BIO: Wayne Burden was born in Raleigh, North Carolina (USA). He graduated in 1974 from William G. Enloe High School in Raleigh.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Wayne Burden made his NBL debut with the Frankston Bears on 10/2/1983. He scored 11 points in his first game.

1986
Coming off a frustrating 1985 campaign, the Sydney Supersonics entered 1986 in a full-scale rebuild. Imports Wayne Kreklow, Jerry Steurer, and Tony Wilkerson departed the team, along with key locals Brett Flanigan, Graham Davis, and Craig Hubbard. To fill the void, Sydney brought in powerful American big man Derrick Polk, versatile forward Audie Matthews (via Brisbane), and promising youngster Andrew Svaldenis (via Bankstown).

Last year’s top scorer, Kendal “Tiny” Pinder, returned for a second NBL season after topping the league in scoring and earning All-NBL First Team honours. The Supersonics also retained a core of veterans including Wayne Burden, Curt Forrester, Scott Fenton, Darren Shaw, Zoran Zunic, Gavin Kelly, and Nick Stenstrom, providing stability amid the roster overhaul.

The coaching reins also changed hands, with former MVP Owen Wells returning to the club to replace Paul Coughter. Tasked with overseeing a rejuvenated roster, Wells aimed to steer Sydney back into playoff relevance.

Sydney opened their season with a 99–91 away victory over the Perth Wildcats. Pinder (19 points, 18 rebounds) and Polk (25 points, 13 rebounds) controlled the paint, while Burden added 9 points and 5 rebounds in a solid two-way outing.

Despite the promising start, the Supersonics lost momentum and dropped eight of their next nine games. The team suffered narrow back-to-back defeats to Brisbane (84–85) and Geelong (99–100), highlighting their early struggles to close games. Burden remained a consistent contributor during this stretch, averaging over 13 points and hitting key shots from the perimeter.

With a 2–8 record by early June, Sydney’s season looked in jeopardy. But Coach Wells made key adjustments, leaning into an inside-out attack featuring Pinder and Polk and empowering Scott Fenton as the main facilitator. The turnaround was swift. Sydney rattled off a 12–4 finish to close the regular season at 14–12, good enough for 6th place and a return to the playoffs for the first time since 1983.

Among the highlight wins was a 117–80 demolition of Perth and a thrilling 110–109 triumph over cross-town rivals West Sydney, with Pinder tipping in the game-winner. The Supersonics swept the Westars in both derby clashes, establishing themselves as the dominant Sydney team.

The core duo of Pinder (21.4 points, 16.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists) and Polk (21.9 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks) formed one of the league’s most intimidating frontcourts. Burden flourished on the wing, averaging 14.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists across 26 games, while shooting an NBL-best 47.8% from three (34-of-71). Matthews (10.0 points, 6.5 rebounds) and Zunic (9.0 points, 2.2 rebounds) rounded out the top scoring options.

Burden delivered numerous key performances down the stretch, including 18 points against Perth on August 23 and 15 points in the second Westars win. He consistently delivered in transition, from beyond the arc, and on drives, adding both efficiency and composure in late-game scenarios. He also posted 15 points (6-of-10 FG, 3-of-5 3PT) in a tough loss to Illawarra to close the regular season.

Supporting pieces like Scott Fenton (6.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists) and Curt Forrester (6.3 points, 2.9 rebounds) helped stabilize the rotation, while Svaldenis provided depth up front.

In the Elimination Final, Sydney faced the third-seeded Brisbane Bullets. Despite strong showings from Pinder (20 points, 14 boards) and Polk (18 points, 12 rebounds), the Supersonics were outpaced 100–82. Burden, usually reliable, had a cold night (2-of-21 FG) but his season-long contributions remained unquestioned.

Though the postseason ended abruptly, Sydney’s 1986 campaign was seen as a major step forward. Coach Wells was praised for navigating early adversity and rejuvenating the squad mid-season. The emergence of Burden as one of the league’s most efficient outside shooters gave Sydney a critical perimeter presence to complement its dominant interior duo.

With its foundation re-established and a playoff return secured, the Supersonics wrapped up the 1986 season with a sense of achievement—just in time for what would become the final chapter of the franchise before the 1987 merger that would give rise to the Sydney Kings.

Wayne Burden played seven seasons across three NBL teams. This included the Frankston Bears, Sydney Supersonics and Hobart Devils. He averaged 14.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 167 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (837 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.