Andrew Svaldenis joins the podcast to reflect on a 13-year NBL career that took him from Bankstown to Sydney, Hobart, Adelaide, and Geelong—appearing in 299 games and carving out a legacy as one of the league’s most consistent frontcourt battlers across the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Svaldenis opens up about debuting as a teenager under Robbie Cadee, his breakout years in Hobart under Cal Bruton, and what it was like to be part of the original Sydney Kings merger that helped change the face of basketball in the city.
We also dig into some of his biggest games, toughest matchups, and the evolution of the NBL through the lens of a blue-collar big man who saw it all—guarding elite imports, backing up All-Stars, and earning his spot as a reliable presence in the paint.
From early years at the Supersonics to reaching the 1994 Grand Final with the 36ers and closing out his career in Geelong, this episode captures Svaldenis’ journey through multiple eras, coaching philosophies, and changing styles of play.
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From the Bankstown Bruins to the Geelong Supercats, from teenage rookie to Grand Final contender—this episode captures the full arc of Andrew Svaldenis’ NBL journey.
🏀 Surviving the chaos of Bankstown’s final seasons and what came next (7:00)
🏀 The Supersonics to Kings transition—and the arrival of Ken Cole (13:00)
🏀 Guarding imports, backing up Ridlen and Polk, and his best Supersonics games (20:00)
🏀 Becoming a starter in Hobart and hitting career-best numbers in ’92 and ’93 (27:00)
🏀 Life under Cal Bruton and later with a young Devils squad led by Whiteside and Stewart (32:00)
🏀 The 1994 Grand Final run with Adelaide—and what made Mike Dunlap so different (38:00)
🏀 Closing out his career with Geelong (44:00)
🏀 How he reflects on his career, biggest lessons, and what he’s up to now (51:00)