Kings' depth impresses coach Abdelfattah
By
NBL.com.au writers
5 Sep
1
min read


As the Sydney Kings prepare to chase a three-peat in NBL24, head coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah has revealed he could shake up the starting lineup as the campaign progresses.
The former G-League champion head coach is thrilled with the depth of talent at his disposal and says a rotating starting five could occur this season, a different take on the consistent five-man units we usually see from teams.
GRAB YOUR TICKETS TO THE KINGS' HOME MATCHES NOW
As he praised his full roster of eager Kings, Abdelfattah dropped the hint of treating the season with an NFL mindset, a strategy that will have the whole league watching.
“Going from game to game, coming from the States, I might be thinking about treating it like an NFL season and mix it up every game… I am very happy with the entire team,” Abdelfattah said.
Watch our Harvey Norman media call with Mahmoud Abdelfattah via Sydney Kings' YouTube channel above. While you're there, be sure to hit subscribe, to ensure you never miss out on any of our great videos.
The Palestinian-American coach has made a name for himself this offseason, preaching that the well-being of his players will be key in their success.
“You will just have to make sure they are in a good place, physically, mentally and that they are enjoying every single day," he said.
“We are going to play fast and try to score a lot of points, but as long as you score more points than others, that is what matters most.”
The Kings won back-to-back championships under the leadership of former coach Chase Buford, and 2023 MVP Xavier Cooks, but both men have departed Sydney, with Cooks joining the Washington Wizards.
BECOME A SYDNEY KINGS' NBL24 MEMBER NOW
A different, but familiar Kings team, will showcase their new style this year, with former NBA player Denzel Valentine one of the offseason's biggest signings.
“Zel (Denzel Valentine) is an NBA talent; obviously, he is here for a year and then hoping to be back in the NBA, which I think he will be,” Abdelfattah said.
“I have had a previous relationship just knowing Denzel, from his Michigan State days… he is excited to be here [and] we have the same goals in life, so I am glad to have him.”
The Kings will first appear on court in NBL24 on Saturday, September 30 against their New South Wales rivals, the Illawarra Hawks. The game will be broadcast live and free on ESPN via Kayo Sports.

10 Mar
Madgen takes his place in Sydney Kings Ring of Honour

4 Mar
Sydney Kings rally the city with ‘Banners Aren’t Raised Alone’ campaign

4 Mar
Hoops Capital Youth League – Term 2 2026 Registrations Now Open!

4 Mar
Sydney Kings brings NBL Finals fever to Bondi Beach

4 Mar
A fine balancing act for Kings ahead of semis

1 Mar
Showman Noi ready to bring finals energy

25 Feb
VOTING OPEN: Sydney Kings Ring of Honour

25 Feb
Player update: Robertson to miss finals, recovery begins

24 Feb
'We were a match made in heaven' - Davis

24 Feb
Goorjian wins NBL Coach of Year for seventh time

21 Feb
NBL26 Award Finalists Revealed

21 Feb
Goorj praises Kings for controlling their 'destiny'

20 Feb
Kings crowned 2025/26 regular season champions

19 Feb
Kings won’t risk complacency with top spot on the line

19 Feb
Kings full of pride of their Savannah connection

17 Feb
Maluach steps up as Kings’ key contributor
Support your team with the latest gear
Grab your latest team releases before they're gone.

Get the latest Team Updates
Breaking news & special offers. Direct to your inbox.
