'Out-of-this-world deal' sets up next chapter in rivalry

Thursday was a monumental day for both the NBL and Sydney Kings, as superstar Kendric Davis penned a new two-year deal in the Harbour City.

Davis electrified the Hungry Jack’s NBL during the 2025-26 season, leading the Kings to their sixth title, while winning the Championship Series MVP award.

On the most recent episode of The Marketplace, presented by Paywise, ESPN’s Olgun Uluc explained the gravity of this signing.

“[He was the] Sydney Kings' top priority [this off-season],” Uluc said on The Marketplace, presented by Paywise.

“He returns the reigning Championship Series MVP, one of the most electric and productive players we've seen in the NBL in the past decade and probably of all time.

“He had offers from all across Europe and China, and these were offers that were double what he ended up getting in Sydney, so the Kings had to pay up for his services, on an out-of-this-world deal.

“I'm told that this deal will make him the highest-paid import in the NBL, and the second-highest-paid player of all time [behind Bryce Cotton].”

Fellow panellist Pete Hooley reiterated Uluc’s sentiments about the enormity of this deal.

“It's a massive get for the Sydney Kings because he’s proven it now,” Hooley said.

“He's come in and led them to the promised land, winning the Championship Series MVP, while winning a championship.

“I'm so happy they got it done because we just don't see this too often. You do not see a guy come in and take the league [by storm] the way that he has. NBA guys regularly come in and take time to adjust, or don’t adjust at all.

“From the moment he stepped foot in the NBL, he dominated from a statistical standpoint, and then eventually, that led to the team success in Sydney and a championship.

“That is very rare, Bryce Cotton did it when he first got here, and now those two are going to go head-to-head once again.

“For us [as fans] it couldn’t be any better.”

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As Hooley mentions, the rivalry between the League’s top-two NBL26 MVP finishers, Cotton and Davis, is as good as any in recent memory.

The two guards traded epic performances during the historic 2025-26 Championship Series, including Cotton’s thrilling match-winner in Game 2 and Davis’ heroics in Game 3.

“This is such an authentic rivalry,” Uluc said.

“These are two super high-level American guards who have this really authentic and genuine respect but also tension [between them].

“We saw it during the MVP race, where Bryce Cotton won ever so slightly, and then the championship campaign, where Kendric Davis and the Sydney Kings won in Game 5 in overtime.

“A rivalry doesn't get more authentic than that. This is not something that we’ve manufactured.”

Now, Hooley can’t wait for the next chapter during the 2026-27 season.

“[Competition like] that is what makes Kendric Davis tick, and that's what makes him want to compete at the highest level,” Hooley said.

“We haven't seen someone [in a while] come in and say, ‘Who's the best player in the league? Because I want that title’.

“He knew he had to go through Bryce, and he's been open about saying that.

“I really do think there is that mutual respect there from a basketball standpoint, while having two very different personalities.

“That means you're going to see different sides of that throughout the season, but when they get on the court together, all they want to do is beat each other. And that is pure entertainment.

“Everything is gonna be fun, but from a pure basketball standpoint, to have two of the best going at it like this for another year at least is going to be so fun.”

The first Championship Series rematch between Sydney and Adelaide is on Sunday, October 11, from 3pm AEDT at Qudos Bank Arena.

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