BIO: Mark Sanford was born in Dallas, Texas (USA), to Beverley and Richard Sanford. He is the second oldest among five siblings: Richard, Anthony, Zakirah, and Crystal. In his early years, Sanford was passionate about football, a sport he shared closely with his father, Richard, who coached him. Tragically, Sanford’s life changed dramatically in 1990 when his father was murdered. Richard Sanford passed away without ever seeing his son play basketball. At the time of his father’s death, Mark was just 14 years old, stood 5 feet 8 inches tall, and dreamed of playing in the NFL, though deep down he feared he would never escape the impoverished South Oak Cliff neighborhood in Dallas.

In the year following this profound loss, Sanford experienced a remarkable growth spurt, growing 8 inches from 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet 6 inches. He eventually stopped growing at 6 feet 10 inches. Sanford attended Dallas Carter High School, where he began playing organized basketball for the first time in the tenth grade. Remarkably, in just his first season, he earned a share of the Sophomore of the Year award alongside Maceo Baston of Spruce High School.

Midway through his junior year, Sanford transferred to Carter’s crosstown rival, Kimball High School. At Kimball, he became a dominant force on the court, leading the team to an undefeated record for the second half of his junior season while averaging impressive numbers of 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 blocks per game. Kimball’s only loss that year came in the championship game against Waco High School, concluding their outstanding season ranked sixth in the Southwest.

In 1999, during the NBA’s lockout-shortened season, Sanford chose to showcase his skills and talents with the renowned Harlem Globetrotters.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Mark Sanford made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 28 years of age. He scored four points in his first game.

The 2004/05 season was a historic one for the Sydney Kings, as they became the first team in NBL history to win three consecutive championships.

Captain Jason Smith (19.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.8 steals) was the heart and soul of the Kings, consistently stepping up in key moments and setting the tone with his relentless intensity and leadership. He was supported by a strong core, including import Mark Sanford (16.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists), who provided critical scoring both inside and out, while also contributing defensively. The Kings’ talented roster also featured Rolan Roberts (16.4 points, 9.1 rebounds), C.J. Bruton (16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.7 assists), and Ben Knight (13.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists).

Sanford delivered several standout performances during the regular season, highlighting his ability to dominate games. On November 21 against Victoria, he exploded for 28 points and 15 rebounds, showcasing his dual-threat capability. Sanford matched that scoring total again on December 29 against New Zealand, hitting an impressive 12-of-21 from the field. He continued his form with another pivotal performance against Adelaide on January 21, recording 26 points and 8 rebounds, further cementing his importance to Sydney’s success.

Twelve games into the season, rookie Luke Kendall (12.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.3 assists) suffered an ACL injury, sidelining him for the remainder of the year. Despite this setback, under the guidance of head coach Brian Goorjian, the Kings finished atop the regular season standings with a 21-11 record.

In the semifinals, Sydney swept the Brisbane Bullets, opening with a commanding 113-79 victory in Game 1, where Sanford contributed 12 points as one of seven Kings scoring in double figures. Game 2 saw another strong effort from Sanford, who provided 16 points and 5 rebounds, complementing standout performances from Smith (24 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists) and Knight (22 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists) to secure a 111-105 victory and advance to the Grand Final.

The Grand Final series saw the Kings dismantle the Illawarra Hawks in three straight games, marking one of the most dominant championship runs in league history. In Game 1 (96-73 victory), Sanford chipped in with 8 points and 3 rebounds, solidly contributing to Sydney’s frontcourt presence. Game 2 saw Sanford elevate his performance, delivering 23 points along with 2 rebounds and 2 assists, as the Kings dominated the Hawks 105-80 to move within a game of history.

Although Game 3 started close, the Kings took control in the second quarter and never looked back, winning 112-85 to complete their historic three-peat. Smith led the charge with a playoff career-high 38 points and 12 rebounds, earning Grand Final MVP honors, while Sanford provided valuable support with 15 points and 7 rebounds, giving Sydney the crucial interior presence they needed.

With their commanding 3-0 Grand Final series victory, the Kings cemented their legacy as one of the greatest teams in NBL history. Sanford’s consistent contributions throughout the season and postseason played a pivotal role, complementing the leadership and exceptional play of Jason Smith to secure Sydney’s place in the record books as the first-ever three-peat champions in league history.

Mark Sanford played one season in the NBL. He averaged 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 36 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (836 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.