Former NBA Guard Helps Crown King

By Dan Woods - NBL Media
Photo: Illawarra Hawks Media

While Aaron Brooks’ time in the NBL was short-lived due to a season-ending achilles injury, the former NBA star was key in Illawarra signing import George King. 

King formed a close relationship with Brooks during his time training with the Knicks – an organisation where the 645-game NBA veteran is employed on the coaching staff.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A TEAM FIT FOR A KING ?<br><br>The Illawarra Hawks are thrilled to announce the signing of NBA import forward George King!<br><br>Read more at <a href="https://t.co/BkXmO6rbsV">https://t.co/BkXmO6rbsV</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HawkNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HawkNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/Fuv66r3V95">pic.twitter.com/Fuv66r3V95</a></p>&mdash; Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1556490772857630720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Despite already boasting both NBA and international experience in his career, 28-year-old King says it was Brooks' recommendation that had him most excited to play in Australia. 

“I spoke to Aaron Brooks on the phone and he said 'hey man, you’re lucky to have an opportunity to play in the NBL',” King said.

“I just met Aaron earlier this summer in New York. I was up there training with them and he was my one-on-one guy so I got to know him well.

“In this game when you see someone you know who played in a league that your headed to, and that exact team, you always reach out and ask 'what's the good, what's the bad?'

“He spoke very highly of the league and the team and he told me 'you should sign this'. I've been around long enough to know you don't hear that often.”

Aaron Brooks playing for the Illawarra Hawks in 2019. 

King most recently appeared at NBA level for the Dallas Mavericks, where he played four games during a 10-day contract with the side.

Brooks was not the only person in King’s ear about heading to Australia. Illawarra’s new number four also cites former 36ers guard Tony Crocker as a strong influence to head to the NBL’s only foundation club.

“They all said ‘you’re going to love it’ … I spoke to Tony Crocker who played with the 36ers a couple of years ago,” King said.

“That was always the tone and when I heard all the guys I look up to telling me 'you need to sign this deal' I said 'OK'.

“I heard the highest [praise] from multiple different people about Australia and the NBL so I'm just looking forward to soaking it up and enjoying it. I'm looking forward to the opportunity with the organisation to take the next step in my career.

“I'd never had everybody I talked to, multiple people, speak as highly as they did of the NBL.”

Photo: Illawarra Hawks Media