Where are they now: BJ Carter

Since the Sydney Kings first hit the hardwood in 1988, numerous great players have sported the mighty purple and gold uniform. 

To recognise and reconnect with those club legends, the Kings have launched a 'Where are they now' series, profiling what former stars of Sydney are up to. 

After profiling Ben Madgen in the maiden article, Kings Media decided to catch up with 150-game Sydney veteran BJ Carter. 

During his seven seasons in the harbour city, from 2001-2008, the Sutherland Sharks junior won three championships (2003, 2004 and 2005) while averaging 4.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists per contest. 

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But his run with the purple and gold ended abruptly in 2008 when the club went into liquidation.  

“My time at the Kings was unreal but when the club went into liquidation, my life was turned on its head,” said Carter, who captained the Kings in three occasions during his tenure. 

“It was a dark time in my life, having a boy’s childhood dream as a NBL player crushed 

“It’s been 15 years since then and if I’m being honest, it still hasn’t fully recovered.” 

As he tried to move on with his life, Carter leant on former Kings assistant coach Bill Tomlinson for guidance, saying ‘his phone was always there for me’. 

Tomlinson found Carter his first job post-basketball as a blind installer, which the now 42-year-old said was ‘completely out of his comfort zone.’ 

“Being recently married and having a baby on the way, I had to be the man my family needed,” he said. 

That job lasted five months before Carter returned to the hardwood after signing a SEABL contract with Ballarat, as a player, junior coach and in the club’s administration office. 

“That stint in Ballarat came at a good time for my wife at the time and Hayli (who was six weeks old),” said Carter, 

“It allowed us to remove ourselves from Sydney and get away from that whole situation.” 

Despite an option to extend his stay in Victoria, Carter and his family returned to Sydney after nine months – which is when the guard decided to stop pursuing his basketball career and started the next chapter of his life. 

That started with him running PE programs in primary schools – which lasted for close to seven years. 

“I’ve always enjoyed working with kids and this allowed me to mix that with my other love sport – the job was just a natural fit,” he said. 

“I loved bouncing around schools and interacting with the students and staff and that period really set the platform of what I wanted to do with my life after basketball.” 

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He then transitioned into a basketball-specific school program, allowing him to coach elite talents coming through the ranks before starting at the Australian College of Sports with current Centre of Excellence coach Robbie McKinlay (who’s been one of Carter’s best mates since childhood). 

But unfortunately, this was short-lived, as the latter soon went under, which gave Carter, who was also going through a marriage break-up at the time, the push to pursue a career outside of sport. 

"It was at that time, I looked in the pages and found a job operating machinery close to home, as it allowed me to spend more time at home with my four kids Hayli, Travis, Shea and Kody and also with my wife Lisa," said Carter, who since meeting her, calls the love of his life and a blessing in disguise for helping him get to where he is today.

“I took that opportunity with Holt Allsands and now have been here five years, recently transitioning into a client-relations role. 

“It’s been a great move for me, and I’ve never looked back.” 

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Despite all these hardships, Carter still has plenty of fond memories in the purple and gold. 

“First and foremost, the memory that stands out is achieving something [playing for the Kings] that no one thought I was capable of,” said Carter, who believes that the Kings’ NBL26 side that went 27-3 before losing to Melbourne in the grand final was one of the best teams to ever play in the NBL. 

“Not that I was in it to prove people wrong but the fulfil of putting on a Kings jersey, something I’d dreamt of since I was a kid, was amazing. 

“I was never the fastest or tallest player or was selected in state teams, so to achieve all I did, including being a part of those championship teams, was incredible. 

“So was being coached by the greatest to ever do it in Brian Goorjian, who was someone I considered a father figure, not having a father myself and one of the most influential men in my life. 

"And playing alongside teammates like close friend Russell Hinder and Australian Boomer Matt Nielsen – who was the superstar of the team and an excellent teammate and role model. 

“Finally, are the fans that came up and supported each week, so to whom I still stay in contact with to this day – so much so, I reached out to during that time and gave one fan Richard one of my championship rings. 

“I knew how much the club meant to them and didn’t know at that time what the future of the club looked like – it's an act I’m glad I did and am proud of to this day.” 

Although he admits he finds it hard to watch games sometimes, due to how it ended, he is still a regular attendee at Quds Bank Arena, as his children enjoy watching.  

“Everything I read about and hear from my friends about the Kings, not to mention what the kids are saying, is positive,” he said. 

“The product the club is putting on the floor is amazing, which is shown by the strong crowds they're attracting. 

“The professional of them, as well as the whole NBL, is second to none and would rather watch it than the NBA any day of the week.”