Simon Deflects Praise to Teammates

Sydney livewire Justin Simon has deflected the recognition that has been heaped on him for his performance in the Kings’ Game 2 win over the Breakers, and has instead elected to shower his teammates in praise.

After Xavier Cooks and Derrick Walton Jr exited the game early due to injury, the import wing was in imperious form for his side – and his six steals played a crucial role in the Kings emerging from Spark Arena with an unlikely victory.

“I think we all knew what we had to do and where we had to take it to get it done. It was great to see guys coming in and making an impact,” Simon told SEN.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Justin Simon’s exploits in the Q3 undoubtedly shaped Game 2 of the <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBL</a> finals. It reminded me of Mika Vukona&#39;s Q1 v MU in 2016 semi-finals where he was everywhere making plays (finishing the game with 11pt 6orb 7drb 5ast 4stls). But there was another star performer in the Q3 <a href="https://t.co/95HI2xgpur">pic.twitter.com/95HI2xgpur</a></p>&mdash; Simon Mitchell (@SMitch_72) <a href="https://twitter.com/SMitch_72/status/1633307524802957312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“Kouat Noi, I thought he was tremendous, really phenomenal that game and has been throughout the Playoffs. Same with ‘Brucey’ (Shaun Bruce), it may not look like it in the stats books but he made a lot of plays down the stretch to help us win it, same with ‘Glove’ (Angus Glover).

“DJ (Vasiljevic) hit big shots, Jordi (Hunter) played big, Tim (Soares) held it up, ‘JG’ (Jaylin Galloway) made some defensive plays, everybody really came in and made an impact and it was great to see everybody really making plays.

“We told ourselves that’s what it is, that’s what it looks like and that’s what it feels like, so it has to be like that for 40 minutes. It can’t be that for 23 minutes, it can’t be 34 minutes, it has to be all 40. We can’t play in spurts.

“The whole game we have to play with that intent and that aggression. Everybody was trying to make plays, nobody was indecisive, we were really decisive and assertive, and I think that’s when we play our best.”

After keeping the Kings in the Game 1 contest with an strong offensive performance – Simon scored 18 points on 72 per cent shooting – it was his defensive efforts on Breakers star guard Will McDowell-White that set the tone for the win.

Justin Simon was named the NBL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 in his sole season at the Illawarra Hawks.

“Six steals in a game like that is wild,” Simon said. “I felt like coming out in that second half wanting to make more of an impact on the defensive end and how I can make my presence [felt].

“It’s incredible. Making plays, making an impact without having to score the ball, I like making my presence felt and I like to think that’s one end where I can do that.

“I like to think everybody contributed and made plays to win, I think we all knew what we had to do and where we had to take it to get it done.

“I know in a pre-season game when I was at the Hawks I had eight [steals in a game], but that was a pre-season game so it doesn’t count.”

Simon and the Kings are back at home in tonight’s Game 3 clash against the Breakers.

They take on New Zealand at 7:30pm AEDT, live and free on ESPN via Kayo Freebies, and SkySport and Prime in New Zealand.