Kings NBL21 roster breakdown

Written by Matt McQuade for Kings Media

Change is the key word in any NBL offseason.

It happens to every team. Rare is the time where clubs don’t suffer the departure of at least one key member of their roster from the previous season.

For some teams, that change is extreme and requires a rebuild to at least some degree. For others, it might be a change that doesn’t impact the club all that much and enables that important theme when it comes to a successful team – continuity.

And when it comes to the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings, place them in the former category as far as this chaotic offseason is concerned.

The changes the purple and gold have undergone over the past months have been enormous and well-documented, but they are still worth covering here. Two retirements – one the greatest big man this country has ever produced and the other the team captain, who is an NBL legend and future Hall of Famer. And two other departures – one a superstar forward who was named to the NBL20 All-Star First Team, the other a coaching wunderkind who took his team in his one and only NBL season to a 20-8 regular season record and a Grand Final appearance.

Andrew Bogut. Kevin Lisch. Jae’Sean Tate. Will Weaver. That’s four significant outs in anyone’s language.

Then of course, you add in the unfortunate preseason injury to emerging star Xavier Cooks, one that will keep him sidelined for up to three months, and you begin to understand the massive challenge that the Kings face in NBL21.

However, it is not all doom and gloom for the three-time NBL champs. For one thing, the team has established a solid culture built on selflessness and self-sacrifice for the betterment of the group that they can lean on during the trying times to come. For another, being able to replace Coach Weaver with one of the brightest minds and most respected individuals in basketball in Adam Forde was huge for the program. And then having the ability to bring back a spectacular two-way player in Casper Ware plus recruit three impressive players who figure to make an immediate impact means the cupboard is far from bare.

Not only that, you’ve got an NBA draftee and Next Star in his second season who will likely tear this league apart, a couple of outstanding veterans to provide great leadership and experience and other guys who will step up with that next man up mindset.

Add it all up, and you’ve got a team that will be one every fan will be proud of in a season where nothing is certain, a unit that will fight and scrap and claw their way to victory in every ballgame, a squad that will come out with a never-say-die attitude and be a club that absolutely no one wants to face in NBL21.

The old Sydney Kings’ slogan in the 1990’s was ‘The Challenge Has Just Begun!’ and it seems apt right now. But rest assured, this is a challenge that the 2020/2021 Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings will rise to meet.

SYDNEY KINGS

Last season: 20-8, first in regular season, lost to Perth Wildcats in Grand Final

2019/20 Points For: 94.2ppg, third

2019/20 Points Against: 88.5ppg, third

2019/20 Field Goal Percentage: 47.5%, second

2019/20 Defensive Field Goal Percentage: 43.0%, first

2019/20 Three Point Field Goal Percentage: 33.7%, eighth

2019/20 Defensive Three Point Field Goal Percentage: 36.4%, sixth

2019/20 Free Throw Percentage: 71.4%, eighth

2019/20 Rebounds: 37.5rpg, second

2019/20 Rebound Differential per Game: -3.1, ninth

2019/20 Assists: 18.0apg, sixth

2019/20 Steals: 4.9spg, ninth

2019/20 Blocked Shots: 3.8bpg, first

2019/20 Turnovers: 11.6tpg, fourth

2019/20 Turnovers Forced: 11.0tpg, ninth

2019/20 Turnover Differential per Game: -0.6, sixth

2019/20 Offensive Rating: 113.4, eighth

2019/20 Defensive Rating: 106.5, first

NBL Titles: 3 (2003, 2004, 2005)

NBL Playoff Appearances: 15 (last time 2020)

Homecourt: Qudos Bank Arena, capacity 18,000

Head Coach: Adam Forde (NBL rookie head coach)

Incoming: Jarell Martin (import – NBA G-League); Dejan Vasiljevic (University of Miami); Angus Glover (Illawarra Hawks); Jaylin Galloway (development player); Archie Woodhill (development player)

Outgoing: Andrew Bogut (retired); Jae’Sean Tate (import – NBA (Houston Rockets)); Kevin Lisch (retired); Head Coach Will Weaver (NBA – Houston Rockets)

Projected Starters: Casper Ware (import); Didi Louzada (Next Star); Brad Newley; Craig Moller; Jarell Martin (import)

Bench: Shaun Bruce; Daniel Kickert; Dejan Vasiljevic; Jordan Hunter; Angus Glover; Tom Vodanovich; Lochlan Hutchinson (development player); Jaylin Galloway (development player); Archie Woodhill (development player); Xavier Cooks (injured reserve)

CENTRE

Let’s not sugar coat this – any time you lose a player the calibre of the magnificent Andrew Bogut, your program has taken a massive hit. In his two seasons with the purple and gold, Andrew was the anchor in the middle, a high-post passing savant and low-block terror. But Kings’ GM Chris Pongrass has done a terrific job in coming up with an excellent replacement in NBA veteran Jarell Martin. Martin, a powerful 6’10” big man, was a first-round draft pick of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2015 who played 189 games for Memphis and the Orlando Magic after a stellar two years at Louisiana State University. He’s going to be a matchup problem at this level thanks to his ability to both hurt teams inside and step out to the perimeter and knock down the three ball, and he’ll be a presence in the middle defensively.

FORWARDS

With Xavier Cooks out for at least the first month of the regular season, the onus falls on Craig Moller (6.1ppg, 3.5rpg, 44.6% FG, 88.5% FT) to step up and at least provide a reasonable facsimile of what Cooks brought to the table at the four spot. And Craig is more than capable given his increased minutes. He’s athletic, physical, can step out and stick the three and is very tough to stop in transition. The Kings will also expect him to rebound strongly and defend, and he’ll relish the added responsibility. The wing spot will likely be covered once again by the seemingly ageless Brad Newley (11.5ppg, 4.4rpg, 46.8% FG, 35.3% 3PT FG, 72.8% FT), who had a terrific NBL20 campaign and will be counted on heavily this season. Brad still has that extra gear that allows him to put maximum heat on the rim and he remains dynamite in transition, but it’s his outside shot that has become more reliable through the years and that makes him difficult to guard.

GUARDS

Import floor general Casper Ware (17.9ppg, 2.4rpg, 3.7apg, 36.4% FG, 27.9% 3PT FG, 77.2% FT) comes back to the NBL with a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove, and that makes him a highly dangerous commodity. There’s no question the ultra-competitive superstar was devastated after not being able to lead his team to a championship in 2019/20 and he’ll be determined to go that extra step this time. Expect a focused, dynamic Ware in NBL21. And while Coach Forde can go a number of different ways at the two spot to begin with, the guess is he’ll eventually settle on Next Star Didi Louzada (9.8ppg, 3.5rpg, 39.9% FG, 33.1% 3PT FG, 67.6% FT), who was spectacular at times in his debut NBL season and will be given the greenest of lights in 2020/21. Many judges believe he has the potential to make an All-NBL team and given his size, athleticism and ability to score at all three levels, it’s not surprising that the Brazilian sensation is touted so highly. If he busts out as predicted, the Kings will be in great shape.

BENCH

The (temporary) loss of Xavier Cooks obviously impacts the team’s depth significantly, but Sydney’s hierarchy made another smart play in grabbing former New Zealand Breaker Tom Vodanovich to help fill the void on a short-term basis. The 6’7” forward is solidly built and can stretch the floor, so he should be able to provide good minutes. Sydney is also fortunate to have a pair of Sixth Man of the Year candidates in Shaun Bruce and Daniel Kickert, both of whom excelled last season, while Rookie of the Year candidate Dejan Vasiljevic is a long-range marksman, Angus Glover provides tremendous energy and athleticism at both ends of the floor and Waratah League MVP Jordan Hunter is an improving pivot.

BURNING QUESTION

Will the youngsters make an impact? Dejan Vasiljevic and his deadly perimeter shooting plus Angus Glover’s athleticism and blinding talent are potentially outstanding additions to a roster that has suffered considerable losses in the offseason.

BRAD NEWLEY SAYS

It’s kind of weird that the post-Will Weaver, post-Andrew Bogut, post-Jae’Sean Tate and post-Kevin Lisch era has begun. So, we’ve had a lot of outs, but some very exciting ins with our young guys Dejan and Angus, who’ve been very good. Unfortunately, we are missing out on ‘X’ for a couple of months, but Tommy V has come in and done a good job so far. I’m expecting Craig Moller to have a huge season – he’s been very good in the offseason so far and I think he’s going to have a breakout year. I think Jordy Hunter will get an opportunity as well, and then there’s Jarell, who just from the glimpses we’ve seen of him looks really tough as well. Casper is going to be Casper and I expect Didi to go to another level. Of course, El Toro will still be hanging around and getting up and down the floor. Shaun Bruce in his second year will have a bigger role and I think he’s relishing that chance. It’s exciting times for the club. I think we’ll play pretty similar to how we played last year; our defence is similar and maybe our offence is a bit more structured, but we’ll still play an exciting brand of basketball.

PROGNOSIS

It’s probably not all that surprising that many judges have already dismissed the Kings’ chances in NBL21, given the departure of so many key players, the loss of a highly touted and successful coach and the untimely injury to Xavier Cooks. However, that undersells the potential of a group that will eventually get Cooks back in what will be a tremendous boost, not to mention the prospect of a determined Casper Ware, a budding superstar in Didi Louzada and the experience of a core group that went through the fire of a long playoff run last season. With some intelligent additions, this is a group that will run hard all game, be aggressive and in your face defensively and attack up the floor wherever possible. They will be fun to watch and play with enormous pride. Write off the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings at your peril.