Mahmoud Abdelfattah coach: Inside failed Sydney Kings season as NBL club sacks coach

The Sydney Kings have officially sacked coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah. MATT LOGUE and MICHAEL RANDALL take you inside the fractured mess that led to the big call.

The Sydney Kings have sacked coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah following an underachieving maiden season that ended with a first-week finals exit and a fractured playing group.

The Kings made a formal announcement on Friday.

Sydney started the season 7-3, before going on to lose 13 of their last 19 games to bow out in the first week of the post-season.

It’s left frustrated Kings fans calling for the club to sack Abdelfattah, with some supporters saying they won’t renew their membership if he is retained.

Beyond the scoreboard – and Sydney’s slide in defence to the second worst in the NBL – there were also significant issues within the team.

Code Sports understands the playing group wasn’t on the same page, with some players putting themselves before the team’s culture while the side’s chemistry has been questioned.

Jaylen Adams during the Kings loss to the Breakers. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.

This showed on the court, especially on the defensive end, where players regularly didn’t showcase fight for their teammates and the coach.

The benching of two-time champion Angus Glover is also a major storyline that’s reflective of Sydney’s struggles this season.

It’s understood Glover and coach Abdelfattah have been at odds for the majority of NBL24 over the guard’s lack of minutes.

The Kings title-winning hero’s game time has dropped from 16.6 last season to 15.5 this season – and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Sydney fans have questioned Glover’s increased bench time, which is perplexing given he hasn’t been out of form.

It’s understood the guard has questioned his reduced role this season, while he has also justifiably called out teammates for poor standards, leading to a strained relationship between him and the coach.

Mahmoud Abdelfattah has one more year on his contract as Sydney Kings head coach.

You'd think after their season has ended...#NBLpic.twitter.com/AgEVRVThmg

— Pleb (@SuperCoachPleb) February 28, 2024

Code Sports understands Abdelfattah’s benching of Glover has become personal – as shown when he didn’t play the popular King at all in the final round blowout of the Phoenix and during Wednesday’s Play-in loss to the New Zealand Breakers.

The decision to brush a dual championship-winner, who defied abdominal spasms to play a pivotal role in Sydney’s Game 5 win over the Breakers in last year’s grand final series, has left fans and legends mystified and disappointed.

Glover’s tenure at the Kings is now uncertain, despite having a season to run on his contract.

It’s understood his camp will take its time and let the dust settle before assessing the future.

There’s a belief the gritty guard could have helped the Kings in their clash with the Breakers.

Angus Glover experienced a frustrating NBL24 campaign. Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

Kings import DJ Hogg also had a verbal exchange with coach Abdelfattah during Wednesday’s loss after the forward was taken out of the game.

Championship-winning Sydney sharpshooter Dejan Vasiljevic took to social media to comment on the Kings’ finals exit.

Vasiljevic’s departure from the club to pursue the NBA, before opting to return to the NBL this season with a rival team in Adelaide caused tension with Sydney officials.

The guard made his feelings about his former club clear via a post on Thursday.

“The fact y’all seeing this now,” he said.

“I saw it a year ago and I’m the “villain”. Just wait till the truth comes out.”

Sydney now face a roster overhaul, with imports Jaylen Adams and Denzel Valentine unlikely to return for NBL25.

It’s understood rival clubs have expressed interest in Glover, who would need a release from Sydney to join another team for NBL25.

Code Sports has been told the NBA interest in emerging athletic freak Jaylin Galloway is “significant”.

“He has aspirations to get as high as possible,” a source said.

Galloway is highly-rated by Boomers coach Brian Goorjian and seen as a player who could be part of future Olympic and World Cup campaigns.

It’s understood the Kings have tabled big man Jordi Hunter an offer for NBL25 and beyond, but no deal has been struck.

It comes as fellow Boomer Isaac Humphries has emerged on Sydney’s radar after the ex-NBA big man declared his desire to go to the market following stalled contract talks with the Adelaide 36ers.

When coach Abdelfattah was asked post-game if he was confident he would be leading the side next season, he simply responded “yeah, 100 per cent”.

Code Sports contacted Kings officials about the coach’s future on Thursday.

Originally published as Mahmoud Abdelfattah coach: Inside failed Sydney Kings season as NBL club sacks coach