How a “dinosaur-sized steak” with Luc Longley in LA convinced Keli Leaupepe to join the Kings
Keli Leaupepe is the Kings’ self-confessed ‘Beast’, but if it wasn’t for Luc Longley he would be flexing his muscles for the Phoenix. This is how the hoops legend changed the course of NBL25.
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Keli Leaupepe is the Sydney Kings’ self-confessed ‘Beast’ standing at 6’6 and weighing 116 kilos, but if it wasn’t for Luc Longley he would be flexing his muscles for the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Leaupepe considered signing with the Phoenix following his final US college season, but a dinner with Longley in LA over a “dinosaur-sized steak” stole his stomach and hoops heart.
The Melbourne-born big originally had one eye on returning home after his fifth and final year at Loyola Marymount University.
The Phoenix seemed appealing to play in his own backyard, but Longley’s sell about the Kings’ people and pathway lured the big man to sign with Sydney.
“I’m from Melbourne, so staying there at the Phoenix would have been nice, but I’m happy I came to the Kings,” Leaupepe said.
“Essentially it was Luc that sealed the deal to come to Sydney. He said a lot things about how the Kings can help with my long-term development, so I thought it would be the best decision and place for me to take the next step.”
For Longley, making the effort to meet with Leaupepe in LA prior to a Chicago Bulls reunion earlier this year was more about connecting with the person than the player.
He’d already seen video scouts and heard countless personal recommendations, but he wanted to know what made the big man tick.
“And straight away I warmed to Keli,” Longley recalls.
“I really loved his candour. He is a direct, knows what he wants type of guy.
“I get in trouble all the time for being too candid, so it’s nice to be around people who are also candid.
“I don’t think it was about the recruitment pitch – it was about the people. So, not what we would do, but who we are.
“And Keli represents what the Kings are building as an identity. Hard-nosed, hardworking, doesn’t whinge and is stoic in his approach.
“So, when I met him, I did everything I could to recruit him because I wanted him around our organisation.”
This is Keli Leaupepe.@SydneyKings 👀 pic.twitter.com/87D878mgY3
— NBL (@NBL) June 17, 2024
Longley isn’t the type of person who hands out compliments for fun.
He is normally understated and measured in his message, but he felt compelled to compare Leaupepe’s demeanour to NBL great Mika Vukona.
The legendary New Zealander who was born in Fiji is Longley’s self-appointed “basketball crush” due to his dogged yet humble approach.
Vukona finished his stellar 476-game NBL career with five championships, but he earnt people’s respect through his work ethic and effort.
“Keli has got a little bit of Mika about him,” Longley said.
“He loves to defend and he is proud of that, he is tough and works his arse off on every possession and do it with a smile and every team needs those ingredients.
“I think the way he plays translates really well to the NBL with his versatility. He can get down in a stance and guard, he can box out bigs.
“He is unconventional. I’d like to think we’ve always embraced a bit of unconventional and I love Keli’s lack of convention.”
Leaupepe has certainly lived up to Longley’s expectations in the opening four rounds of NBL25.
He has averaged eight points and four rebounds, including a breakout game in a big win over the Brisbane Bullets last round.
Leaupepe dropped 23 points in 15 minutes – the fewest minutes ever played by a player who scored at least 20 points in a game in Kings’ history.
The proud Victorian’s standout form has helped him solidify a starting position for Sydney and prove his worth as a reliable threat at both ends of the floor.
This form was on display in Friday’s loss to Adelaide when he dropped an impressive double-double (10 points and 10 rebounds).
Leaupepe credits his hot start to NBL25 to Kings coach Brian Goorjian, who has given him the belief to excel under the bright lights.
“Goorj has inspired me a lot,” he said about Goorjian, whose brother Kevin coached the Kings’ recruit at Box Hill Secondary College in Melbourne.
“Just learning from him is great for my development and I wouldn’t swap it for anyone.
“I remember Brian used to come to our high school training sessions to see his brother and he’d even train us.
“Now it has come full circle and I’m playing for him.”
GOD-GIVEN STRENGTH
Leaupepe has been hailed the NBL’s strongest man following revelations he can bench press 180 kilos.
For context, there are countless NRL and rugby union players who can’t bench as much as the Kings’ recruit.
Leaupepe says his strength comes from his father Derek, who was born in Samoa and played rugby while he was also spent years in the army.
“I’d say a lot of it (my strength) is my islander genes,” he said.
“My dad is a massive dude, so I’ve been pretty big since I was a kid.
“It’s more genetics for me and I really filled out in college. I got wider and my muscles filled out.
“I love the gym, so that would have helped.”
Creek on Leaupepe’s impact:
— NBL (@NBL) October 8, 2024
Mitch Creek is a huge fan of @SydneyKings forward Keli Leaupepe 💪
Watch #NBLOvertime on ESPN via Kayo 📺 pic.twitter.com/yvYcLyC5sw
Leaupepe enjoys lifting weights so much that he was regularly seen inside the gym at midnight throughout his college career.
“Oh yeah, in college especially,” he grinned.
“After games the team would lift and I just fell in love with lifting.
“It’s good because it gives me confidence to play with the big boys. It also helps my mind away from basketball.
“Getting a lift in always takes your mind off things.”
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Originally published as How a “dinosaur-sized steak” with Luc Longley in LA convinced Keli Leaupepe to join the Kings
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