James Trustum
July 23, 2020
Jordan Vandenberg
- Nationality: AUS/NED
- Date of Birth: 25/03/90
- Place of Birth: Melbourne (VIC)
- Position: CTR
- Height (CM): 216
- Weight (KG): 120
- Junior Assoc: VIC - Waverly
- College: North Carolina State (2009–2014)
- NBL DEBUT: 9/01/16
- AGE AT DEBUT: 25
- LAST NBL GAME: 13/02/16
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 25
- NBL History: Sydney 2016
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Jordan Vandenberg was born in Melbourne (VIC) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Waverly basketball program while and attending Box Hill Senior Secondary College.
He played four seasons of college basketball for North Carolina State University and he also holds a Dutch passport because of his father. Vandenberg received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2008. He spent one year there and played for the program’s state league team.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Jordan Vandenberg made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 25 years of age. He scored six points in his first game.
After finishing seventh with a 9-19 record in 2014/15, Sydney retained head coach Damian Cotter and returned 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.
Childress (21 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks across 13 games) missed Sydney’s first four games with a foot injury before returning against Adelaide on October 23 and breaking his right hand. Al Harrington (via Fujian) (17.7 points and 6.8 rebounds across 6 games) was signed as his short-term injury replacement and played six games before his stint ended as Childress prepared to return, while Jayden Hodgson (via Centre of Excellence) joined as a development player after training with Sydney during the school holidays.
With the Kings sitting last at 3-9, Cotter was released on November 28 and former Washington Wizards assistant Joe Connelly was promoted to interim head coach. Childress returned in late November but fractured his left hand two games later, leading Damion James (via Le Mans) (7 points and 7.8 rebounds across 5 games) to join as another short-term injury replacement. James appeared in five games before being taken off the roster when Childress was reactivated on December 29.
Sydney’s frontcourt was then hit when Khazzouh (13.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks across 17 games) ruptured his right quadriceps tendon against Illawarra on December 18 and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. With the Kings desperately short of size, assistant coach Ben Knight (via retirement) returned to the active roster more than four years after knee problems had ended his NBL career one appearance short of 400 games. Knight (0.5 points across 4 games) reached the milestone against New Zealand on December 27 and provided emergency cover while Sydney searched for a longer-term replacement, later being called upon for one further appearance in February when the Kings were again short-handed.
Vandenberg (via Bendigo) had spent the previous two days training with Sydney when the Kings confirmed his signing on January 7 as Khazzouh’s injury replacement for the remainder of the season. He and Craig Moller had been brought in for tryouts, with Vandenberg winning the active roster position and Moller remaining with Sydney’s training group. Vandenberg had spent 2015 playing with Bendigo after previously being signed briefly by the New York Knicks and appearing with their D-League affiliate Westchester. “He is an exciting prospect that we, as a coaching staff, feel is going to help us in the short term,” Connelly said. Markovic (3 points across 7 games) had also remained sidelined following illness and surgery to remove his tonsils, leading Indiana Faithfull (via Sydney) (2.6 points across 7 games) to be signed on the same day as his replacement after the Kings believed Markovic would struggle to regain full fitness before the end of the season.
#Work
— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) January 4, 2016
Vandenberg (3.1 points across 8 games) came from the bench in every appearance and played all eight games remaining after joining Sydney, with no injury or illness recorded during his stint. His 20 games missed all occurred before he joined the roster, while he made 10 of 16 field-goal attempts and all five of his free throws during his eight appearances.
Vandenberg’s best game came in his NBL debut against Illawarra on January 9, where Vandenberg (6 points, 1 rebound, and 2 blocks) made two of three field goals and both free throws in six minutes. Garlepp (18 points) and Brandt (17 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led Sydney, while Kirk Penney (29 points and 5 assists) led Illawarra to a 114-90 victory.
One of Vandenberg’s longer appearances came in Cairns on January 29, where Vandenberg (4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) made both field-goal attempts and played 11 minutes and 19 seconds. Cadee (21 points and 4 assists) and Garlepp (16 points and 5 rebounds) led Sydney, while Torrey Craig (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) produced the game’s defining moments with a dunk over Vandenberg and a long three-pointer late as Cairns defeated the Kings 81-76.
Cadee (14 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists across 28 games) and Garlepp (13.9 points and 4.2 rebounds across 27 games) carried increased responsibility throughout Sydney’s injury-hit season, while Thornton (12.8 points across 28 games), Brandt (8.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks across 28 games) and Carter (5.6 points across 28 games) provided the other major contributions. Garlepp was named the Kings’ Most Valuable Player, while Brandt’s development earned him an opportunity with the Australian national team.
Vandenberg matched his season-high in Sydney’s final game against Townsville on February 13, making all three field-goal attempts to finish with 6 points, 1 rebound, and 2 blocks in 9 minutes and 24 seconds. Cadee (32 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Childress (31 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks) led Sydney, while Omar Samhan (25 points and 13 rebounds) led Townsville to a 126-123 overtime victory as the Kings finished last with a 6-22 record.
Jordan Vandenberg played one season in the NBL. He averaged 3.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 8 NBL games.
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 | 26 | Sydney | 6-22 (8) | 8 | 67 | 25 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 10 | 16 | 63% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 5 | 5 | 100% | 68% | 63% | 6 | Totals | 8 | 67 | 25 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 10 | 16 | 62.5% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 5 | 5 | 100.0% | 69% | 63% | 6 |
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 | 26 | Sydney | 6-22 (8) | 8 | 8.4 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 63% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.6 | 0.6 | 100% | 68% | 63% | 6 | Total | 8 | 8.4 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 62.5% | 0.1 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 69% | 63% | 6 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- AIS (2008), Bendigo (2015), Sandringham (2016), McKinnon (2021–2025)
Vandenberg joined AIS for the 2008 SEABL season, playing 17 games for the AIS men’s team while based in Canberra. In those 17 games, he averaged 2.0 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, giving him his first senior state league minutes before leaving the AIS pathway after that season.
Vandenberg joined Bendigo for the 2015 SEABL season after signing with the Braves on 4 March 2015. He played 27 games for Bendigo and averaged 5.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, with the Braves reaching the South Conference grand final before their season ended in a 79–65 loss to Mount Gambier.
Vandenberg joined Sandringham for the 2016 SEABL season after signing with the Sabres on 29 March 2016. He became part of Sandringham’s frontcourt rotation and played 24 games, increasing his state league production to 8.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Vandenberg joined McKinnon for the 2021 Big V season, returning to Victorian state league basketball with the Cougars. That season was later abandoned mid-season, but his move began a longer McKinnon stint in the Big V Championship Men competition.
Vandenberg re-signed with McKinnon for the 2022 Big V season, continuing as a senior interior player for the Cougars. His return kept him with the club into the next phase of its Championship Men run.
Vandenberg remained with McKinnon for the 2023 Big V season and helped the Cougars win the Big V Championship Men title. McKinnon defeated Hume City 90–74 in the grand final, giving Vandenberg the first of his two Big V championships with the club.
Vandenberg returned to McKinnon for the 2024 Big V season and was again part of a Cougars team that reached the Championship Men grand final. McKinnon finished runner-up after an 80–79 loss to Wyndham in the title game.
Vandenberg continued with McKinnon for the 2025 Big V season and was part of the Cougars’ second championship team in three years. McKinnon defeated Hume City 87–81 in the grand final, giving Vandenberg his second Big V championship with the club.
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Represented Australia at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament whilst playing with the AIS.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Japan - Nishinomiya Storks (2016–2018), Kumamoto Volters (2018) | New Zealand - Southern (2019)
Vandenberg joined the Nishinomiya Storks for the 2016–17 B.League season, starting his first professional stint in Japan and averaging 9.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.6 blocks across 53 games.
Vandenberg returned to Nishinomiya for the 2017–18 season before joining the Kumamoto Volters in January 2018 on a mid-season move within Japan’s B.League structure.
Vandenberg joined the Southern Huskies for the 2019 New Zealand NBL season, playing his first season in New Zealand with a team based in Tasmania but competing in the NZNBL, and he averaged 5.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 0.4 assists across 18 games.
During that 2019 NZNBL season with Southern, he averaged 15.0 minutes per game and shot 54.4% from the field and 77.3% from the free-throw line, while adding 0.7 blocks per game, and he was used alongside teammates Craig Moller, Thomas Bragg, and Greg Jones in the Huskies frontcourt rotation.
COLLEGE
Vandenberg played college basketball at North Carolina State beginning in the 2009-10 season, when the program finished 20-16 under head coach Sidney Lowe.
In that 2009-10 season, Vandenberg appeared in 23 games and made 1 start, totaling 23 points (1.0 points per game) while shooting 9-for-28 from the field (32.1%) and 5-for-9 at the free throw line (55.6%).
Across those 23 games as a freshman, he logged 173 minutes (7.5 per game) and recorded 42 total rebounds (1.8 per game), with 11 offensive rebounds and 31 defensive rebounds, along with 0 assists, 6 turnovers, 18 blocks, 5 steals, and 25 personal fouls.
During that 2009-10 campaign, he earned his first career start at Arizona on Dec. 23 and pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds, he blocked three shots in seven minutes in a win over New Orleans on Nov. 29, he played 14 minutes at Florida State on Jan. 12 with four rebounds and two blocks, and he missed the UNC Greensboro game on Dec. 31 with an ankle sprain.
Vandenberg returned for the 2010-11 season as NC State went 15-16 under Lowe, and he again played 23 games with 1 start, totaling 36 points (1.6 per game) on 15-for-23 shooting from the floor (65.2%) and 6-for-11 free throws (54.5%).
In 2010-11, he logged 223 minutes (9.7 per game) and produced 40 rebounds (1.7 per game), including 16 offensive rebounds and 24 defensive rebounds, plus 1 assist, 5 turnovers, 10 blocks, 2 steals, and 37 personal fouls.
His season included a career-high eight points against Georgia Tech on Feb. 26, highlighted by four dunks, and that same game recap noted he had scored just four points across NC State’s prior 17 games; he also started the season’s final game against Maryland in the ACC Tournament after being scoreless in the 16 games before his late-season stretch, and he logged a 15-minute bench stint against North Carolina on Jan. 23 as his role expanded when injuries created frontcourt minutes.
In 2011-12, his junior year became a medical-redshirt season after a shoulder injury limited him to seven games, and NC State went 24-13 under first-year head coach Mark Gottfried.
Across those seven appearances in 2011-12, Vandenberg started 1 game and totaled 14 points (2.0 per game) while shooting 7-for-8 from the field (87.5%) and 0-for-1 at the free throw line, adding 19 rebounds (2.7 per game) with 7 offensive rebounds and 12 defensive rebounds in 83 minutes (11.9 per game), alongside 0 assists, 6 turnovers, 4 blocks, 5 steals, and 14 personal fouls.
In that shortened 2011-12 run, he started the season opener against UNC Asheville on Nov. 11, matched his career high with three blocks against Morehead State on Nov. 13, posted a season high of six points with a season-best five rebounds versus Princeton on Nov. 16, and later played 10 minutes against Syracuse on Dec. 17 before his season ended.
Vandenberg was back in 2012-13 as a redshirt junior, when NC State finished 24-11 under Gottfried, and he played 23 games with 1 start, totaling 17 points (0.7 per game) on 8-for-16 shooting (50.0%) with 1-for-4 free throws (25.0%).
In 2012-13, he logged 124 minutes (5.4 per game) and collected 16 rebounds (0.7 per game), with 6 offensive rebounds and 10 defensive rebounds, plus 1 assist, 6 turnovers, 9 blocks, 4 steals, and 25 personal fouls.
His 2012-13 season details included 12 minutes against St. Bonaventure on Dec. 22, a season-high six points in 14 minutes at Wake Forest on Jan. 22, his lone start coming against No. 14 Miami on Feb. 2, and a one-point, two-offensive-rebound night at Florida State on March 9.
As a 2013-14 redshirt senior, Vandenberg became a full-time starter for NC State’s 22-14 team under Gottfried, starting all 32 games he played while averaging 22.1 minutes per game (707 total minutes).
In 2013-14, he totaled 148 points (4.6 per game) while shooting 68-for-100 from the field (68.0%) and 12-for-23 at the free throw line (52.2%), and he added 149 rebounds (4.7 per game) with 56 offensive rebounds and 93 defensive rebounds, plus 31 assists, 19 turnovers, 45 blocks, 9 steals, and 103 personal fouls.
That 2013-14 season opened with him missing the first four games after a high ankle sprain suffered in the first half of an Oct. 30 exhibition against UNC Pembroke, before he debuted versus Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 26 with seven points and 10 rebounds.
He followed with 14 points and six dunks against Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 30, recorded a career-high five blocks against Northwestern on Dec. 4, and set a new career scoring high with 18 points and seven dunks against East Carolina on Dec. 21.
In ACC play and postseason action in 2013-14, he had 10 points and seven rebounds at Wake Forest on Jan. 15, scored 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting in the ACC Tournament against Syracuse on March 14, and posted nine points with four blocks in the NCAA Tournament First Round win over Xavier on March 18, finishing the year as NC State’s team blocks leader and eighth in the ACC in blocks at 1.41 per game.
Across his NC State career from 2009-10 through 2013-14 (with the 2011-12 medical-redshirt season still counting as an appearance year), Vandenberg played 108 games with 36 starts, totaling 238 points, 266 rebounds, and 86 blocks while finishing with a career-best usage as a senior when he started 32 straight games and led the team in shot-blocking.
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