Letter from the Chairman and Owner Paul Smith

Dear Kings members,

The 2021-22 season is just around the corner and hope springs eternal. But hope isn’t a strategy, and right now ten clubs think they are a solid chance at winning a Championship.

We are very glad to put last season behind us, the Basketball Gods are a cruel mistress as we learnt. Injuries took an enormous toll, so we can only try to tread carefully, avoid walking under ladders, and plan to bring that same toughness the playing group showed all through last season that made us so proud.

NBL22 MEMBERSHIPS ARE ON SALE NOW

On the injury front DJ, Angus and myself are all in good shape and excited to re-join the squad. DJ still has some further rehab to undergo but his progress is looking good, and Gus is back in full training mode and hungry to build on his promising start to last season.  

Our new Head Coach Chase Buford has finally arrived in the greatest city in the world and the Hoops Capital of Australia. Last week he was released from quarantine and has spent his first few days with the players that are in Sydney, with the remainder of the squad due to arrive at the end of September. It’s a privilege to have Chase and his fiancé Kelly here with us, and we are very grateful for his commitment to our Club.

Bogues and I have navigated our first off-season together as co-owners, and it has been great to read everyone’s comments that anything good we have done recently is due to the ‘Bogut Factor’. I’ve noticed Bogues has been strangely silent on social media in trying to change that opinion. On a serious note, we’ve had a tremendously successful off-season period led by Chris Pongrass, Luc Longley and in the latter stages Coach Buford, who have worked tirelessly on a process that started around the mid-point of last season.

Without levellers like a Draft or the ability to make player trades, off-season roster construction plays such a critical role in determining the success of the season. With a solid cohort of returning players and an exceptional brace of incoming locals, imports, and a Next Star – we are confident that we have a squad that will be very exciting to watch, and our members can be proud of.

I want to congratulate Chris particularly, as he was given serious financial constraints going into this off-season. Last season was a financial disaster, and ownership formed the view that we needed to bring a very prudent approach to salaries for NBL22. I can tell you that many players took less money than on offer elsewhere, or signed on without going to market, accepting our offer. What was clear to us through these actions is that our players really want to play for the Kings and have made financial sacrifices to do so.

There is always speculation around the league as to which clubs spend to buy a Championship. Essentially, Chris was set a target to be under the salary cap so that we would not pay any luxury tax this season. The luxury tax is imposed by the NBL on teams that spend over the allowable limit (the soft cap), and our current spend puts us below this. The NBL does not allow clubs to announce their player payroll, but I am committing to sharing with you if we have any salary tax obligations and if so, what they are. I would welcome all clubs to do this to allow fans to get some perspective on the relative payrolls, without divulging specific player salaries.

As we turn our attention to today, it’s important to acknowledge the situation we find ourselves in as a community. I hope that you, and those around you, are coping as best you can. Many words have been spoken recently as we struggle, but my personal view is that vaccination is one very important way for us all to find a more sustainable way to live with COVID. Looking forward is better than looking back, and my sense is that when circumstances are such that we can have fans return to sport, it will be an important way to reunite and rally around a passion we all share. 

On a positive note, we are in the final stages of planning for a 14-game home season. It will inevitably have a few twists and turns along the way, but our members can have full confidence in our commitment to delivering an exciting season that is done responsibly, and puts our team, staff, members, and fans safety first.

I referenced at the opening of this message that hope isn’t a strategy. So instead, I ask not for hope, but the occasional prayer from you to the Basketball Gods to show us all a little love this season.

Thank you for your unwavering support and passion for this great club.   

Let’s Go Sydney.  
Paul Smith

Chairman and Owner
Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings

MEMBERSHIPS ARE ON SALE NOW FOR THE NBL22 SEASON