We’ve been here before – just a season ago in fact.
The Sydney Kings are back into the final two of the NBL and looking to win a championship. Instead of a drought-breaking success to take their first title in almost two decades though, they’re now looking to go back-to-back and establish the early foundations of a genuine dynasty.
Ahead of the NBL23 Championship Series - which tips off on Friday, March 3 - NBL Media looks back through the journey the Kings have been on this season to reach the final stage.
Can the Sydney Kings win back-to-back championships?
The Roster Changes:
Ins: Derrick Walton Jr, Justin Simon, Tim Soares, Kouat Noi, Isaac Gattorna, Jackson Makoi, Archie Woodhill
Outs: Jaylen Adams, Makur Maker, Matur Maker, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, Jarell Martin, Tom Vodanovich, Jayden Hodgson
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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiUu4ywJ1lj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Kouat Noi (@kouatnoi12)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></body></html>
Biggest Win:
The Kings set a new record in their Round 15 dismantling of a hapless Brisbane Bullets side. Their 49-point victory is the biggest registered by any team in the 40-minute era of the competition.
Sydney dropped 116 points on a Bullets defence that put up little resistence, and maintained their strength on the unglamourous side of the floor to keep Brisbane to just 67 points on 35 per cent shooting for the game.
On the offensive end the game was won by committee. Each of Sydney’s starting five scored in double-digits for the game, as did Angus Glover off the bench. Xavier Cooks and Tim Soares were dominant forces inside to finish with 20 points apiece and hit 12-13 free throws between them.
Cooks also added five rebounds, eight assists and a steal to his stat line to finish with Foot Locker Player of the Game honours.
<html><head></head><body><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en">The Kings 49-point winning margin is the biggest during the 40-minute era ?<br><br>Xavier Cooks chats post-game with <a href="https://twitter.com/derekrucker5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@derekrucker5</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/pV6stz3ImJ">pic.twitter.com/pV6stz3ImJ</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1613122648791486464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></body></html>
Season Definer:
While they had big wins, tight wins, tough losses and absolute classics during the regular season, the Kings defined their season with their second half performance against Cairns in Game 1of their Playoff Series.
In fact, without this monster defensive turnaround they might not even still be in contention for the title.
After giving up 59 points in the first half, the Kings came out firing on the defensive end to limit their opposition to just 10 points in the third quarter – and 28 for the entire second half.
They managed to keep their foot on the gas offensively though and after entering the main break down by nine points, they entered the final term up by eight.
Given how Game 2 played out – had the Kings lost this one they could well have been watching the Championship Series from their couches.
<html><head></head><body><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en">That’s the signature Xavier Cooks stare-down ?<br><br>Catch the second half live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies ? <a href="https://t.co/TTEMdKeNNc">pic.twitter.com/TTEMdKeNNc</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1625805747295768576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></body></html>
Doubts Starting:
The Kings hadn’t dropped two consecutive games for the entirety of the NBL season as they entered Round 16 - an impressive feat.
However, they dropped four of their final five regular season games to cast some doubts over their championship credentials.
In their defence both Xavier Cooks and Derrick Walton Jr were absent for a game each over this stretch - but after looking near invincible all season this run made the Kings look beatable, and at the worst time of the season.
Derrick Walton Jr (pictured) and Xavier Cooks both missed games in Sydney's poor run to end the regular season.
Gauntlet Thrown:
Sydney were already looking like championship favourites by the end of December, but the winning run their Christmas Day victory over Melbourne United started hammered those credentials home.
The Kings easily brushed aside four top six contenders before recording the aforementioned 49-point win over Brisbane to send a message to the rest of the NBL.
First came a 21-point win over United, then a 20-point win over Tasmania.
They then got revenge on the Phoenix with a high-scoring 16-point win, and rounded out the run with a 21-point win over Perth.
All four of those wins came at Qudos Bank Arena which only added to its status as a fortress, before the defeated the Bullets in Brisbane.
Cooks averaged 21.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.4 assists during the five-game winning run to hammer home his MVP credentials, while Angus Glover, Shaun Bruce and Jaylin Galloway embedded their status as high-quality bench options.
<html><head></head><body><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en">Shout out to the <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyKings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SydneyKings</a> fans! 12,986 in attendance today!?<br><br>For the first time in franchise history, they’ve had four straight home crowds of more than 11,000 <a href="https://t.co/p9VohBvoAV">pic.twitter.com/p9VohBvoAV</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1614522005294047233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></body></html>
Toughest Loss:
South East Melbourne welcomed the Kings to a sold-out State Basketball Centre in Round 11 and the 3000 strong crowd were lucky enough to witness one of the most incredible games of the season.
Derrick Walton Jr and Mitch Creek traded blows all the way into double-overtime, but it was the Phoenix who emerged from the clash as one-point winners.
The battle between Walton and Creek was even reflected in the final score. Walton finished with what would have been a season competition high 45 points, if Creek hadn’t edged him out with 46 of his own.
In a game where Xavier Cooks went down injured in the opening term and Tim Soares found himself fouled out after just 20 minutes Sydney’s depth was tested.
Kouat Noi put in a strong performance to finish with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Jaylin Galloway did a little bit of everything from the bench with eight points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks.
<html><head></head><body><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en">This is incredible ?<br><br>We’re heading to DOUBLE OT!<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live and free on 10 Peach and 10play | live on Fox Sports 506 via Kayo Sports + Foxtel <a href="https://t.co/vEiWosqCaG">pic.twitter.com/vEiWosqCaG</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1604348183861006339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></body></html>
Best Moment:
Sydney’s season has been so high-fliying this season that the answer to what their best moment is will change depending on your definition.
If you speak about split second actions in time then the Kouat Noi and Shaun Bruce game-winners over Cairns would be a worthy discussion – however the opening tip against Melbourne United on Christmas Day represented far more than just another game.
The Kings marked the historic occasion by cruising to a win over United, but for the over 7000 people who made the journey to Qudos Bank Arena that evening, or the thousands who watched after a day of family celebration, it marked a historic occasion.
The first Christmas Day game in NBL history can only be classified as a roaring success, and the Kings were an immense part of that.
<html><head></head><body><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en">History is being made tonight in Australia ?<br><br>CHRISTMAS on ESPN | Channel 10 | 10 Peach ??<br>6:30pm AEDT: Kings/United <a href="https://t.co/w4tWf6y1ho">pic.twitter.com/w4tWf6y1ho</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1606839647472156675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></body></html>
The Sydney Kings host the New Zealand Breakers in Game 1 of their Championship Series on Friday, March 3 - live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies.
