BIO: Vodanovich was born in Wellington and attended St Patrick’s College. In 2012, he made his debut in the New Zealand NBL when he played 37 seconds for the Wellington Saints against the Southland Sharks on 22 March.

In January 2013, Vodanovich moved to the United States to attend prep school at SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio. He played for the basketball programme through to the spring break and averaged 18.5 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks per game.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Tom Vodanovich made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 24 years of age. He scored three points in his first game.

In 2018, a new era began for the New Zealand Breakers. In February, a consortium led by former NBA player Matt Walsh became the majority shareholders through a newly formed company called Breakers Basketball Ltd, ending the 13-year ownership of Liz and Paul Blackwell.

Following this change in ownership, the team experienced the departure of four of its most long-serving figures during the off-season. Paul Henare’s 15-year tenure as player and coach came to an end, New Zealand’s all-time leading scorer Kirk Penney retired, and Alex Pledger (to Melbourne), Mika Vukona (to Brisbane), and young talent Rob Loe (to Cairns) all signed with other teams.

Thomas Abercrombie stepped into the role of captain following Vukona’s exit, and former player Kevin Braswell was appointed as the team’s new head coach. Braswell was tasked with rebuilding the Breakers’ roster, which included bringing back Tai Wesley (via Melbourne) and Tall Blacks star Corey Webster (from Europe) on a three-year deal. Jarrad Weeks (via Cairns) and Majok Majok (via Melbourne) were added to finalize the local roster, while Patrick Richard, Armani Moore, and Shawn Long were signed as import players.

In August 2018, Tom Vodanovich joined the New Zealand Breakers as a development player for the 2018/19 NBL season. He appeared in only one game during his debut season, playing against Cairns on November 18, 2018. Although he did not record any stats in that game, his presence in training and dedication contributed to the overall development of the squad.

In January, the Breakers (8–12) fell to the bottom of the ladder following three consecutive losses, including one to last-placed Cairns. Despite efforts to regain form, the Breakers ended their season with a 12–16 record, finishing in sixth place and missing the playoffs.

2019/20
In July 2019, Vodanovich signed a one-year deal with the Breakers, joining the full-time squad for the 2019/20 NBL season. He appeared in 23 games, averaging 2.0 points and 1.2 rebounds per game. The Breakers finished the season in sixth place with a 15–13 record.

SYDNEY KINGS
2020/21
The Sydney Kings faced a major roster overhaul after finishing runners-up to Perth in the COVID-induced conclusion to the 2020 Grand Final. The team sought to recover from the loss of All-NBL First Team forward Jae’Sean Tate and head coach Will Weaver, who both signed contracts with the NBA’s Houston Rockets. Veterans Kevin Lisch, Andrew Bogut, and Lucas Walker all retired. Kings assistant Adam Forde took over as head coach after being with the organization since 2019. He replaced the outgoing talent with import Jarell Martin, Angus Glover (via Illawarra), and rookie Dejan Vasiljevic (from the University of Miami).

During the preseason, Sydney lost promising forward Xavier Cooks to a foot injury and signed Tom Vodanovich (via New Zealand) as an injury replacement just before their opening game. The team’s injury woes continued when Angus Glover tore his ACL, causing him to miss all but two games of the season.

As the season kicked off, the Kings relied on their young core to step up in the absence of key veterans, struggling early as a result. Losing three of their first four games, the team sat at the bottom of the ladder in seventh place. Mid-season, the league decided to move all teams to Melbourne for an in-season tournament (NBL Cup) to avoid COVID-related travel issues. It was during this period that Sydney began to find form, going 4–4 in the Cup, and then, once the tournament was over, consecutive home wins saw Sydney reach the top four by Round 12.

Co-captain Casper Ware (17.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists) and Jarell Martin (17.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists) became the focal points on offense. Martin’s best game came against New Zealand, where he finished with 29 points.

Dejan Vasiljevic (15.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) and Jordan Hunter (9.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks) both became major parts of the King’s core rotation, Hunter finishing runner-up in the voting for the Most Improved Player award and Vasiljevic being selected as Rookie of the Year. Xavier Cooks (10.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 blocks) also showed what type of impact he could have during the King’s back end of the season win the league, producing a career high 19 points and 11 rebounds against the Hawks in Round 21.

The Kings’ limitations this season were primarily their perimeter shooting, where they were equal worst in three-point percentage (tied with Illawarra with 33.4%) and inability to win on the road, where they lost 50% of their games away from home. With four rounds to go, Sydney was firmly entrenched inside the top four but a stretch of five losses in seven games that included two by over 20 points ultimately saw them fall short. Sydney ended the season on a three-game winning streak but would finish in fifth place (19-17) and fail to qualify for the playoffs. Vodanovich would appear in 36 games for the Kings, averaging 5.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.4 steals.

SYDNEY KINGS
2021/22
In 2021, the Sydney Kings replaced Adam Forde with unproven US coach Chase Buford. Buford, the son of R.C. Buford—the mastermind behind the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA—was handed a team with an already impressive core in Xavier Cooks, Jarell Martin, and Dejan Vasiljevic, and added former NBA talent Jaylen Adams and fellow import RJ Hunter.

The change in leadership and early-season injuries to RJ Hunter (who played only one NBL game), Adams (missed a third of the season), and young big man Jordan Hunter (missed the entire season) resulted in a sluggish start for the Kings. After a stretch in January where the Kings lost four consecutive games, Adams returned, and the Kings added Ian Clark, a former NBA teammate of co-owner Andrew Bogut, leading to significant improvement.

Tom Vodanovich averaged 3.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.4 assists as the Kings finished the year in spectacular fashion, winning 13 consecutive games to end the regular season.

The Kings faced Brian Goorjian and the Illawarra Hawks in the semifinals, comfortably defeating them in two straight games. On the other side of the bracket, the Tasmania JackJumpers, in their debut NBL season and fortunate to make the playoffs, defeated Melbourne United in three games. Tasmania had finished the season in fifth place and only qualified for the playoffs thanks to points percentage after South East Melbourne beat Perth in the final game of the season.

In the Grand Final series, Sydney continued to show their dominance, defeating Tasmania (95–78) in the opening game. Adams, who had been named NBL MVP the previous week, scored 18 points in the win but suffered a left hamstring injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the series.

Game two saw JackJumpers fan favorite Josh Adams erupt for 36 points in front of a sell-out Tasmanian crowd, but thanks to 20-point efforts from both captain Xavier Cooks and Jarell Martin (who shot 80% from the field), as well as Dejan Vasiljevic, who nailed a long-range dagger in the closing minutes, the Kings clinched game two, 90–86. The win was Sydney’s 12th straight road victory—the most away wins ever during a single NBL season.

Dejan Vasiljevic with the ???????????????????????? ????️

???? Watch the #NBLFinals Live on ESPN pic.twitter.com/XDIgoHVKo9

— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) May 8, 2022

The Kings then closed out the series in game three, ending their 17-year championship drought in front of 16,000 fans at Qudos Bank Arena. Xavier Cooks and Jarell Martin combined for 45 points and 29 rebounds, and the Kings secured their 19th win in their final 21 games.

Cooks was named the MVP of the finals series, averaging 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists over the three games. At 33 years of age, Buford became the fourth-youngest championship-winning coach in league history, with Bob Turner (1983), Ken Richardson (1982), and Jim Ericksen (1981) the only coaches to win at a younger age (two of those were player-coaches).

17 years in the making ????????#WeTheKings #NBL22 pic.twitter.com/Wz7uIGjTr6

— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) May 14, 2022

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
2022/23
With the departure of Dan Shamir, assistant Mody Maor was elevated to head coach, marking the Breakers’ return to playing regular home games after two seasons. The Breakers lost six of their top eight players (Yanni Wetzell, Hugo Besson, Peyton Siva, Finn Delany, Ousmane Dieng, and Chasson Randle), leaving only Robert Loe, William McDowell-White, and Thomas Abercrombie from the previous season.

Tom Vodanovich (via Sydney), Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa, and Cameron Gliddon (both via South East Melbourne) were added for defense and perimeter shooting off the bench. At the same time, Dererk Pardon, Jarrell Brantley, and Barry Brown Jr. were signed as import players. Utilizing the NBL Next Stars Program, the team also added French NBA prospect Rayan Rupert.

With Abercrombie missing the first month due to a torn retina, the Breakers’ season began with a loss to Melbourne. Four rounds into the season, however, they had already equaled their total number of wins from the previous campaign.

The Breakers started Round Five with a 99–70 rout of the Adelaide 36ers, featuring dominant performances from Brown Jr. (22 points) and Brantley (22 points and four steals), forcing 18 turnovers and shooting 15 of 30 from long distance.

Two nights later, New Zealand posted their biggest victory ever at Spark Arena with a 94–62 win over the Tasmania JackJumpers, overtaking the Sydney Kings to sit atop the NBL ladder.

After two seasons living out of suitcases, the Breakers had revived themselves as contenders. A top-of-the-table clash against Sydney saw the Kings lead comfortably for most of the game. A late surge by New Zealand, outscoring Sydney 31–17 in the last quarter behind Brown Jr. (22 points), narrowed the gap, but the Breakers fell short 81–77 and lost Rupert for two months with a broken wrist.

During the final month, New Zealand battled Cairns for second place. Victories over Brisbane and Illawarra allowed the Breakers to finish second overall with an 18–10 record, clinching their first playoff appearance in five years.

Tom Vodanovich came off the bench, averaging 3.8 points and 2.5 rebounds. His best performance came against Brisbane in February, where he scored 10 points and grabbed three rebounds in the game that clinched the Breakers’ playoff spot.

Barry Brown Jr. (19.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals) and Dererk Pardon (11.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks) were named to the All-NBL Second Team, with Brown Jr. also receiving the league’s Best Sixth Man award. Jarrell Brantley (16.2 points, 6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 steals) was named the Breakers’ club MVP.

In the semifinals, the Breakers faced Tasmania, defeating them 88–68 in Game One and clinching the series with a 92–77 win in Game Three. Brown Jr. was instrumental, scoring 32 points in the deciding game.

In the Championship Series against Sydney, the Breakers won Game One (95–87) but ultimately fell to the Kings in a five-game series. Despite leading at various points, New Zealand couldn’t withstand Sydney’s comebacks, losing the final game 77–69.

Despite having a year remaining on his contract, Tom Vodanovich requested a release to accept a lucrative opportunity in the Philippines. “I am grateful to Mody that the door remains open for me to return,” said Vodanovich upon his departure. “The experience of playing for the Breakers in the Championship Series last season, against the team I won a championship with the year before, will stay with me forever.”

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS
2023/24
Tom Vodanovich joined the Tasmania JackJumpers at the start of the new year after playing with the FiberXers in the Philippines. He was added to help cover the absence of Majok Deng due to injury. “With recent injuries, we’ve opted to bring in Tom, who was the best available big and fits our needs as we prepare for the back end of the season,” Head Coach Scott Roth said. This move led to Tasmania releasing guard Junior Madut to make room on the roster. “Junior is a fantastic young guy who has a really promising future. His attitude and work ethic have been fantastic; however, we have decided to bring in a bigger body option to cover injuries,” Roth added.

Tom Vodanovich currently plays for the South East Melbourne Phoenix and has played 132 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 3.5 points, 2 rebounds, and 0.3 assists since entering the league in 2018.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

South East Melbourne Phoenix – 1 Year Deal (2024-25)

Dan Boyce (815 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.