Protecting the crown: How Kings are reloading for NBL24

The Sydney Kings look set to wheel out a brand new starting five in NBL24 and it remains to be seen just how it will affect their aspirations of a three-peat. 

Of course, the Kings faced a similar predicament last season - having to replace the likes of Jaylen Adams, Jarrell Martin and Ian Clark - but this year, the challenge looks even greater.

Former head coach Chase Buford is gone and has been replaced by G-League champion Mahmoud Abdelfattah. League MVP Xavier Cooks will continue his journey with the Washington Wizards in the upcoming NBA season. DJ Vasiljevic has exercised his out clause to pursue new opportunities outside the NBL.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Wizards picked well ?‍??<br><br>From the NBL Championship Series to Washington, Xavier Cooks has not disappointed in his 10 games in the NBA.<br><br>We can&#39;t wait to see what he can do with a full season in the US ? <a href="https://t.co/z5q1NljIqO">pic.twitter.com/z5q1NljIqO</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1649639166743904259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The signings of Jonah Bolden and DJ Hogg mean we won't see Tim Soares and Justin Simon in a Kings uniform in NBL24, while Derrick Walton Jr has seemed unlikely to return ever since taking home the Larry Sengstock Trophy last season.

Sydney isn’t letting the loss of that serious star power derail their hopes of another title three-peat though. They’re not out of on-court ammunition by any means. They’re just reloading.

Bolden’s return to the court – while seemingly a surprise for some – has the potential to be one of the most impactful off-season moves in recent NBL history.

Hogg has come into the club as a known quantity after an exceptional debut campaign with the Cairns Taipans, and Alex Toohey has been signed as a Next Star immediately ready to contribute.

Former MVP Jaylen Adams has also been announced as returning to the side for NBL24. There's some serious star power coming in, just to start. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another One ?<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyKings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SydneyKings</a> have secured the signature of top Aussie prospect Alex Toohey as a Next Star for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL24?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL24</a>?<br><br>Read more: <a href="https://t.co/q1i1GitsCp">https://t.co/q1i1GitsCp</a> <a href="https://t.co/RLT43vcSIO">pic.twitter.com/RLT43vcSIO</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1672379020783284224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Burgeoning star Klairus Amir and former Melbourne forward Makuach Maluach look set to add even more versatility and athleticism to the side’s bench, while key players Kouat Noi, Angus Glover and Jaylin Galloway have all re-signed.

Sydney Ring of Honour inductee and former Kings guard Brad Rosen believes the club’s culture has helped attract the calibre of player and person needed for a historic three-peat.

“You look at it and you go ‘how can they do it when they have to make that many changes?’, but they’ve done that before,” Rosen told NBL Media. “You look at what they did when Will Weaver left and they brought in Chase, [Andrew] Bogut retired and they brought in new players, then Jaylen Adams didn’t come back and you thought ‘who’s going to do it next year’, and it was Xavier Cooks.

“They just seem to have this pedigree and culture that just breeds winning.

“The Kings in the last few years have been a very fast-paced team who play very up-tempo, and I assume they’re going to want to do it again. When you play up-tempo you have to move bodies around, and if you’re going to move bodies around even though they’re 10-minute quarters you want, physicality, strength, and versatility.

“That’s what guys like Kouat Noi, Angus Glover, Shaun Bruce can provide – I mean, how good was Glover in the playoff series? There’s no reason why Glover couldn’t play one for a little while if you look at his athleticism.

“Shaun Bruce hit big shots for them all last season ... Kouat Noi hit that incredible game-winner.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">??? FORMER TAIPAN, BIRTHDAY BOY KING KOUAT NOI WINS THE GAME FOR SYDNEY ??? <a href="https://t.co/iS6YmATxCy">pic.twitter.com/iS6YmATxCy</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1586314636579655680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“I think they’ve just done an outstanding job with their bench and it gives the coach outstanding versatility that you can go with. Some teams are really big, some teams are really small, but the Kings have established a core group that can compete in both situations and still play fast.”

Of all the intriguing factors surrounding the Kings heading into the new season, the biggest questions marks have revolved around two separate conundrums.

‘Who are the Kings going to recruit?’, and 'what’s coming from Jonah Bolden?'.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A Bolden&#39;s back in for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL24?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL24</a> ?<br><br>Former NBA talent Jonah Bolden has come out of retirement to sign for the <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyKings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SydneyKings</a> for the new season ?<br><br>Read more: <a href="https://t.co/Ua8Q8xV8jT">https://t.co/Ua8Q8xV8jT</a> <a href="https://t.co/bzPJ6GG9Ul">pic.twitter.com/bzPJ6GG9Ul</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1670627860346998785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The recruitment question has been all but answered - just one import spot remains on the team's roster, and majority owner Paul Smith recently hinted at an imminent announcement while appearing on SEN.

However, Bolden will be returning to the floor for the first time in over two years. He initially departed the game aged just 25, following NBA stints with Philadelphia and Phoenix.

He’s a senior Boomers representative, was one of the top European-based talents prior to his NBA move and was a genuine contributor on a high-calibre, title-chasing Sixers side behind current league MVP Joel Embiid.

In short, his return to the NBL had previously felt like just a pipe dream.

He’s heading back home now though, and could place his name among NBL24’s top talents once he gets his feet back under him.

“Bruce – Jonah’s dad – and I played together so I’ve known Jonah since the day he was born in 1996, so to see him come back I’m just thrilled for him,” Rosen said.

“Knowing Jonah and the Bolden family, he’ll be all guns blazing. Bruce was probably a mentor for me when I was coming up and I can tell you there wasn’t a guy who prepared better than him. I expect the same from Jonah.

“I thought he did really well in Philly and, to be honest, I was shocked at what went down there. It’s hard to say why and how it all happened but it is what it is and form what I understand he’s really keen to get back into basketball now.

“He’s got the love back and he’ll work his butt off to be right. He’s just a weapon and if he plays at the level I know he can play at, he’s going to be unstoppable.”

It would be easy to say Bolden will play largely at the five spot for the Kings this season and enter the program as something of a like-for-like replacement for confirmed departure Tim Soares.

That versatility Rosen speaks about permeates through the entire side – not just through the guard rotation with guys like Angus Glover and Shaun Bruce, or the forward spots with Alex Toohey, Kouat Noi and DJ Hogg.

Despite the remarkable physical attributes that have him earmarked as a centre, Bolden is not your standard almost seven-foot-tall bruiser.

Rosen believes how the Kings manage their import rotation could have drastic repercussions on Bolden’s role in the side.

“I’m really intrigued,” he said. “I haven’t spoken to anyone, but I can’t see them going for another four/five. I think after losing DJ (Vasiljevic) I would assume they’re going after a shooting guard as well.

Derrick Walton Jr won the Larry Sengstock Trophy as the MVP of last season's Championship Series.

"I love Jordan Hunter. I think he’s an outstanding player who is just ready to go ‘bang’. They could go with an import one and two, wherever they get their three, then DJ and Jonah or Jordan at the four/five.

“For all we know they could start Jonah at the three with DJ and Jordan at the four and five.

“Fours are a little bit smaller than they used to be, and threes even more so. Jonah is, what, 6’11”? He runs the floor, he shoots the three. If you’re a three and you have to guard a 6’11” guy, that’s going to hurt.

“I think it’s exciting times.”

Whatever happens, the Kings will have huge expectations on their shoulders, both internally and externally, and if the last few seasons are anything to go by, they'll more than likely deliver.