Andrew Svaldenis on early Sydney Kings memories, the role of the Enforcer during the ‘80s, and the final NBL seasons for Hobart & Geelong
June 17, 2025
Ken Cole
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth:
- Place of Birth: Sydney (NSW)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 204
- Weight (KG): 88
- Junior Assoc:
- College: None
- NBL DEBUT: 10/02/84
- AGE AT DEBUT: 0
- LAST NBL GAME: 16/06/84
- NBL History: West Adelaide 1984
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Ken Cole was born in Sydney (NSW)
NBL EXPERIENCE
Ken Cole made his NBL debut with the West Adelaide Bearcats on 10/2/1984. He scored four points in his first game.
Cole, who had been named West Adelaide’s head coach in 1983 was summoned back onto the court in 1984 as injuries decimated the Bearcats roster. At 40 years of age, Cole stepped back onto the court in rond two to play 20 minutes off the bench and helped the squad score a 103-93 victory in front of 700 disappointed Perth fans.
His best game of the season came during a 92-113 loss to Illawarra where he notched up 12 points (3/8 from downtown). The same game saw Mike Parsons drop a career high 40 points.
Cole played 10 games and averaged 2.0 points per game as a player/coach, even notching up The team struggled for success however, finishing with a 11-13 record (tenth position). The following season the Bearcats would fold and its players, including Ken Cole would merge with the Adelaide 36ers.
Ken Cole played one season in the NBL. He averaged 2 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 0 | West Adelaide | 11-13 (10) | 10 | 0 | 20 | 12 | 16 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 30 | 23% | 3 | 13 | 23% | 3 | 7 | 43% | 30% | 28% | 12 | Totals | 10 | 0 | 20 | 12 | 16 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 30 | 23.3% | 3 | 13 | 23.1% | 3 | 7 | 42.9% | 30% | 28% | 12 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 0 | West Adelaide | 11-13 (10) | 10 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 23% | 0.3 | 1.3 | 23% | 0.3 | 0.7 | 43% | 30% | 28% | 12 | Total | 10 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 23.3% | 0.0 | 23.1% | 0.3 | 1.3 | 42.9% | 30% | 28% | 12 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 12 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
|---|
FIBA EXPERIENCE
As a player, he competed in the mens tournament at the 1964 Olympics with the Australia national basketball team.
FIBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 127 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 35 | 46 | 76.1% |
| 1964 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 14 | 47 | 29.8% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 6 | 12 | 50.0% | Total | 17 | 0 | 161 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 14 | 47 | 30% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 41 | 58 | 71% |
FIBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0 | 8 | 0.0 | 15.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 4.4 | 5.8 | 76.1% |
| 1964 | 0 | 9 | 0.0 | 3.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 5.2 | 29.8% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 0.7 | 1.3 | 50.0% | Total | 17 | 0.0 | 9.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 30% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 2.4 | 3.4 | 71% |
LIFE AFTER BASKETBALL
Ken Cole died peacefully on March 15, 2026, aged 82, after battling cancer for more than a decade. Born in Sydney on October 15, 1943, he was survived by his wife Pauline and his children Kimberley, Kelly and Julian. A member of both the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame and the Adelaide 36ers Hall of Fame, Cole remained closely connected to the 36ers until the end and had continued attending games as the club’s number one ticket holder during the 2025-26 season.
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