Born in Brisbane, educated at Anglican Church Grammar School in East Brisbane, and raised as a Brisbane Bullets supporter, Jarred Bairstow is set to represent Australia at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games after being named in the men’s 3×3 basketball squad.
The 33-year-old forward is one of four players selected in the Australian Gangurrus men’s team that will compete in Scotland from 24 to 29 July. His selection marks another milestone in a basketball career that began in Brisbane and has taken him across Australia and overseas.
From Churchie courts to the national stage
During Bairstow’s school years, he developed a love for basketball while following the Brisbane Bullets in the National Basketball League (NBL). His connection to the game also runs deep through his family.
Bairstow is part of one of Australia’s best-known basketball families. His brother, Cameron Bairstow, played in the NBA and represented Australia internationally, while his sister Stephanie and brother Sean have also competed at high levels of the sport.
After finishing school, Bairstow continued his basketball journey in the United States, playing college basketball at the University of Central Oklahoma between 2013 and 2016. The experience helped him develop his game before returning to Australia to pursue a professional career.
Building a career across the NBL
Since returning home, Bairstow has become a respected figure in Australian basketball. He has spent time with several NBL clubs, including the Brisbane Bullets, Perth Wildcats and Tasmania JackJumpers.
His first stint with the Bullets carried special meaning given the club’s role in inspiring him as a young fan. Over the years, he earned a reputation as a hard-working and dependable player who could contribute in a range of roles.
One of the highlights of his professional career came with the Tasmania JackJumpers, where he was part of the team’s championship-winning campaign in 2024. The title added to a growing list of achievements for a player who has spent much of his career helping teams succeed through consistency and experience.
Away from basketball, Bairstow has also balanced his sporting career with work as a medical engineer, making his pathway different from many full-time professional athletes.
Commonwealth Games opportunity in Glasgow
Bairstow’s latest challenge comes in the fast-paced format of 3×3 basketball, which has grown rapidly on the international stage in recent years.
Basketball Australia recently confirmed that Bairstow will join Jesse Wagstaff, Jonah Antonio and Sam McDaniel in the men’s Gangurrus squad for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The team will compete against leading Commonwealth nations during the six-day tournament, with medal matches scheduled for 29 July.
Basketball Australia Chief Executive Officer Matt Scriven said the selected squads reflected the depth of talent within Australian basketball and highlighted the strength of the country’s elite programs. Commonwealth Games Australia Chef de Mission Petria Thomas also pointed to the mix of experience and emerging talent across the teams heading to Scotland.
From supporting the Bullets as a schoolboy at Churchie to representing Australia on the Commonwealth Games stage, Bairstow’s journey remains firmly connected to the city where it all began.
Published 19-June-2026
