Kings to bring 'dog mentality' in title defence

The Sydney Kings’ famous 'dog mentality' is set to be on full show in NBL23, with Chase Buford warning his side that the chasing pack is coming for them this season.

The Kings got off to a rocky start to kick off Buford’s reign as head coach last season but then embarked on a 13-game win streak en route to the organisation’s first championship win since 2005.

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"We’ve got a target on our backs for a variety of reasons,” Buford said. “One, we’re the champs, two, we were a bunch of arrogant pricks all of last year. Everyone wants to knock us down a peg or two.

“We’re going to come in and be ourselves, be a bunch of dogs and not concern ourselves with what everyone else thinks of us.

“It’s a mentality that resonated with our group.”

If the Kings are to become the first NBL side to win back-to-back championships since Perth in 2017, they’re going to have to do it without their class of imports from last season.

Reigning league MVP Jaylen Adams left the Kings for a contract with Red Star in Serbia while starting centre Jarell Martin has found himself playing for Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv. 2017 NBA Champion Ian Clark is currently without a team.

Justin Simon, Derrick Walton Jr and Tim Soares will look to fill the void left by those key players, but Buford is loathed to look back at what the team has achieved.

“We have to know that nothing we did last year is going to help us. We’re going to have to do it all again,” he said.

“We’re going to have to work harder. We’re going to have to come together.

“We’re going to have to get the most out of them (imports) to have a successful year, but it won’t be just on them.”

The Kings start their title defence on Saturday at Illawarra.