Kings unveil Indigenous jersey design

The Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings are proud to unveil their 2021 Indigenous jersey – an artistic tribute which celebrates the themes of reconciliation, inclusion, and the coming together of the Wangal people of the Eora Nation.

The jersey was designed by Indigenous artist, Bruce Shillingsworth Snr.



The artwork features a gathering of various members of the Wangal People along the Parramatta River (Parra means Eels, Matta means River). The Wangal People lived in the Eora Nation which extends north to Hornsby, west to the Parramatta River, and south to the Royal National Park.

There are three clan groups depicted in the design consisting of men, women and children sitting around the campfire. All individuals and clan groups in the design are protected and brought together by the yellow and purple spirits in the top left and right corners. The purple and white dotted figures in the top left and bottom right-hand corners represent basketballs – the great game that brings all people together.

The artist behind the artwork, Bruce Shillingsworth Snr, is a Murawari - Budgiti man from north western NSW who now resides in Sydney. He has been a lifelong advocate for the education of Aboriginal people and the environment, and currently works for the Department of Education as an educator. Recently he began painting on canvas.

In the lead up to the NBL’s Indigenous Round which was announced today to take place in Round 20 when the Kings take on United at Qudos Bank Arena, Uncle Bruce spoke to the playing group about reconciliation, and the story behind the jerseys that the players will be wearing.

The experience was one of several the Kings players have participated in this season as part of the Club’s commitment to their Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), and ongoing partnership with the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW. AH&MRC will also feature as Club’s official game day partner during Round 20.

In February the Kings and Flames unveiled their first RAP, a critical first step to realising the organisations long-term commitment to positively influence the lives of Indigenous Australians.

As part of that, the Clubs also launched their Healthy Deadly Kids community program which is run in conjunction with AH&MRC.

HDK is unique in Australian sport – developed and run by Indigenous Australians, it is a primary school healthy living education program taught to children of all origins. It is currently delivered in primary school classrooms with the goal to bring online and make available to all Australian kids. 

You can find out more about the HDK program, here.

Indigenous Round tips off on Wednesday May 26, with the Kings ready to the hit the court against cross-state rivals Melbourne United from 8.00pm on Saturday May 29. Tickets are available from ticketek.com.au/sydneykings  

More about the artist:

Bruce Shillingsworth Snr, is a Murawari - Budgiti man from northerwestern NSW, now residing in Waterloo, Sydney. Bruce is one of 11 children and was raised in a creative and artistic family. After collecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories for over 50 years, Bruce recently began to paint on canvas. Bruce has been a lifelong advocate for the education of Aboriginal peoples and the environment, and currently works for the Department of Education as an educator. Bruce also dedicates his time to educating young people through his work with Barnardo’s and Scouts Australia. His vision is that black and white Australians will walk together and see our collective national identities and concerns.