ROUND 2 PREVIEW – KINGS VS HAWKS

Round 1 is in the books.

It’s time for Round 2.

And what a battle in prospect.

For every long-term fan of the Sydney Kings, Sunday night represents another chapter in a rivalry that has no peer in the National Basketball League.

It’s a rivalry that has endured since 1988 – even going back in different guises to when the competition was born in 1979.

It’s a rivalry that has produced some of the most memorable moments in the history of the league – from triumph to devastation; joy to heartbreak.

And it’s a rivalry based on geographic lines between two regions located next to one another, connected by a freeway – ergo, the Freeway Series – where both fanbases are incredibly passionate about their clubs and, to be frank, have no love for one another.

It’s the Kings versus the Hawks, and every time these two teams meet, no matter the circumstances, there’s always just that little more spice. The story goes that when a recruit signs with Illawarra, he is told by the old Hawkheads “We don’t care if we finish with the wooden spoon, just make sure you beat the Kings.”

That’s what Sunday is all about for the visiting team. Beat Sydney, and it just about makes Illawarra’s season, no matter what.

Sydney Kings Head Coach Brian Goorjian, one of two men – the other Alan Black – to have coached both the Kings and the Hawks, is well aware of the danger that Illawarra presents the defending champions this Sunday at Afterpay Arena.

“You’re going to have a team that’s desperate,” ‘Goorj’ said.

“Where they’re scary is that they can really score the ball.

“Their ability to shoot the ball with the personnel they have is really scary.

“For us, it will be about defending, guarding the three-point line, and having a desperation about us.”

Like the G.O.A.T. says, the Hawks will throw everything at the purple and gold, especially given their determination to atone for what was a disappointing performance for them in Round One when they went down to the New Zealand Breakers in Auckland.

And despite already making a reported import change, with Darius Days released by the club during the week, they still have enough horses to cause significant issues.

Start with the three-headed monster in the backcourt, with long-range gunner Tyler Harvey alongside the explosive Milton Doyle and the crafty William Hickey.

Then look at a frontline that boasts NBA experience in import forward Kelan Martin, an outstanding big man in Sam Froling, a terrific defender in Wani Swaka Lo Buluk and a workhorse in Mason Peatling.

Todd Blanchfield and Dan Grida provide veteran experience off the bench.

And Illawarra is coached by NBL25 Coach of the Year Justin Tatum.

It will be a formidable challenge to be sure.

But one the purple and gold will rise to meet.

Sydney opened their title defence in style last Sunday when they overpowered Cairns 111-90 in the first of what will be six straight home games to start the Kings’ regular season schedule.

After a hard-fought opening half, the champs put the pedal to the metal in the final 20 minutes to open their NBL27 campaign in the right way, placing no fewer than seven players in double figure scoring and demonstrating to the so-called experts who have written them off already that they may have made a rather large mistake.

From the brilliance of Kendric Davis to the incredible leadership of Xavier Cooks and Matthew Dellavedova, the innate class of Torrey Craig and the excitement generated by rookies like Will Johnston and Harry Wessels plus new import Andrew Carr, not to mention everyone else on a roster that contributed and then some, Sydney have already showed they will be a tough out in NBL27.

“I feel like there’s already a bond amongst the group; something that can be really hard to get after you’ve won a championship”, Coach Goorjian said.

“I feel like the youth has added these elements of underdog, fight, and spirit. I’ve got the leadership group, and I felt like the others are where they should be, but the big thing that came out of that game was the importance of the young guys and what they bring to this thing.

“I felt like walking away from that game that whatever we do this season, we are going to have that competitiveness and fight. I felt really good about that.”

You heard the man, Illawarra. His group is ready for the battle.

WHO

Sydney Kings vs. Illawarra Hawks

WHEN

Sunday 27 September, 6:00pm AEST tipoff

LOCATION

Afterpay Arena, doors open 4:30pm

TICKETS

On sale via Ticketek

THEPLAYERS

KINGS

Projected Starters: Kendric Davis; Matthew Dellavedova; Torrey Craig; Xavier Cooks; Andrew Carr

Bench: Makuach Maluach; Tyler Robertson, Jason Spurgin, Harry Wessels, Jayden Stone, Will Johnston; Peitok Machar; Bailey Hanson

HAWKS

Projected Starters: Tyler Harvey, Milton Doyle, Kelan Martin, Mason Peatling, Sam Froling

Bench: Will ‘Davo’ Hickey, Todd Blanchfield, Dan Grida, Johny Narkle, Amarco Doyle, Fletcher Macdonald, Brodie McGregor

THE COACHES

KINGS

Brian Goorjian (9^th season with Kings, record with Kings 211-86, NBL career record 599-275, 7 NBL championships)

HAWKS

Justin Tatum (4^th season with Hawks, NBL career record 52-43, one NBL championship)

NBL26 REGULAR SEASON SERIES

Kings won 4-0

KEY MATCHUP

Kendric Davis vs Tyler Harvey

Despite not having played a game in around five months and coming in to Afterpay Arena on Sunday with only two practice sessions under his belt, NBL26 Championship Series Most Valuable Player Kendric Davis just picked up right where he left off with an imperious display, dropping a casual 26 points to go along with five rebounds and six assists and doing whatever he wanted against the Taipans. Kendric is a competitive beast who can beat you any way you want, and if this is even possible looks more motivated than he was in that landmark 2025/26 season. Tyler Harvey surprisingly came off the bench in his team’s first round loss to New Zealand, but every opposing coach still lives in fear of his ability to light up the scoreboard at a moment’s notice. The left-hander has extreme outside range coupled with his patented float game, and he has the ability to find the open man. Sydney will need to make him a focal point defensively and restrict his considerable influence as much as possible.

THEQUESTIONS

Will the Kings’ youngsters continue to make an impact for their team?

Can Sydney control both the boards and thetempo?

HISTORY

All-time Head-to-Head

124 games played; Kings lead 69-55

In Sydney

64 games played; Kings lead 36-28

At Afterpay Arena

24 games played; Hawks lead 13-11

DID YOU KNOW?

After losing six straight games to the Hawks – the longest losing streak to Illawarra in franchise history – the Kings have won their past four in a row against the Hawks by an average winning margin of 23.8 points per game. The Kings have also made Afterpay Arena a real fortress of late, currently riding a ten-game winning streak at the NBL’s largest venue – the longest-ever winning run at the stadium for the franchise.

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