ROUND 3 PREVIEW – KINGS VS BULLETS

A very long time ago, there was a game in Sydney that created history.

In the papers they called it basketball’s version of State of Origin football.

The year was 1990.

The Sydney Kings, in just their third year of existence, had made the gutsy – some said crazy – decision to move from the 5,000-capacity State Sports Centre in Homebush to the city’s biggest indoor facility based at Darling Harbour – the 10,000-seat Sydney Entertainment Centre.

They’ll never fill the joint, the sceptics mocked. Basketball isn’t big enough to be taken seriously in Sydney, they claimed.

Well, all that changed come Friday, 25 May 1990, when the Sydney Kings took to the floor to take on the Brisbane Bullets in Round 9 that season.

An incredible 10,388 packed the building – the first-ever sellout at what became known as The Kingdome – to see the Bullets of Derek Rucker, Andre Moore and Leroy Loggins outlast the Kings of Steve Carfino, Damian Keogh, Mark Dalton, Marc Ridlen and the rest 95-92 in what was an absolute epic, both on and off the floor.

The next day, then Daily Telegraph-Mirrorscribe Jeff Wells called the event ‘the night pro basketball arrived in this town.’

Wells was spot on. It was a night that changed everything for basketball in Sydney. A night that truly legitimised the Sydney Kings as a sporting organisation and set them on a path to becoming one of the most iconic teams in the nation.

A lot has happened since that remarkable night.

For one thing, the purple and gold has won six NBL crowns to Brisbane’s one in 2007 – doubling the Bullets total of three NBL championships.

And of course, the Kings reign supreme as the defending NBL title holders.

But for Brisbane, things haven’t been great since that last incredible season they had nearly 20 years ago when they set an NBL record of 21 straight victories enroute to the championship.

In fact, their last few seasons have been a monumental struggle, to say the least, culminating in a wooden spoon finish of 6-27 in NBL26.

Sydney occupied the penthouse last season. Brisbane was buried in the basement.

But the fortunes of the Bullets may beabout to change.

And it could be down to the appointment ofa man to the Brisbane head coaching role who is very familiar to Sydney Kingsfans.

That would be Will Weaver, who in the 2019/2020 season took the Kings all the way to the NBL Grand Final series, in a playoff campaign that would ultimately be severely impacted by the Covid pandemic.

Nonetheless, Coach Weaver did a brilliant job in what would be his sole season with the Kings.

And now he is determined to do the same for these Bullets.

Judging on the early returns in NBL27, Willis off to a tremendous start.

His Brisbane unit is 2-0 after wins over New Zealand and Illawarra, and suddenly a Bullets outfit that has looked moribund for years looks like it could very well be a suddenly legitimate contender.

Sydney Kings Head Coach Brian Goorjian – who won his 600^th game in the National Basketball League last Sunday as his team obliterated the Hawks at Afterpay Arena – paid tribute to Coach Weaver and is well aware of the threat the Bullets pose to his charges this Wednesday.

“It’s just a wonderful job that Will Weaver has done,” ‘Goorj’ said.

“In all aspects of the organisation – the crowd, the support, the teamship they have, the group playing together – this is a real good challenge.

“It’s a must-win for us and an important game.”

Weaver has provided the Brisbane franchise with the kind of sideline leadership it has been craving, and he has put together a roster that has opposing teams paying attention.

It starts with Lithuanian sensation Arnas Velička, Brisbane’s new import floor leader who has become the first player since Derek Rucker in 1990, ironically, to dish for double figure assists in his opening two NBL games. Velička is a big, physical guard who plays with supreme confidence and is blessed with otherworldly vision.

Then there’s a young man – the son of a gun if you will – who has burst on to the NBL scene like a supernova. His name is Max Mackinnon, whose dad Sam is an NBL legend and played for Brian Goorjian. Max is coming off one of the great rookie games in NBL history – a 31 point, 12-rebound masterpiece against Illawarra – and boasts tremendous size and deadly shooting from the outside.

“I’m really enjoying Sam’s treasure and seeing his son play at this level,” Coach Goorjian said.

“The opportunity for him moving forward is exciting for the Boomers, the NBA…there’s so many possibilities there.

“It’s fantastic to see.”

Mackinnon and Velička aren’t the only Bullets that pose danger on Wednesday night in what will be the 100^thNBL game played between these storied franchises.

The Bullets also have an emerging big man in Tyrell Harrison, an explosive import in Nate Hinton, veteran experience in Mitch Norton and another talented youngster in Harry Rouhliadeff to worry about.

They play hard, they play with pace, and they will look to shoot a ton of threes.

Without question, the Kings will need to be locked in to get the W, especially on a quick turnaround after they eviscerated Illawarra last Sunday.

But while there’s still a bit to improve upon for the defending champs in the early going, especially at the defensive end of the floor, they have already shown what an offensive force they will be in NBL27.

NBL26 Championship Series MVP and All-NBL First Teamer Kendric Davis is clearly on a mission this season and has been nothing less than awesome in his opening two games; Torrey Craig is, as ever, smooth and ultra-polished, Xavier Cooks is his usual dominant self in the paint, import big man Andrew Carr looks to be a fine addition and Makuach Maluach has taken his offensive game to a whole new level.

Then add the impact of Sydney’s kids to this group – the ultra-confident Will Johnston, a towering low-post presence in Harry Wessels and an explosive swingman in Jayden Stone who is yet to be fully unleashed and it’s clear the Kings will pose enough questions of their own this Wednesday.

Sydney-Brisbane.

It’s historic.

It’s a rivalry reborn.

WHO

Sydney Kings vs. Brisbane Bullets

WHEN

Wednesday 30 September, 7:00pm AEST tipoff

LOCATION

Afterpay Arena, doors open 5:30pm

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

BULLETS

Projected Starters: Arnas Velička, Nate Hinton, Max Mackinnon, Jaylin Williams, Tyrell Harrison

Bench: Mitch Norton, Jacob Holt, Lat Mayen, Harry Rouhliadeff, Rio Bruton, Archie Woodhill

THE COACHES

KINGS

Brian Goorjian (9^th season with Kings, record with Kings 212-86, NBL career record 600-275, 7 NBL championships)

HAWKS

Will Weaver (1^st season with Bullets, record with Bullets 2-0, NBL career record 25-11)

NBL26 REGULAR SEASON SERIES

Kings won 4-0

KEY MATCHUP

Matthew Dellavedova vs Max Mackinnon

While the Kendric Davis- Arnas Velička duel of elite point guards will be worth the price of admission on its own, this youth vs experience battle will be a huge factor in determining the outcome. ‘Delly’ is one of the greatest defenders and leaders in NBL history and already has been tasked with shutting down the likes of Jack McVeigh and Tyler Harvey, showcasing his impressive defensive versatility. He is an absolute professional who sets the tone for the purple and gold. That all said, Matt will have his work cut out guarding Mackinnon, who is part of the new breed of rookies to have hit the league this season – a group of ballplayers with immense talent who play with unshakable confidence. Max has tremendous size, can score inside and out and is a threat once he crosses the midcourt line, and Delly will need to get physical with him, play up and in and try to wear him out.

THE QUESTIONS

Can the Kings limit Tyrell Harrison’s effectiveness?

Does Brisbane have a legitimate matchup for Torrey Craig?

HISTORY

All-time Head-to-Head

99 games played; Kings lead 61-38

In Sydney

47 games played; Kings lead 35-12

At Afterpay Arena

21 games played; Kings lead 17-4

DID YOU KNOW?

The Kings have won seven straight games over the Bullets, including the last four games by an average of 29.3 points per game. In fact, Sydney’s recent dominance over Brisbane extends back to NBL22 – the purple and gold has won 14 of their last 15 games against the Bullets, with the sole defeat coming at Afterpay Arena in Round 14 of NBL24.

‍