play. For the season, Bass averaged 17.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game while shooting 56.7 percent from the floor and an outstanding 77.7 percent from the free-throw line.
He had the most memorable game of his career against Ohio State on January 15, 2005, playing all 45 minutes of the overtime contest and scoring 29 points to lead the way to an LSU victory over the Buckeyes, 113-101.
Bass started all 59 games in his LSU career and posted averages of 15.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a Tiger. He entered the NBA Draft after his sophomore season in 2005 and was selected in the second round by the New Orleans Hornets. After two years in New Orleans, Bass traveled west to join the Dallas Mavericks where he currently plays. He has career averages of 6.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
2005 AP Honorable Mention All-America
2005 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year
2005 Southeastern Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year
2005 Dick Vitale All-SEC Team, 2005
2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District team, presented by CoSIDA
2005 SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll
2005 NABC All-District 8 First Team
2005 USBWA All-District First Team
2005 Basketball Times All-South First Team
2005 SEC All-Tournament Team
2005 First Team All-Louisiana
2005 Louisiana Player of the Year
2004-05 Naismith Award Pre-season candidate
LSU Louisiana Classic MVP (11/21/04)
SEC, Louisiana Sports Writers Association Player of the Week (1/31, 2/21)
Sporting News Player of the Week (2/21)
2004 SEC Freshman of the Year
Collegeinsider.com All-Freshman team
2004 Second Team Freshman All-America (rivals.com)
2004 Dick Vitale SEC Diaper Dandy
2004 Second Team All-District, NABC
2004 First Team All-Louisiana
2004 Freshman SEC Academic Honor Roll
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2004-05)
Named the league’s top player by the league coaches as well as the selecting media for Associated Press … Became the first LSU player to win the player of the year since the four-year run of Chris Jackson (1989, 1990) and Shaquille O’Neal (1991, 1992) … Bass was also named the scholar-athlete of the year by the league coaches and an honorable mention All-American selection by the AP … Bass averaged 17.3 points per game and 9.1 rebounds a contest, while shooting 56.7 percent from the floor (including 12-of-26 from three-point range) … He again was stellar from the free throw line, averaging 77.7 percent (146-of-188), with 48 blocks, while averaging 33.6 minutes per game … One of four players to start all 30 games this season for LSU … Bass twice earned SEC and LSWA player of the week honors … The first came Jan. 31 after double-doubles against Ole Miss (14 pts, 11 rebounds, 5 blocks) and Mississippi State (26 points, 11 rebounds, 5 blocks) … His second honor came after games at Mississippi State (2/16) when he had 21 points and a career high 17 rebounds and then against Florida (2/19) hit 8-of-10 field goals in a 27-point performance, the third time in the season he had back-to-back 20-plus point games … Bass had 12 double-doubles for the season, 19 for his first two years at LSU … Included in that was a 16 point, 13 rebound performance against Kentucky (3-12) in the SEC Tournament which included an 18-footer at the buzzer to force overtime that helped earn him All-SEC Tournament honors … His 25 points against Boise (3/17) gave him 12 games of 20 or more this season, 14 for his career … Bass finished third in the SEC in scoring, second in rebounding, first in field goal percentage, ninth in free throw percentage, and tied for fourth in blocked shot percentage … Bass becomes the first LSU player to win the SEC field goal percentage title since Stromile Swift in 2000 … In conference games, Bass’ average of 16.9 points per game ranked fourth in the league, while his rebound average of 8.6 ranked fourth as well … He was second in the league in field goal percentage (53.0 percent), and second in blocked shot average (1.75) … Bass’ best scoring game came in the second game of the year, 30 points against UL-Lafayette to win the MVP honors of the LSU Louisiana Classic (11/21) … In the game, Bass was 11-of-12 from the field and eight-of-eight from the free throw line … Bass reached the 100 career block mark against Ole Miss (3/2) and is third on the all-time block list at LSU with 104.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2003-04)
Voted SEC Freshman of the Year by the league coaches, the first for an LSU athlete since Torris Bright in 2000 … Started all 29 games, playing more than 1,000 minutes (1,013 — 34.9 average) … Averaged 12.8 points, 7.4 rebounds a game, along with 1.9 blocks, while averaging 50.4 percent from the field and 78.3 percent from the free-throw line … Leading freshman scorer and rebounder in the SEC … 20th overall in scoring and seventh in the league in rebounding .. Eighth in free throw percentage … Second in blocked shots .. Sixth in rebounding (6.8) in league games, sixth in free throw percentage (.788) and second in blocks (1.93) … Had two 20-point games … 22 vs. UAB in the Nokia Sugar Bowl Classic (12-27), including 10-of-10 at the line and 20 at Arkansas in his SEC debut … 22 games scoring in double figures … In the five games to end the season after team scoring leader Jaime Lloreda left the team, Bass scored in double figures in all five games, including two double doubles, making 22-of-37 field goal attempts (59.4 percent) … Seven double-doubles on the season … Shot better than 50 percent from the field in 18 of 29 games.
PRIOR TO LSU
Played forward for Coach Alvin Stewart of Capitol with the school winning two district championships … He was District Most Valuable Player in Class 4A in both 2002 and 2003 … He was named a McDonald’s All-American, a Parade All-American and an Adidas All-American … All-State as both a junior and senior … He was also the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Louisiana in 2003 and was named to The Advocate’s All-Metro team for two seasons … Averaged 19 points, 14 rebounds and three assists per game in his senior season and 18 points and 13 rebounds as a junior … Also played in two prestigious all-star games, scoring 14 points in the McDonald’s All-Star game and 16 points and nine rebounds in the EA Sports Roundball Classic in Chicago.
PERSONAL
Born on April 30, 1985 … Full name is Brandon Sam Bass … Mom is Estelle Bass … One younger brother, Christopher, and one sister, Dashia … Nickname of “B Bass” … Favorite food is red beans and rice … Undecided on a major … Favorite NBA team is the Los Angeles Lakers … Likes to watch TV in relax.
BASS’ CAREER TOTALS
Year
G/GS
Min.
FG/FGA
FG%
3FG/FGA
3FG%
FT/FTA
Pct.
Reb-Avg.
PF/D
A
TO
BLK
STL
PTS-AVG
2003-04
29-29
1013
121-240
.504
5-19
.263
123-157
.783
214-7.4
59-0
17
55
56
21
370-12.8
2004-05
30-30
1007
181-319
.567
12-26
.462
146-188
.777
272-9.1
73-1
25
54
48
24
520-17.3
Totals
59-59
2020
302-559
.540
17-45
.378
269-345
.780
486-8.2
132-1
42
109
104
45
890-15.1
Bass’ Top 10 Scoring Games
1. 30 — vs. UL Lafayette, 11-21-04
2. 29 — vs. Ohio State, 1-15-05
3. 27 — vs. Florida, 2-19-05
3. 27 — vs. McNeese State, 12-13-04
5. 26 — vs. Miss. State, 1-29-05
6. 25 — vs. UAB, 3-17-05 (NCAAT.)
7. 22 — at Auburn, 2-26-05
7. 22 — at Houston, 12-21-04
7. 22 — vs. Northwestern St., 12-11-04
7. 22 — vs. UAB, 12-27-03
Career Highs
Points — 30, vs. UL Lafayette, 11-21-04
Rebounds — 17, at Miss. State, 2-16-05
Field Goals Made — 12, vs. Ohio State, 1-15-05
Field Goals Att. — 22, vs. Ohio State, 1-15-05
3 PT FG Made — 3, at Utah, 1-3-05
3 PT FG Att. — 3, twice
Free Throws Made — 10, three times
Free Throws Att. — 14, at Arkansas, 2-12-05
Assists — 4, vs. Southern Miss, 12-18-04
Blocks — 6, twice
Steals — 3, vs. Vanderbilt, 3-5-05
Minutes Played — 45, vs. Ohio State, 1-15-05