UC Irvine Anteater legend Scott Brooks to have number retired Nov. 30 at Bren Center

Scott Brooks is introduced to fans at the Bren Center while playing for the Anteaters. (Photo courtesy UCI Athletic Media Comunications)

UC Irvine will retire Scott Brooks’ No. 12 jersey during the Saturday, Nov. 30 men’s basketball game against Eastern Michigan at the Bren Events Center.

Brooks, the former coach of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, is the coach of the Washington Wizards and leads his team into its opener this week against the Dallas Mavericks.

“We are proud to retire Scott’s number,” Director of Athletics Paula Smith said. His exemplary playing career at UCI and in the NBA as well as his involvement and support of UCI Athletics is deserving of this special honor.”

Brooks’ No. 12 will be only the second jersey retired in men’s basketball history, following Kevin Magee, who had his No. 44 retired in 1995. It is also the third number across all athletic programs, joining baseball head coach Mike Gillespie’s No. 19 which was retired in 2018.

“I’d like to first thank Chancellor Gillman for his continued support of Athletics and Paula Smith for her leadership,” Brooks said. “I’m humbled and honored with this recognition. UCI holds a special place in my heart. I am grateful to Coach (Bill) Mulligan and my teammates whom I share this honor with. It is a privilege to be joining Kevin and Mike with this special distinction.”

Brooks transferred to UCI in 1985 and quickly made an impact, playing in all 30 games and averaging 10.3 points, while recording 95 assists and 57 steals for the Anteaters, who advanced to the 1986 NIT Tournament and defeated UCLA in the first round at Pauley Pavilion. 

As a senior in 1986-87, Brooks led the West Coast in scoring with an average of 23.8 points per game and was second in the nation in three-point field goals made per game with a 4.0 average.  He also led UCI with a then school-record 66 steals and was named first team All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association, All-District and honorable mention All-American. 

He scored 20 or more points in 18 games in the 1986-87 season and on the night that the Bren Events Center opened, Brooks scored 43 points as UCI defeated Utah State, 118-96, Jan. 8, 1987. 

He still holds the Anteater records for season (.886) and career free-throw percentage (.859) as well as the UCI record for points in a half with 29 in that opening night win over Utah State.  The guard also ranks sixth in career steals (123) and 11^th in three-pointers made (142) in 56 games.

After playing on a CBA-championship team at Albany (N.Y.), Brooks went on to play 12 seasons in the NBA and in 1994, he earned a NBA-championship ring with the Houston Rockets.  He was on the rosters of seven NBA teams: Philadelphia, Minnesota, Houston, Dallas, New York Knicks, Cleveland and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Following his playing career, he served as an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings and Oklahoma City before being named the OKC head coach in 2008. He guided the Thunder to the NBA Finals in 2012.

He was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2010 and has been the head coach of two all-star games (2012, 2014).

In 2016, Brooks became the head coach of the Washington Wizards.

Brooks, who was inducted in to the UCI Hall of Fame in 2001, returns each fall to host the Scott Brooks Golf Invitational.

—Courtesy UCI Athletic Media Communications