NBL 2022: Unhinged college football coach rant behind Sydney Kings’ stunning winning streak
There is no hotter team in the NBL right now than the Sydney Kings and the reason behind their howling nine-match win streak can now be revealed.
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If you listen closely to every Sydney Kings team huddle, you’ll hear a distinct barking noise.
It’s not Kings coach Chase Buford kicking a dog after a dodgy foul call, it’s the players’ new team catchphrase after watching a video of a college football coach’s unhinged rant.
The Coastal Carolina American football coach goes on a comical address urging his players to be more like dogs.
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“We don’t need a bunch of cats in here,” the coach says.
“Meow, looking in the mirror. I’ve got my extra bands on or other shoes, be a dog, we don’t need no meows, we don’t need no cats, we need more dogs.”
Coach Buford showed his players the video in the lead-up to the team’s round nine clash against Perth in a bid to inspire them to play tough and persistent defence like a dog chasing a bone or ball.
The coach’s enthusiastic rant resonated with the Sydney players so much that they started belting out barks in the Kings’ gym.
“I don’t know if that football coach’s rant worked for his team, but it is definitely working for us,” star Kings guard Jaylen Adams told News Corp.
“Coach Buford showed us the video in the locker room, and he is referring to how we’ve got to play defence, but it had a big impact.
“The first time we saw the video, everyone started barking and it has kind of stuck.”
Coach Buford always knew the Kings were capable of defending strongly, but he wanted them to take the next step.
He has a youthful team full of energy, so he knew he could package a serious message with a smile.
“That was our way of having a laugh but at the same time pushing a message of who we want to be as a team, and it has snowballed from there,” Buford said.
“We talked about being dogs up against Perth’s cats.
“I’ve also showed the players a PJ Tucker video from the NBA playoffs with the Bucks last year, where he talks about being dogs and what that mentality looks like.
“After that (Perth) game, I saw the players saying one, two, three: dogs in the team huddle and it has grown from there.
“Now it is the mentality of our team and how we want to play with that aggressive mindset.”
Buford’s ploy has worked a treat.
The Kings now have the league’s second-best defence behind defending champions Melbourne United while they’ve won nine straight games.
Sydney defend differently to a lot of teams in the NBL. Buford’s men like to be up on the ball in pick-and-roll plays, which puts extra onus on the player guarding the ball to get through the screen.
“We have some technical ways to do it, but at the end of the day it comes down to your mindset and your mentality,” he said.
“And being a dog is how we reference that sometimes and it really gained some momentum before that first Perth game.”
Speaking of dogs, Buford also credits his family French bulldog for the Kings’ current success.
After losing to the Bullets in Brisbane back in round 8, he left at 5am to pick up his fiancee and their dog before driving 10 hours back to Sydney for the Kings’ return clash against the Bullets.
“We are now 11-1 since then with the dog in the house,” he smiled.
“We’ve always defended pretty well, but we’ve found more consistency.”
Buford is expecting his Kings to play like dogs against one of the NBL’s toughest teams – the Tasmania JackJumpers on Sunday.
"No one wants that Sydney Kings match up right now" @Liam_Santa#WeTheKings#NBL22pic.twitter.com/tAKMaqvDP1
— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) March 30, 2022
He has high respect for the JackJumpers, who have excelled in their maiden season on the back of sheer energy and effort.
“Oh yeah, they play hard and scramble around on defence,” Buford said.
“It’s funny how people always talk about their roster. I think they have a talented roster and are really good.
“I coached (JackJumpers guard) Josh Adams in my first year as an assistant in the G League and he single-handedly led the team to the playoffs.
“They have got some good players, so I think their roster thing is a little bit overdone.”
SYDNEY KINGS VS TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS AT MYSTATE BANK ARENA FROM 1PM (AEDT) AND LIVE ON ESPN, 10PEACH AND KAYO
The NBL team with the best NBA draft prospects
The NBL’s versatility for NBA prospects of all ages has been praised by a man who knows a thing or two about global hoops.
Respected ESPN draft analyst Mike Schmitz is so keen on the talent in Australia that he recently went from LA to Melbourne, Cairns, Perth and back to Melbourne in less than a week.
Schmitz walked away with his little black book full of notes about the NBL’s and Australia’s finest potential NBA players.
His interest reinforces the NBL’s standing as arguably the best NBA breeding ground outside of the US.
“It has been great – scouts have enjoyed coming down here,” Schmitz told NBA Today.
“Whether you look at a guy like Josh Giddey who has improved so much, and he is a triple-double machine already.
“Then you have foreigners coming in too. I think LaMelo Ball has been a huge success for the league to be a guy that scouts weren’t too sure about when he first landed in the NBL to now be one of the best young point guards in the NBA.
“Now you have guys coming from France and Germany – it seems like a stop where you can come in with a lot of clout and play that draft eligible season or you can come in and maybe it’s a revival place where you haven’t been blossoming in Europe – and we’re seeing that versatility.”
Today’s NBA is dominated by international stars like Luka Doncic (Slovenia), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) and Nikola Jokic (Serbia).
Schmitz believes the New Zealand Breakers’ French duo Ousmane Dieng (ranked 19), and Hugo Besson (ranked 32) are the best international prospects heading into June’s NBA draft.
“I think Dieng is a sleeper in this draft,” he said.
“I think he can potentially go as high as the late lottery.
“Then there is his teammate, Hugo Besson. Remember that name.
“He is a 6’5 sniper that can shoot the lights out and really has that Miami guard Tyler Herro mentality where you can run him off the screens.”
ADAMS OPEN TO ANOTHER SEASON IN SYDNEY
Sydney Kings star guard Jaylen Adams will consider re-signing with the Kings if he doesn’t secure an NBA deal in the off-season.
Adams, who has previously played 44 NBA games for Atlanta, Milwaukee, and Portland, says a return to the world’s best league remains on his radar.
If the NBA fails to eventuate, though, the Kings gun and genuine MVP candidate will strongly consider another season in Australia.
“I don’t know what my best option will be at the end of the season yet, but I love Sydney,” Adams told the Logue Down podcast.
“It’s a beautiful place and it’s definitely something that I could see myself doing again.
“It’s a decision for the summer and I’ve got to see what happens.”
To hear the full interview with Adams, listen to the Logue Down Basketball podcast with Chris Anstey from Thursday onwards.
HUKPORTI URGED TO ENJOY THE NBA SPOTLIGHT
Melbourne United’s German Next Star Ariel Hukporti has the size and skill to make the world’s best league, but he needs to relax and soak up the presence of NBA scouts.
That’s the message from NBL legend Chris Anstey, who noticed Hukporti struggled with the spotlight of having scouts in the building during last Sunday’s loss to Illawarra.
The German big man had four points and three rebounds in 9 minutes before storming off the floor when he was controversially fouled out with what seemed like a legitimate block shot.
“I had a flashback to my own career – and it’s tougher than people think when you’ve got everyone watching and evaluating your game,” Anstey said about his experiences prior to being selected by Portland with the 18th pick in the 1997 NBA draft.
“I remember being so determined to prove that I was better than what I was that I played terribly.
“I was shooting shots that I wouldn’t normally shoot because I got so tightly wound up that I was doing myself a disservice.
“I watched Ariel in the warm-up the other day and you could see that he was also tightly wound up and then his first possession he shot a contested hook shot that he wouldn’t normally do.
“He then walked out of the stadium when he was fouled out.
“He needs to take a breath - I think he is placing pressure on himself.
“One thing this league and the Next Stars program has proven is that you don’t need to dominate this league to get drafted high, like Giddey and Ball, and Ariel will be in the NBA, he just needs to back himself.”
NBA SCOUTS KEEN ON CLEVELAND
Illawarra Hawks guard Antonius Cleveland has caught the eye of NBA scouts and is a legitimate chance to return to the league where he previously played 30 games for Dallas and Atlanta.
I’m told scouts are impressed with Cleveland’s athleticism and ability to make plays.
The Memphis-born shooting guard has scored in double figures in his past five games, including dropping 20 points and adding eight rebounds in last round’s big win over reigning champions and competition leaders Melbourne United.
NBL COACH’S CHALLENGE IN THE NBA?
Retired great Andrew Bogut would like to the see the NBL’s Coach’s Challenge rule adopted in the NBA.
Bogut took to Twitter to praise the league’s rule, which gives every team one coach’s challenge per game and retain it until a challenge is unsuccessful.
“The NBA needs to adapt the NBA challenge rule,” Bogut said.
“If your coaches challenge is correct, you should keep your challenge! #nobrainer.”
Bogut had countless people agree with him, but Kings coach Chase Buford was one who disagreed.
“You should get one (challenge), use it wisely,” said Buford, the son of legendary San Antonio Spurs GM RC Buford.
“Everyone makes mistakes, keep the game flowing.”
The @nba needs to adapt the @nbl challenge rule.
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) March 28, 2022
If your coaches challenge is correct, you should keep your challenge!#nobrainer
MILESTONES:
Melbourne United will play its 250th game as United when they host the Illawarra Hawks on Saturday
South East Melbourne Phoenix big man Dane Pineau will play his 100th NBL game against Cairns on Saturday
KEY STAT:
The top four teams on the ladder could all share the competition lead by the end of round 18 and they could all be equal fourth depending on results
NBL ROUND 18 DRAW:
Illawarra Hawks vs Brisbane Bullets
Thursday, Mar 31 from 7.30pm (AEDT) at WIN Entertainment Centre and Live on ESPN and Kayo
Adelaide 36ers vs Tasmania JackJumpers
Friday, Apr 1 from 7.30pm (AEDT) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre and Live on ESPN and Kayo
Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks
Saturday, Apr 2 from 5.30pm (AEDT) at John Cain Arena and Live on ESPN and Kayo
Cairns Taipans vs South East Melbourne Phoenix
8pm (AEDT) at Cairns Convection Centre and Live on ESPN and Kayo
Tasmania JackJumpers vs Sydney Kings
Sunday, Apr 3 from 1pm (AEDT) at MyState Bank Arena and Live on ESPN, 10Peach and Kayo
Brisbane Bullets vs Adelaide 36ers
3pm (AEDT) at Nissan Arena and Live on ESPN, 10Peach and Kayo
New Zealand Breakers vs Cairns Taipans
Monday, Apr 4 from 7.30pm (AEDT) at MyState Bank Arena and Live on ESPN and Kayo
Perth Wildcats vs Melbourne United
9.30pm (AEDT) at RAC Arena and Live on ESPN and Kayo
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