A night to remember: Recapping the Kings' Indigenous Round.
10 Mar
1
min read


Before each game, player introductions are theatrical events. With music blaring, courtside announcers hyping up the crowd and the home crowd cheering on each player.
But last weekend in our Indigenous Round home game, the Kings were introduced to the sound of a didgeridoo echoing throughout Qudos Bank Arena.
(Syd Nepomuceno: Aboriginal artist playing the didgeridoo)
The Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings celebrated Indigenous culture in their Indigenous Round home game on March 6 where the Kings took the win over the Cairns Taipans.
With a welcome to country, the afternoon started with Aboriginal music and entertainment while the Kings wore their Indigenous jerseys and warmup shirts.
READ ABOUT THE DESIGN BY STEWART JAMES HERE
The All Black Basketball Club, the local club of Kings' Indigenous player Biwali Bayles, provided a guard of honour as the Kings were introduced.
At halftime, an Indigenous performance was done by the Gadhungal Murring group in the centre of the court.
(Syd Nepomuceno: Gadhungal Murring performance)
After the performance, Aboriginal hip-hop artist Tasman Keith performed one of his hit songs in front of the 9112 fans in attendance.
(Syd Nepomuceno: Tasman Keith performing live)
The end of the night featured two special guests. The Kings’ inaugural head coach and the NBL’s first Indigenous coach Claude Williams and the artist of our Indigenous jersey, Stewart James.
Both were present to award the Claude Williams MVP, given to the best player on the night which happened to be our own Xavier Cooks. Xavier was presented with ball painted by James after his 23 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three block performance. The award was voted by Luc Longley, Tyson Demos, James and Williams.
READ ABOUT THE CLAUDE WILLIAMS MVP AWARD HERE
(Getty: Xavier Cooks being presented with the Claude Williams MVP Award)
The Kings will head to Cairns this Sunday, March 13 at 5.30pm to face the Taipans again in their Indigenous Round home game on ESPN.
The Kings were privileged to host a number of groups in celebration of Indigenous culture:
- Kari Foundation
- The All Blacks Basketball Club
- Midjuburi Ballers
- Yurungai Learning Centre
- Sydney University
- Redfern Youth Connect
- Clontarf Academy Taree
- Tribal Warrior Association
- Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation
- Mudgin-Gal Women's Place
- Wunanbiri Deadly Connections
- Redfern Jarjum College
- Kimberwalli

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