James Trustum
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 1/01/94
- Place of Birth: Sydney (NSW)
- Position: G/F
- Height (CM): 193
- Weight (KG): 87
- Junior Assoc:
- College: None
NBL CAREER OVERVIEW
TEAM HISTORY
3 seasons | 1 team- 2014-16SK
Sydney Kings3 seasons
CHAMPIONSHIPS
NoneBIO: James Trustum was born in Sydney (NSW)
NBL EXPERIENCE
James Trustum made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 19 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.
Trustum joined the Kings as a development player in 2013. His first season with the team he appeared in only two games, failing to score a point.while the Kings finished in sixth place (12-16).
2014/15
In 2014/15, Trustum appeared in five games but again, failed to score a point. Sydney would finish in seventh place (9-19).
2015/16
After finishing seventh with a 9-19 record in 2014/15, Sydney retained head coach Damian Cotter and Josh Childress, Jason Cadee, Tom Garlepp and reigning Rookie of the Year Angus Brandt. Cody Ellis (to Illawarra), Kevin White (to Illawarra), Ben Madgen (to Belgium), Kendrick Perry, Josh Duinker and Daniel Joyce departed, while Julian Khazzouh (via Lebanon), Steven Markovic (via Townsville), Rhys Carter (via New Zealand), Jeromie Hill (via UTSA), Marcus Thornton (via William & Mary) and Dion Prewster (via Wellington) were added. The returning development forward had originally joined Sydney’s development-player ranks in 2013 and entered his third season with the Kings.
Trustum (0 points) made his only appearance of the season in Sydney’s opening game against Cairns at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on October 10, playing the final 48 seconds without attempting a shot as the Kings won 87-63. Khazzouh (22 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, and 5 blocks) and Cadee (19 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals) led Sydney, while Mark Worthington (13 points) was Cairns’ leading scorer.
Trustum (0 points across 1 game) remained at the end of Sydney’s rotation for the remainder of the season. There was no reported injury behind his limited playing time, with his lone appearance instead reflecting his development-player role and the Kings relying on their contracted rotation when available.
Sydney’s roster changed repeatedly as injuries mounted. Childress (21 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks across 13 games) broke his right hand shortly after returning from an early-season foot injury, leading Al Harrington (via Fujian) to join as a short-term injury replacement before departing when Childress returned. Childress then fractured his left hand and Damion James (via Le Mans) replaced him until he was reactivated on December 29. Khazzouh (13.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks across 17 games) ruptured his right quadriceps tendon in December, leading assistant coach Ben Knight (via retirement) to return as emergency cover before Jordan Vandenberg (via Westchester) was signed for the remainder of the season. Markovic’s illness and subsequent tonsil surgery also led Indiana Faithfull to be added as his replacement, while Cotter was released in November and assistant Joe Connelly took over as interim head coach.
Cadee (14 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists across 28 games), Garlepp (13.9 points and 4.2 rebounds across 27 games), Thornton (12.8 points across 28 games) and Brandt (8.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks across 28 games) carried most of Sydney’s workload through the injury-hit season, with Garlepp named the Kings’ Most Valuable Player.
Trustum remained outside the rotation as Sydney finished its season in Townsville on February 13, where Cadee (32 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Childress (31 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks) led the Kings, while Omar Samhan (25 points and 13 rebounds) led Townsville to a 126-123 overtime victory, leaving Sydney last with a 6-22 record.
James Trustum played three seasons with the Sydney Kings.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 22 | Sydney | 6-22 (8) | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | #DIV/0! | 0 | ||
| 2014-15 | 21 | Sydney | 9-19 (7) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | ||
| 2013-14 | 20 | Sydney | 12-16 (5) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | Totals | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 22 | Sydney | 6-22 (8) | 2 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | #DIV/0! | 0 | ||
| 2014-15 | 21 | Sydney | 9-19 (7) | 2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0 | ||
| 2013-14 | 20 | Sydney | 12-16 (5) | 2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0 | Total | 6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Central Coast (2015, 2017–2024), Brisbane (2016)
Trustum joined Central Coast for the 2015 Waratah League season, with the Sydney-born guard-forward returning to the Crusaders pathway after time with the Sydney Kings. Born on 1 January 1994, he was part of the Central Coast men’s group that opened the 2015 Waratah Basketball season strongly, reaching double figures in a 38-point win over Hills as the Crusaders recorded their second victory of the campaign.
Trustum joined Brisbane for the 2016 SEABL season after his Sydney Kings stint, moving north to play under former King CJ Bruton. The move placed him in the SEABL system for the 2016 season before he returned to Central Coast the following year.
Trustum rejoined Central Coast for the 2017 Waratah League season, returning to the Crusaders as part of the club’s Championship Men group under coach Ian Robilliard. Central Coast entered the season with added roster depth and opened with two double-header rounds, with Trustum returning as one of the club’s senior perimeter options.
Trustum continued with Central Coast for the 2018 Waratah League season, giving the Crusaders outside scoring, wing defence and senior leadership in the Championship Men division. By mid-season he was used alongside Callum Jenkins and Mitch Rueter as one of the key offensive options, while Central Coast pushed toward the top six. In the final stretch, the Crusaders carried a 9–10 record into a decisive Round 19 game against Newcastle, with Trustum assigned a major defensive role against Austin Thornton as Central Coast chased the final playoff position.
Trustum remained with Central Coast for the 2019 Waratah League season, continuing his second stint with the Crusaders in the NSW state competition. His role stayed centred on wing scoring, defensive matchups and veteran minutes within the club’s senior men’s team.
Trustum continued with Central Coast for the 2020 Waratah League season, preserving the 2017–20 run provided in his state league record. The season kept him attached to the Crusaders before the club moved into later Waratah League and NBL1 East competition years.
Trustum stayed with Central Coast for the 2021 Waratah League season and produced several major scoring games for the Crusaders’ Open Men. He scored 25 points and added 13 rebounds against Hills for his first double-double of the season, then had 14 points as the team’s leading scorer in a 77–59 loss to Sutherland. Later in the season he scored 21 points in a 111–81 road win over Hornsby, then led Central Coast with 28 points in a 107–68 win over Penrith as the Crusaders kept their postseason hopes alive.
Trustum joined Central Coast for the 2022 NBL1 East season, moving with the Crusaders into the NBL1 East competition. He was named on the men’s roster with Luke Cassidy, Jacob Cracknell, Oliver Robilliard, Callum Jenkins, William Bates, Jamal Shoaib, Oliver Hedger, Nicholas Wooller, Eli Taylor, Tye McGann and Hamish Loader under coach William Granger. Trustum averaged 16.70 points, 7.05 rebounds, 1.65 assists, 1.10 steals and 0.45 blocks, ranking second on the team in scoring and rebounding, third in assists, third in blocks and third in steals. During the season he scored 12 points against Illawarra in Round 14 and followed with 14 points in a 72–59 win over Newcastle in Round 15.
Trustum returned to Central Coast for the 2023 NBL1 East season and served as captain of the Crusaders’ NBL1 Men’s team. The club described him as a home-grown Central Coast player and a long-term senior figure within the group, with his role again built around wing scoring, size and experience.
Trustum remained with Central Coast for the 2024 NBL1 East season as part of a roster that included Luke Cassidy, Ben Stevens, Robbie Heath, Will Bates, Tom Akamarmoi, Chan Nai, Tye McGann, Seth Chapman, Evan Wardlow, Alex Bailey, Cooper Harris, Dylan Tea, Hayden Ellis, Jamal Shoaib and Kieran Osborn. Central Coast entered the season after finishing 12th at 6–16 in 2023, with Trustum continuing as one of the senior returning players.
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