Kings prepared for back-to-back challenge from 'day one'

The Sydney Kings haven't rested on their laurels in their pursuit of back-to-back NBL titles.

After finishing in third on the NBL22 ladder, the Kings overcame the Hawks and JackJumpers in the Playoffs to secure their first championship since 2005 – when Adelaide coach CJ Bruton was in the side, and NBL veteran David Barlow was in just his third season of professional basketball.

The Kings won three straight crowns in their last era of NBL dominance, and they will be looking to repeat the feat, should they overcome the Breakers in the NBL23 Championship Series.

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Kings centre Jordi Hunter says consistency in the coaching staff has allowed the side to follow on well from last season’s success.

“It was almost day one, to be honest when Chase [Buford] said it wasn’t going to be easier by any stretch, and that it was actually going to be harder,” Hunter told SEN.

“We had a lot of turnover player-wise, but we were fortunate enough to keep almost the entire coaching staff, so we had a lot of great carry-over there.

“It was made clear to us that it was going to be a lot harder. Winning last year comes with the honour of having a target on your back this season and I think we responded to that well with our regular season.

“We’ve not had the opportunity to prepare to be repeating champions, but we’re in a fortunate position to learn what that process is about.”

The Kings embracing their so-called ‘villain status’ has been a well-covered storyline of this NBL season.

Sharpshooting guard DJ Vasiljevic spoke on the matter yesterday, and stated the side has come to terms with the fact the series could be a case of “the Kings vs everyone else”.

“I don’t want to speculate why exactly we’re being hated, but I’m sure there’s a myriad of reasons,” Hunter said with a chuckle.

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“We’ve got a lot of love for ourselves in the changerooms so I’m sure that’ll carry us and do us enough good.

“It’s sport, so there’s going to be underdogs and there’s going to be favourites.

"We’re going to be the favourites going in and I’m sure that doesn’t inspire much love from outside the locker room.”

Game one of the Kings' best-of-five Championship Series against New Zealand tips off on Friday, March 3 at 7:30pm AEDT at Qudos Bank Arena, with tickets available here.