Goorjian: "I haven't had a team like this"

From the exceptional off-season recruitment to what was displayed during the pre-season, the Sydney Kings have all the tools to be one of the most dominant defensive teams ever assembled.

“It’s a well-oiled machine,” Bul Kuol told ESPN.

“I know they’ve got my back, whenever I’m picking up full court. They've got the same approach as well. If my guy beats me, I know they're right there. We have each other's backs, and we're all aggressive.”

That kind of defensive intensity was evident during the Blitz on the Gold Coast, where the Kings rotated through bodies and pushed the pressure on every possession.

With the likes of Kuol, Alex Toohey and Xavier Cooks in the starting lineup, it’s that athletic versatility that could prove to be a nightmare for the opposition.

“I haven’t had a team like this before,” coach Brian Goorjian said.

"I've had some pretty good defensive teams, but when I talk about this style of defence, it's new to me; it's different. The answer is no, I haven't had this style, and this depth, and this length and quickness before.”

When the Kings won back-to-back titles in NBL22 and NBL23, there was a giant spotlight on their offensive weapons.

Because of that, it was easy to overlook that those Sydney teams were top three defensively rated too.

This season is different. Goorjian spoke to the media after the Kings first pre-season game against the New Zealand Breakers and hinted at playing a “WWE tag-team” style on the court. That being, quick rotations, to keep the energy and effort at a maximum for the entire game.

How will it all come together? All will be revealed on Sunday.

The Kings take on Adelaide in an opening round blockbuster at 2.30pm AEST, live on ESPN via Kayo, Channel 10 and 10 Play. 

Read the full story here >> Cooks, Kuol, Toohey; the weapons set to turn Sydney Kings into defensive juggernaut