Ex-Falkirk Fury star Jonny Bunyan takes over as captain at Glasgow Rocks

Former Falkirk Fury star Jonny Bunyan has been named captain of Glasgow Rocks for the basketball season ahead.
Jonny Bunyan playing for Glasgow Rocks against Falkirk Fury at Grangemouth Sports Complex in March this year. (Photo: Michael Gillen)Jonny Bunyan playing for Glasgow Rocks against Falkirk Fury at Grangemouth Sports Complex in March this year. (Photo: Michael Gillen)
Jonny Bunyan playing for Glasgow Rocks against Falkirk Fury at Grangemouth Sports Complex in March this year. (Photo: Michael Gillen)

The 27-year-old Scotland international, winner of 12 national titles with the Falkirk club, is now regarded as a British Basketball League veteran as he embarks on his 10th straight season with the pro Glaswegian side.

Jonny was always destined to be a basketball player, growing up with father John, Fury's head coach; brother Keith, a Fury player then with the Rocks as a pro for six years; and sister Kim, a player and coach with Fury.

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Jonny's winning ways started early as his Fury side won Scotland's national under-12 tournament. He then captained Fury sides to seven national and one international title at under-14 to under-18 level, and in 2010, at the age of 17, he was in Fury men's starting five with brother Keith as they won the seniors’ Scottish cup for the first time.

Jonny then gained a sport scholarship in the US at New Hampshire’s Kimball Union prep school, later attracting offers to play American college basketball. Instead, though, he opted to head back to his homeland and signed for Glasgow Rocks at the age of 19.

Still able to play also for Fury’s men’s team at that point, he led them to six national titles, but at the age of 23, that dual role ended as he settled into a key role as a Rocks point guard.

Playing for Scotland at every age group and in the Great Britain under-20 squad, Jonny was one of four former Fury players to finish fourth in the Commonwealth Games in Australia in 2018, the best-ever performance by a Scottish side.

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He told us: “I am really excited about taking on the role of captain at the Rocks. The fact that Gareth Murray, who I have a strong connection with at the Rocks and, of course, the Scotland team, is the Rocks’ coach this season, makes it a bit special.

"We are under no illusions it will be tough season for us, with, for the first time ever, no American imports on our side.

"In the limited practices we have had, I can see our new additions to the team will bring energy and we have already bonded well as a group.

"I have played under some great captains like my brother Keith at Fury and Kieron and Sterling Davies at the Rocks and will be looking to use the qualities that I have seen in them and also bring some of my own particular style.”

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His dad added: "Jonny has a great basketball brain. Tactically he reads the game well, and I know he has the ability to impart his passion and motivation to his team-mates.

"It's a well-deserved appointment as Jonny is a great professional and will look for his team to be as successful as they can be during what will be a unique season in the BBL.”

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