The Sydney Kings

[Sharky Pete]

Kings greet their US trump card
Amanda Lulham
From: The Daily Telegraph
July 16, 2010 12:00AM

THEY have "Jack Nicholson" seats like the Lakers, a happy hunting ground as their home court and now they also have a man they believe will be a slam dunk in the Kings' charm offensive on the Sydney sporting public.

High-flying American import Taj McCullough touched down briefly in Sydney this week to meet and greet the club he will call home for the 2010-2011 NBL season.

The 23-year-old will play a crucial part in the Kings' plan to win back the hearts of Sydney in their return to the national league in October after a two-season absence with a skill which has proven a firm hit in the past - dunking.

Three of the best-known Kings players were renowned slam dunkers with McCullough hoping to continue the tradition when he pulls on the famous uniform later this year.

"I think it can bring excitement to a game, really get the people in," said McCullough of the crowd-pleasing, high-percentage shot used to ignite fans by the likes of Kings legends Leon Trimmingham, Dwayne "D-Train" McClain and Issac Burton.

"It brings energy in for the players and the crowd."

Entertainers have played a big part in the Sydney Kings' previous success both on and off the court.

While the dunkers thrilled the crowds, likeable former captain Damien "Three-O" Keogh and Australian legend and long bomber Shane "Hammer" Heal also had incredible pulling power in the heyday of the Kings as one of Sydney's most popular and successful sporting teams.

"It's always been a Kings thing not just to win but also entertain," said former long-serving coach Bob Turner, now one of the architects of the Kings' re-emergence in the national competition.

Turner and coach Ian "Moose" Robilliard both believe their new 201cm forward has the potential to weave the magic required to win over both old and new fans.

"He is a real crowd pleaser," Turner said of McCullough who was lured to Australia by new Kings centre Julian Khazzouh, who he played alongside in the Latvian league where the pair averaged a combined 24 points and 10 rebounds per game.

McCullough said his "chemistry" with Khazzouh was one of the reasons he made the move but the other was the Sydney Kings' history as winners.

"I know they won three championships in a row and I come from a similar background where I won four when I was younger," said McCullough. "I want to win a championship again."

The Kings' first home game will be on October 16.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ir-us-trump-card/story-e6frey6i-1225892381544

 

[Lumpy]

Will be good to see the Kings back in town.

 

[Sharky Pete]

Will be good to see the Kings back in town.

Definitely agree with that Lumpy.

I will definitely be at that first game at the Kingdome as well.

I encourage all the basketball fans on this forum to get to the Kingdome on October 16 to welcome back an Australian basketball institution.

 

[Lumpy]

Are they playing out of the Entertainment Centre?

 

[Sharky Pete]

Are they playing out of the Entertainment Centre?

Yeah they are, mate.

Here is the official Facebook page and website.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=107236152631010&ref=ts

www.sydneykings.com

The Kings FB page and forum at the bottom of my sig is a fans page and forum set up by a mate and myself.

Feel free to join the forum and post Kings related news on there.

I am trying to get more fans to join that forum.

King McCullough arrives in Sydney
July 15, 2010, 11:54 AM AEST
By: NBL

New Kings import Taj McCullough has made a flying visit to Sydney and has told Channel Ten's Sports Tonight he won't have any problems settling into his new home.

McCullough was in Sydney to participate in the filming of a new NBL TV advertisement to promote the NBL on Ten and ONE.

In an interview with Network Ten's Brad McEwan on Wednesday night, McCullough said Kings teammate Julian Khazzouh was instrumental in luring him to Australia.

He also said that a previous trip with his college when he had played against the Kings had convinced him to come to the NBL.

link

 

[SharkLabelSociety]

Gonna be there on October 16 for sure.

 

[Mr Wright]

I would be there if I still lived close. Here's to wishing the Bullets come back!

 

[El Coconuto]

Bless my wife. It's her birthday on the night the Kings make their triumphant return and she's still given us permission to go to the game! Woot woot! Can't wait.

 

[Murphy]

do they have a team again

 

[Sharky Pete]

do they have a team again

You can't be serious, Murphy?

It's been in the papers when it was officially announced in March that we are back in the big time again.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...gs-return-to-nbl/story-e6frey6i-1225844512519

I can't wait for October 16 to welcome back the Kings as I have been a passionate Kings fan since I was 8.

BRING IT ON!!!!!!

 

[Sharky Pete]

Kings meet University of Hartford to open 2010/2011 preseason action
August 18, 2010, 11:39 AM AEST
By: Matt McQuade

That’s right, WE’RE BACK!

For the first time since Game Five of the 2008 National Basketball League Grand Final series, the Sydney Kings will step on court as their long-awaited resurrection continues with an opening preseason matchup against the University of Hartford at venerable Alexandria Basketball Stadium this Saturday night.

It’s fitting that the association that saved the Kings’ name, the City of Sydney Basketball Association, has been chosen to host the team’s first game in two long years. Alexandria was where it all began for Sydney basketball back in 1979 and the stadium holds great memories for many long-time observers of the sport in the Harbour City.

The Kings began preseason training last week with great enthusiasm and high hopes for the season ahead, and have wasted no time in testing themselves with this game against an American NCAA Division One school. This will be followed by a game next week in Maitland against the Waratah ABA All Stars and then Friday September 3 in Wollongong against arch-rivals and 2010 NBL Grand Finalists the Wollongong Hawks.

Sydney have built a great tradition over the years against visiting US college teams, hosting in the past other Division One programs such as Winthrop, George Washington, Wagner, Texas Christian and Washington State, and now add Hartford, based in the northeast corner of the United States and playing out of the America East conference, to the list.

The man tasked with leading the rebirth of one of the country’s most iconic sporting teams, Kings’ head coach Ian ‘Moose’ Robilliard, is excited about the squad’s first hit-out as they continue their build-up to the NBL season opener against the Melbourne Tigers on October 15 followed immediately by the game all Sydney has been waiting for – the home opener Saturday October 16 against the New Zealand Breakers.

“I’m looking forward to it”, Moose said. “This is the start of a number of preseason games we’ve got that will help us build some structure, some organisation and really help with building the chemistry of the group”.

“The main thing I want to do is have a close look at our defensive principles and see how we execute those”, he continued. “We’ve put in a basic offensive system and the guys we’ve got should have no problems getting into a flow at that end of the floor, but the big thing for us is the defensive side of the ball”.

Hartford is on a whirlwind ten day Australian tour as they begin their preparations for the upcoming NCAA season, taking on the Kings, Melbourne Tigers and Wollongong as part of their busy schedule.

The Hawks are coming off a disappointing 2009/2010 campaign, going 8-22 and missing out on the prestigious NCAA tournament, but like the Kings there is a feeling that brighter days are ahead for a team that returns six seniors including their top three players from last season.

First year coach John Gallagher, a basketball lifer at age 32 with 11 years of Division One college coaching experience already behind him, is looking to instil his passion, enthusiasm and high energy into the program, and you can expect Hartford to come out on Saturday and provide the Kings with tough opposition.

Hartford’s squad is headed by senior Joe Zeglinski, a standout guard coming off an excellent season where he averaged 16.5 points per game and five rebounds, and he is the all-time leader in three pointers made in school history. Morgan Sabia is a 6’8” forward whose coach called him “one of the best shooters in America” and he is using this trip as an opportunity to showcase his talents for a possible future as an overseas professional, while Andres Torres is the team’s floor general and assist leader who’ll be pushing the ball up the floor every chance he gets.

For their part, the Kings won’t have their full complement of players available with both Ben Knight and Damien Ryan still in the middle of injury rehab and a couple of others suffering some niggling complaints, but the purple and gold will still send out a formidable line-up this Saturday night.

To begin with, Kings’ fans should get their first glimpse of the super-athletic Taj McCullough, an excitement machine the team hopes will live up to the great tradition of high-flying Sydney imports like the legendary Dwayne McClain and Leon ‘Above the Rim’ Trimmingham.

McCullough’s fellow American Rod Grizzard, a multi-skilled forward who can do just about anything on the floor, will also make his debut in the purple and gold, and if you haven’t caught new point guard Luke Cooper in action in the recently completed Waratah League competition, you are in for a treat – the 5’10” dynamo boasts incredible speed and a non-stop motor and is bound to become a fan favourite this season.

Then there’s former NBL championship winners Graeme Dann and Luke Martin, coming back to the team they enjoyed unprecedented success with during Sydney’s three-peat title run in the mid 2000s, while centre Julian Khazzouh, one of the nation’s most talented big men, makes his first appearance for the Kings and after a stint in Europe is determined to prove that he is worthy of the term ‘franchise player’.

The game tips off at 7:00pm at Alexandria Stadium, located at 55 Maddox St Alexandria, and is expected to be a sellout, so make sure you arrive early to avoid disappointment. Tickets are available at the door and are a very reasonable $10.00 for adults and just $5.00 for children.

Don’t miss out on your first chance to see the reborn Sydney Kings in action!

http://www.nbl.com.au/kings-shortcu...f-hartford-to-open-20102011-preseason-action/

The King of Kings now a Hall of Famer
August 19, 2010, 08:32 AM AEST
By: Sydney Kings

The late Michael Wrublewski OAM received the ultimate honour, with his induction into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame. The award was presented to him posthumously at a glittering ceremony at the Grand Ballroom of the Sofitel Hotel in Melbourne on Wednesday August 18.

The man who created one of the most iconic sporting brands in the country, and one of its most recognisable sports franchises – the Sydney Kings, sadly passed away in August 2009 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. His elevation to the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame is a just reward for an individual who personified drive, great passion, and determination.

Wrublewski joined existing legends of the sport in the Hall of Fame such as Andrew Gaze, Leroy Loggins, Cal Bruton, Phil Smyth and Sydney’s ‘Mr Magic’ Steve Carfino. He has become the third member of the Sydney Kings’ family to be accorded Australian basketball’s highest honour.

Sydney Kings’ General Manager, Bob Turner, a Hall of Famer himself presented Mike’s award to the Wrublewski family. Mike’s wife Shauna and sons Adam and David accepted the award on Mike’s behalf, and Bob later paid tribute to his friend and long-time ally.

It was Turner who, along with Mike and Lorraine Landon, formed a powerful troika that oversaw the Kings’ rise to prominence.

Speaking about Wrublewski's contribution to the game, Bob Turner said that he was one of those characters in a sporting code that made a huge difference.

"He had incredible passion, remarkable energy, and he would never take no for an answer. I was enormously proud to be asked to present the award to his family and it’s an award he richly deserved," Turner said.

"Mike was a key figure in dragging the National Basketball League from its humble beginnings in 1979 into a fully professional age where the sport of basketball became so much more than an afterthought," Turner added.

Thanks in large part to Wrublewski's vision and leadership basketball flourished in the early to mid 1990s and the Kings became a well-known and highly marketable brand. This was previously something previously unheard of for a sport considered second-tier by most fans in the Harbour City.

Mike Wrublewski's passion for the game was never more evident than when it all started for him back in 1983 when he was convinced by friend and NBL treasurer Tom York to take over the reins of the Sydney Supersonics. At the time, the team was bankrupt and looking squarely down the barrel of extinction.

With the sport suffering from a lack of interest and corporate support in Sydney, Mike did everything he could to promote the Supersonics and the game of basketball.

Whether it was selling programs at the front door at games, ringing up every radio station to talk about basketball, and banging down as many corporate doors as he could to get people interested and involved in the sport, Mike Wrublewski was a man on a mission.

That incredible drive and passion for basketball, coupled with his exceptional business sense, would eventually lead him to broker a merger between the two Sydney teams at the time, the Supersonics and West Sydney Westars. The organisation that was born of that union, the Sydney Kings, was responsible for taking the sport to hitherto undreamed of levels.

As the chairman of the Kings he took the team from regularly selling out the State Sport Centre in Homebush in 1989 to its first 10,500 sell-out at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in May 1990. It was this game against the Brisbane Bullets about which Daily Telegraph scribe Jeff Wells famously wrote, “it was the night pro basketball arrived in this town.”

Incredible off-court success followed, culminating in the golden period of Sydney and Australian basketball between 1992 and 1994. Sell-outs were the norm, the Kings had a waiting list for corporate boxes, and the team did a remarkable job engaging with the local community.

Mike’s services to basketball were so much more than just the running of the Sydney Kings. He also bought the Sydney Flames WNBL team and helped the women’s game enormously by staging the 1994 FIBA World Championship. For a time, he owned an English basketball franchise and ran the 1998 the World Championships for wheelchair basketball.

Mike stepped away in 2000 having established a legacy that will forever endure, and one the Sydney Kings’ current ownership group is determined to honour.

He was a giant of the sport of basketball in Australia, and now we can call him a Hall of Famer.

2010 Australian Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees


Michael AhMatt – Player, 
Sandy Blythe – Player, 
Sandy Brondello – Player, 
David Carmichael - Contributor, 
Merv Emms – Coach, 
Trisha Fallon – Player, 
Shelley Gorman – Player, 
Ricky Grace – Player, 
Elaine Hardwick – Player, 
Greg Love – Technical Official, 
Karin McRobert – Player, 
Julie Nykiel – Player, 
Michael Wrublewski – Contributor, 
Bill Wyatt – Player

About the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame


The Australian Basketball Hall of Fame recognises those people who have made an outstanding contribution to the sport of basketball in Australia at the international or national levels, NBL/WNBL, State/Association, local level, or to basketball generally. These Awards reflect and acknowledge the growth of basketball in Australia and the wonderful tradition that has been developed and is continuing to establish basketball as one of the premier sports in Australian sporting history. The ABHF is open to able-bodied athletes as well as athletes with a disability. Inductees to the ABHF can be in four divisions – Player, Coach, Technical Official or Contributor. The awards reflect an outstanding contribution to Australian basketball in one of these four divisions. Prior to 2010, there were two separate Halls of Fame for basketball, the NBL Hall of Fame and the Basketball Australia Hall of Fame. These have now been amalgamated into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame with all previous inductees automatically granted entry into the combined body.

http://www.nbl.com.au/kings-shortcut/news/article/2010/august/the-king-of-kings-now-a-hall-of-famer/

 

[Lumpy]

I will be there on the 16th as well. Maybe we should all wear something Shark related so we can find each other?

 

[El Coconuto]

"Renewed" my season tickets today. Bring on the season

 

[snowman]

did they win on saturday.
one of my mates got a development spot with them, he loved signing autographs on the weekend

just read the smashed them without grizzard

 

[Sharky Pete]

did they win on saturday.
one of my mates got a development spot with them, he loved signing autographs on the weekend

just read the smashed them without grizzard

Total cakewalk, mate.

Kings beat University of Hartford in historic preseason opener
August 21, 2010, 11:20 PM AEST
By: Sydney Kings - Matt McQuade

It’s been a long time coming, but on Saturday night at Alexandria Basketball Stadium, the Sydney Kings made their long-awaited return to the basketball court with an outstanding 111-60 blowout win over visiting US college team the University of Hartford.

Four players, including imports Taj McCullough and Rod Grizzard, were unable to suit up, but it mattered little, as a group that has only been together for a brief period of time put together 40 minutes of quality basketball against an NCAA Division One opponent.

It was ‘Back to the Roots’ night as the Kings returned to the Sydney birthplace of the National Basketball League and an excited sellout crowd generated plenty of noise.

Two years of pent up frustration were released as the purple and gold took the floor after their long absence.

A huge roar greeted the players as they were introduced and there was a tremendous atmosphere in the venerable gym, a great sign that the game of basketball is alive and well in the Harbour City.

“The best thing as a fan or spectator is you want to see your team play hard, and this team showed it will do that this season”, an elated Sydney Kings’ General Manager Bob Turner said afterwards.

“Tonight I thought the biggest winner was Ian Robilliard, because this team can really play, and that’s a tribute to him. I mean we had four of our top seven players out including both imports, and to put on a show like that and hold that team to 60 points means that when we get the complete squad on the floor it’s going to be something exciting to watch”.

It was of course a great way for the revitalised Kings to kick off what will be a busy preseason schedule, but more important than the result was the realisation that one of the most iconic sporting teams in Australia has finally been reborn.

For Sydney Kings coach Ian ‘Moose’ Robilliard, the night represented a career come full circle. ‘Moose’ was a member of Sydney’s original franchise, the City of Sydney Astronauts, way back when it all began in 1979, and he made his coaching debut in the same building where he first laced ’em up in the NBL more than 30 years ago.

The seventh head coach to lead the Sydney Kings was very pleased with the first-up effort of his troops.

“For us it’s about setting standards, and I think the guys showed tonight what’s going to define us”, he said after the game.

“It’s all about effort and commitment game in and game out, and win lose or draw if we can bring that to the table every night we’ll be fine”.

Hartford were unfortunately missing their captain and leading scorer Joe Zeglinski, who is continuing his rehab after offseason surgery, and had no answers to a pumped-up Kings squad.

First year coach John Gallagher tried to take some positives out of the defeat, his team’s third straight on a ten day tour that will see them play against the Melbourne Tigers and Gold Coast Blaze in upcoming games.

“We played really hard, but right now we just don’t know how to play or how to win”, he said afterwards.

“We played against a team that know how to play and know how to win. They obviously have a great organisation and it’s exciting for basketball that they are back”.

“This tour is going to be huge for us, and I can’t thank the Hartford administration enough for helping to facilitate it. We’re going to be using it to identify our strengths and weaknesses, to see what kind of hand we’ve been dealt, and I’m convinced this experience is going to help us win games down the track”, he concluded.

Sydney shot 47% from the field to Hartford’s 28%, and restricted the Hawks to just 6 of 35 shooting from three point range in the massive victory.

Every King who took the court scored in a pleasing sign of the team’s depth. Julian Khazzouh was a dominant force inside with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Ben Madgen was outstanding with 19 points, six rebounds and three assists and Luke Martin led the team exceptionally well with 12 points, eight assists and four steals.

Hartford got 14 points and seven boards from forward Genesis Maciel and 10 points and four rebounds from Ross Erickson, but struggled with Sydney’s physicality and intense defensive pressure and were overrun in the second half.

Right from the start, Sydney looked highly motivated. Khazzouh hit the first basket for the reborn Kings with a sweet jump hook, followed by a Martin steal and feed to Jared Scoines for the deuce and one as the home team jumped out to an early 5-0 lead.

Playing with a great deal of energy and urged on by their coaches to play tough D, Sydney put the hammer down midway through the period, sprinting to a 20-7 lead thanks to a 14-0 run keyed by impressive rookie guard Madgen.

The former Augusta State standout nailed a pair of threes and knocked down two free throws to show the crowd he could potentially be a force for the Kings this season.

Hartford tried to hang tough with a couple of three pointers from forwards Maciel and Ericksen, but Sydney’s pressure defence and transition game was taking its toll, and with all ten players seeing court time and contributing in the first ten minutes, the Kings led 35-22 after one.

The Hawks looked to up the tempo in the opening minutes of the second period, but with Luke Martin leading the way from the point brilliantly and Madgen continuing his offensive pyrotechnics, Sydney maintained a comfortable 14 point advantage with six minutes left in the half.

A power jam from backup forward Oren Faulk got the crowd excited and the Hartford bench on their feet, but the Kings stayed firmly in control, and Madgen was unstoppable, draining one shot after the other as the Kings surged to a 51-32 lead within the last four minutes.

Hartford’s Maciel scored five straight points to cut into the margin, but Sydney’s Luke Cooper wowed the crowd with a spectacular shake and bake move for the basket and the foul, converting the free throw for the three point play to push the margin out to 19 once again.

However, Hawks’ guard Charles White had an answer with a tough bucket of his own, and when Ericksen made a pretty reverse layup, Hartford had made it a 59-43 game at the main break.

Madgen had 14 at intermission for the Kings on a perfect four of four from the field, while Martin had seven points, five assists and three steals. Maciel was best for the Hawks with 12 points and four rebounds and Ericksen contributed a solid eight points for the visiting team.

Both teams struggled coming out of the gate to begin the third period, but Scoines hit a trey and Martin found Graeme Dann with a beautiful feed for the two hand dunk as Sydney’s lead ballooned to 21 with six minutes left in the period.

Again, the Kings increased their defensive pressure, forcing Hartford into several turnovers, and development player Jarrad Weeks had five straight points as the margin began to blow out.

After playing the night before, the Hawks’ legs started to betray them and an aggressive Sydney took full advantage.

They pushed the ball at the fatigued Hartford squad as often as possible, sprinting to an 83-50 lead at the final change thanks to back to back three point bombs from Kevin White and Luke Martin.

The final period was a mere formality as Coach Robilliard rotated his players frequently and the team put on an offensive show in front of an appreciative crowd, with Khazzouh in particular doing anything he wanted in the low post.

They blew Hartford off the floor with some outstanding unselfish play and completely locked them down at the defensive end, holding them scoreless for over five minutes as they went on a remarkable 24-0 run.

From there it was just a question of how big the margin would be, and although the Hawks never stopped trying, they were simply no match for the purple and gold in the end.

Sydney’s unselfishness and committed defensive effort was something the team is going to hang its hat on this season and it pleased Moose greatly.

“You can see that intensity and defensive effort is what we are going to be about this season”, he enthused.

“That passing, that ball movement and the teamwork tonight after just a week and a half of training was quite exceptional”, he continued. “I think the crowd would have enjoyed that part of the game”.

It was a great winning start for the reborn Kings in front of a tremendous crowd. Post game the entire team stayed to sign as many autographs as the fans in attendance wanted, proof positive that the team is committed to its engagement with the community.

This is just the first step in a long journey, but what a great step it was.

http://www.nbl.com.au/kings-shortcu...ity-of-hartford-in-historic-preseason-opener/

did they win on saturday.
one of my mates got a development spot with them, he loved signing autographs on the weekend

just read the smashed them without grizzard

Are you mates with Ben Hollis?

One of the guys who is a fellow admin of the Kings fan page and website in my sig is a mate of his as well.

Show your support for the Sydney Kings basketball team! Visit our fan page on Facebook here.

The Sydney Kings have an extremely interesting history and it is amazing to see them stand before us today! See the History of The Sydney Kings here.

http://www.nbl.com.au/news/article/2010/august/kings-return-adjudged-a-success/

August 24, 2010, 02:58 PM AEST

By: NBL

Whilst it is still very early days, the return of the Sydney Kings to the National Basketball League is already looking like a success story, on and off the court.

The Kings won their first pre-season game against the University of Hartford Hawks, 111-60, on Saturday night before a capacity crowd at the Alexandria Basketball Stadium.

The match was the first match for the iconic team since they lost Game Five of the NBL Grand Final series to the Melbourne Tigers on 14 March 2008.

They may have been gone from the NBL for two seasons but they clearly weren’t forgotten, as more than 800 vocal fans packed the small suburban gym to see their team wear the purple and gold for the first time in two-and-a-half years.

Whilst the Kings squad were without import duo Rod Grizzard and Taj McCullough for the clash, Sydney still managed to record a resounding 51-point victory over the visiting American college side to mark their return with a very large exclamation mark.

Basketball Australia Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock said the performance of the Kings on the court and the fanatical support of Sydney sports lovers off it were extremely positive signs for both the club and the NBL competition itself.

“We have never shied away from the fact that the NBL does need to have a strong and viable presence in the Sydney marketplace for the league to be successful as a national competition,” said Sengstock. “That makes Saturday’s return of the Kings to pre-season competition an important step for the NBL.

“Sydney’s return to the competition helped us sign our long-term deal with Network Ten and their digital sports channel ONE and was also an important factor in the signing of new partners in the off-season like Spalding and AND1.

It has also opened doors that have been closed over the past two-and-a-half years in terms of major sponsorship and we hope to have news on that front in the not too distant future.

“The fact that the Kings first pre-season game also attracted a capacity crowd shows that the Kings brand remains incredibly strong in Sydney, despite the team’s enforced absence from the NBL,” Sengstock continued.

“Sydney have always been one of our top drawing teams on the road in terms of attendance, so having the Kings back in the competition will benefit all of our clubs. The fact that the Kings showed some early promise with an impressive showing against Hartford also indicates that the team should be very competitive this year.

A strong Sydney team should also be a boost for our TV viewership of the coverage on Ten and ONE.”

The Sydney Kings play their next pre-season game on September 3 at 7:00PM against intrastate rivals the Wollongong Hawks at the Illawarra Basketball Stadium.

The Kings face long-time rivals the Melbourne Tigers on the road in a classic Sydney-Melbourne confrontation on Opening Night (October 15) of the 2010/11 NBL regular season at the State Netball Hockey Centre (AKA ‘The Cage’).

The Kings will play their first regular season home game at ‘The Kingdome’ (the Sydney Entertainment Centre) when they return to Sydney on Saturday 16 October to host the New Zealand Breakers in their home opener. That will see the Kings end a 927-day absence from the competition.

 

[El Coconuto]

I just spent $4,000 on a whole row (16 seats) of season tickets for my family. Needless to say, we are and always have been HUGE Sydney Kings fans. That they are back from the dead is better then winning the Lotto.

(Kinda)

:borat

 

[Sharky Pete]

I just spent $4,000 on a whole row (16 seats) of season tickets for my family. Needless to say, we are and always have been HUGE Sydney Kings fans. That they are back from the dead is better then winning the Lotto.

(Kinda)

:borat

Great stuff EC.

I too can't wait for the new season.

Roll on October 16!!!!

Kings meet arch-rival Hawks in preseason battle this Friday night
September 01, 2010, 10:22 AM AEST
By: Sydney Kings - Matt McQuade

For the first time in nearly two years, the Sydney Kings come up against a National Basketball League opponent as they face the Wollongong Hawks in what should be a fiery preseason clash at the venerable Snakepit in Wollongong this Friday night.

Sydney-Wollongong games have been traditionally intense and hard-fought and this game represents a significant step up in the level of competition the Kings have dealt with so far in this preseason.

“We’re looking forward to getting out there and playing a team we’ll face a few times this season”, Kings’ guard Luke Martin said.

“It’s going to be a challenge for us to go into that stadium. Wollongong fans are really passionate and I’m sure there will be a great atmosphere on Friday night”.

Over the years, the Kings and Hawks have engaged in some fierce battles, no matter the circumstances. On the surface, this may be nothing more than a practice game as both teams gear up for the 2010/11 regular season, but for these arch-rivals, the reality will be something completely different.

They’ll be hanging from the rafters at the Snakepit, one of the great old NBL gyms and the original home of the Hawks, and you better believe those Hawk fans will be baying for Sydney’s blood. The faces may be different, and it may have been a long time since the Kings have been in the league, but nothing has changed as far as Wollongong supporters are concerned.

They want to beat Sydney in the worst possible way.

To that end, the Kings will need to approach this game with a great deal more intensity and focus than what they displayed last week in Maitland.

Sydney came out flat against the Maitland Mustangs and nearly paid the price, but managed to escape with a tight victory after an improved second half display.

“We’ve definitely identified areas we need to work on”, Martin admitted. “Rebounding is a concern and we need to do a better job of containing dribble penetration, but the main thing for us is we need to make sure we come with the right mindset and we’re always ready to play”.

“Maitland was a little wakeup call for us, and we realise that game was one we need to learn from”.

The last time Sydney went up against an NBL ballclub was Game Five of their classic 2008 NBL Grand Final series with the Melbourne Tigers and this should be a good early barometer of their form against a team that was a true Cinderella story last season.

The Hawks were predicted by many judges to finish last in the competition, but shocked the NBL by losing just once at home all season. They finished second in the minor rounds and took eventual champion the Perth Wildcats right to the limit in a pulsating Grand Final series, ending their brilliant campaign with a great deal of honour.

Eight of that team returns this season including one-time Sydney Kings’ forward Glen Saville, who is joined by Wollongong legend Matty Campbell and vastly improved big man Larry Davidson in an imposing troika.

The Hawks have also signed new American point guard Gary Ervin and are frantically trying to secure his immigration clearance for this game. If he is good to go, he should present Martin and fellow point guard Luke Cooper with some tough competition.

For Sydney’s part, they are looking for more out of new import Taj McCullough, who had a solid 15 points on debut last week and displayed some good outside shooting range. Martin is impressed with the athletic forward out of Winthrop University and predicted he would be a difficult matchup for anyone in the National Basketball League.

“I think he’s just going to get better and better as the season goes on”, Martin said.

“He’s going to be a tough cover for any power forward in the league. He’s big enough and strong enough and athletic enough to defend them, but I’m not sure the same can be said for when he’s got the ball and they have to try to stop him”.

“He’s active and explosive, and he’ll be a really solid player for the Kings”.

Expect a much improved display from the Kings this Friday night. They know they have to up the level of their play against a quality team coming off an outstanding campaign in 2009/10.

Sydney is champing at the bit to get underway against a genuine NBL opponent, and even though it’s preseason, the Kings are determined to put on a good showing for the many fans of the purple and gold sure to make the trek down the F6 freeway.

Kings-Hawks. It’s history. It’s tradition. It’s a rivalry renewed.

Tickets are $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for children and $20.00 for a family of four. A limited number will be available at the Snakepit door, or you can reserve your seat by calling the Wollongong Hawks’ office on 02 42297722.

Sydney Kings vs Wollongong Hawks

Friday 3 September

Tipoff 7:00pm

Illawarra Basketball Stadium (The Snakepit)
Beaton Park, Gwynneville

http://www.nbl.com.au/kings-shortcu...-hawks-in-preseason-battle-this-friday-night/

 

[El Coconuto]

I once played at the snakepit when it was packed out in state league. Craziest place to play when it's pumping. The crowd is so close it feels like they're breathing down your back. If you like history, get down there and watch this one.

 

[Sharky Pete]

I once played at the snakepit when it was packed out in state league. Craziest place to play when it's pumping. The crowd is so close it feels like they're breathing down your back. If you like history, get down there and watch this one.

Wish I could EC.

But I finish work in North Sydney at 5:10 and it takes ages to get Wollongong via train.

Even travelling from home in the Shire takes ages to get down there.

 

[SharkLabelSociety]

I just spent $4,000 on a whole row (16 seats) of season tickets for my family. Needless to say, we are and always have been HUGE Sydney Kings fans. That they are back from the dead is better then winning the Lotto.

(Kinda)

:borat

Any chance you could loan a brother one if one of them don't show up? I'll pay for the beer.