VOTING OPEN: Sydney Kings Ring of Honour

It’s that time of the year again, Kings members and fans!

The Sydney Kings are excited to unveil their nominees for this year's Ring of Honour, which celebrates the club's proud history.

The Ring of Honour award, which has already seen Tom Garlepp, Ben Knight and Brad Rosen inducted, encourages fans and members to vote for and recognise their favourite Sydney players over the last three decades.

Separate from the Sydney Kings Hall of Fame, which is the club’s most distinguished award, the Ring of Honour is an award that the entire Sydney basketball community can get around and involved in.    

Fans and members are encouraged to vote for their favourite players not just for their talent on the court, but for other reasons they believe they may be worthy of recognition.    

• The most entertaining;  
• The courageous;  
• A great teammate; or  
• Those who gave back to our community.   

This year a judging panel, consisting of Kings greats Damian Keogh, Tim Morrissey, and Brad Rosen, along with Hoops Capital Executive Director Matthew Denholm, have shortlisted seven players - which members can vote on to determine the eventual winner.   

CAST YOUR VOTE BY TUESDAY, 3 MARCH

This year's purple and gold nominees are: 

Ben Madgen  

Seasons played with Kings: 5 (2010-2015). 
Games played with Kings: 139.
Career totals with Kings: 2,011 points, 455 rebounds, 278 assists, 97 steals, 19 blocked shots, 4,048 minutes, 42.9% FG, 35.0% 3PT FG, 80.1% FT. 

One of the most loved Kings players for his great work on and off the court, Ben enjoyed plenty of success in the purple and gold.

Known to all as ‘Madge’, Ben arrived at the Kings in 2010 and despite a rocky start, managed to grab the NBL Rookie of the Year award a year later.

A fine sharpshooter, Ben went a step further in 2012/13, taking home the NBL’s scoring title, the Most Improved Award and selection to the All-NBL First Team. 

His efforts saw him honoured with selection in the Kings 25th Anniversary Team in 2013 while still playing for the club. 

Off the court, Ben delivered too, establishing Madgen’s Message of Hope for sick children, where he often visited hospitals to brighten a patient’s day or organising tickets for families to attend Sydney Kings games.  

Leon Trimmingham 



Seasons played with Kings: 2 (1994-1995). 
Games played with Kings: 55.
Career totals with Kings: 1,509 points, 600 rebounds, 82 assists, 94 steals, 119 blocked shots, 2,133 minutes, 56.3% FG, 78.3% FT. 

Leon Trimmingham remains to this very day one of the greatest ‘dunkers’ of all time in the NBL.

A power forward, Leon set many records for the Kings in all aspects of the game, quickly becoming a real crowd favourite.

However, it was his unbelievable acrobatic moves that led to fans raving about his explosive plays that earned Leon the cool nickname of  ‘Above the Rim’.

Many a keen young basketballer would often leave the ‘Kingdome’ in awe of the man in the number 42 singlet. 

Away from the game, Leon was just as active, attending plenty of basketball clinics across NSW during his two-year stint at the Kings. 

 Julian Khazzouh



Seasons played with Kings: 3 (2010-2012; 2015-2016).
Games played with Kings: 70.
Career totals with Kings: 1,130 points; 679 rebounds; 118 assists; 60 steals; 134 blocked shots; 2,189 minutes; 49.0% FG; 26.0% 3PT FG; 73.9% FT.

When the going got tough, Julian Khazzouh was one Kings player who never walked away.

The 2010/2011 season saw the Kings’ return to the NBL after a two-year absence. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a great time for all involved, with Sydney losing a franchise record 14-game losing streak as well as the club’s first wooden spoon.

However Julian stood tall through it all, going on to make the All-NBL First Team before later being recognised with selection in the Australian Boomers national squad. He also finished runner-up in the NBL’s MVP trophy race.

Julian was appointed Kings captain for the 2011/2012 season and wasted little time in making his mark in the competition, producing big numbers. It led to a tryout with NBA Club, Golden State Warriors, and although unsuccessful, it showed what skills and talent Julian and the Kings had at their disposal.

He finished the 2011/2012 season by being chosen in the All-NBL First Team for the second consecutive season and claimed the Kings’ MVP and Player’s Player awards.

Following a three-year stint overseas, Julian returned for the 2015-2016 season, playing 17 games for the Kings before a quadriceps injury saw him miss the entire 2016/17 season, and ending his fine playing career. 

Luke Kendall



Seasons played with Kings: 5 (2004-2008; 2010-2011).
Games played with Kings: 124.
Career totals with Kings: 1,438 points; 489 rebounds; 508 assists; 172 steals; 34 blocked shots; 3,853 minutes; 38.0% FG; 34.8% 3PT FG; 81.8% FT.

Luke Kendall joined the Kings in 2004/2005 and went on to become a famed member of the ‘threepeat title squad’.

Following a successful comeback in 2005/2006, Luke established himself as one of the best guards in the NBL. Known as ‘The Natural’, he played in two of the next three Grand Finals. 

He was a key man for the Kings in 2007/2008 that produced a franchise record 27-3 in the regular season before Sydney fell falling agonisingly short of their fourth title.

Luke played one game in 2010/2011 for the new Kings franchise before finishing with Sydney as an assistant coach from 2016-19.

To this day, Luke sits in the Kings’ top 10 for several different records. 

Ian Robilliard

Seasons played with Kings: 3 (1989-91). 
Games played with Kings: 85
Career totals with Kings:  452 points, 201 rebounds, 173 assists, 80 steals, 18 blocked shots, 1493 minutes, 41.7% FG, 10.3% 3PT FG, 80.1% FT. 

One man who can lay claim to being a true Kings all-rounder is Ian Robilliard.

The man nicknamed ‘Moose’ was a former Kings player, coach and administrator.

A tough, defensive player who never backed away from a challenge, Ian played 250 games in the NBL, mostly with the Newcastle Falcons and Kings.

Appointed coach for the Kings return season in 2010/11, Ian played a major part in the club’s revival and was also at the helm for the 2011/12 season before moving into a managerial role.

Ian also played for the Australian Boomers.

Dwayne McClain


Seasons played with Kings: 3 (1991 – 1993)
Games played with Kings: 78
Career totals with Kings:  2166 points, 501 rebounds, 423 assists, 187 steals, 69 blocked shots, 3375 minutes, 54.8% FG, 30.1% 3PT FG, 74.0% FT. 

A basketball tour of Australia with the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the catalyst for Dwayne arriving at the Sydney Kings.

Spotted by then Sydney coach Bob Turner whilst on tour, Dwayne arrived at the Kings for the 1991 season at the age of 27.

His debut game saw the powerful forward score 24 points and from then on, it didn’t take long for fans, and the NBL, to know when the man nicknamed the ‘D-Train’ was in the house.

A noted big-time player, Dwayne certainly made his presence felt in the memorable 1992 finals against the Melbourne Tigers.

After losing the opening game, Dwayne made the then Kingdome at the old Sydney Entertainment Centre his own playground, producing a 45-point game.

Unfortunately, the Kings play-off run ended in game three in Melbourne. During his three years with the Kings, Dwayne made the All-NBL First, Second and Third teams.

In 2013, Dwayne was named in the Sydney Kings 25th Anniversary Team. 

Isaac Burton


Seasons played with Kings: 3 (1996, 1997, 2002)
Games played with Kings: 67
Career totals with Kings:  1490 points, 405 rebounds, 282 assists, 201 steals, 23 blocked shots, 2882 minutes, 49.1% FG, 40.0 % 3PT FG, 75.9 FT. 

Isaac Burton made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 23 years of age in 1996.

Known as an electrifying guard who dominated both ends of the floor, Isaac’s fast hands and great footwork made him one of the NBL’s premier defenders.

Nick-named ‘Ice’, Isaac formed a lethal combination with Kings captain and Australian guard, Shane Heal, with the pair setting the Kings on fire as Sydney won their first eight games at home.

A fan-favourite, Isaac led the NBL in three-point percentage, was third in the NBL in steals and would go on to become the first Sydney King to win NBL Defensive Player of the Year. 

After their 1996 elimination, the Kings would not make the NBL playoffs again until 2001, the year Burton returned following a stint with Newcastle. 

CAST YOUR VOTE BY TUESDAY, 3 MARCH