NBL News 2024: Will Sydney Kings coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah be sacked?

The Sydney Kings hopes of an NBL three-peat are hanging by a thread, and so is Mahmoud Abdelfattah. And these are the troubling statistics that could end his stint with the Kings.

The Sydney Kings said it would “take time” when they signed coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah.

Bringing in a new coach and four players was always going to be a challenge following back-to-back championships.

We are now past the halfway mark in NBL24 and not even the Kings’ biggest rivals would have thought the defending champions would be battling this badly.

Sydney is struggling with 10 wins and 10 losses to sit in fourth place on the ladder but of greater concern is that the men in purple and gold are a shadow of their past two championship-winning sides.

It’s especially evident on the defensive end, where the Kings have slipped from fourth best in points conceded per game (86.1) and third best in defence to last in points conceded (94) and fourth worst in defence.

The “Dogs on a Ball” mentality made famous under coach Chase Buford is gone and has been replaced with lacklustre and lazy reads in defence.

Jaylen Adams and Denzel Valentine look on from the bench during the loss to Melbourne United. Photo: Getty

In fairness, the Kings lost two of the NBL’s best defenders in Xavier Cooks and Justin Simon during the off-season.

Most clubs, and coaches for that matter, would find life difficult without the defensive presence of Cooks and Simon.

Regardless, Sydney’s defence isn’t as strong this season. The Kings have conceded more than 100 points in nine of their 19 games.

The home fortress at Qudos Bank Arena is also no longer feared by rival teams.

Three of the Kings’ past four home losses have been to teams lower than them on the ladder in Illawarra, Brisbane and South East Melbourne.

The substandard form has left the Kings fighting for their playoff lives as the likes of the Hawks come home strongly.

Naturally, pressure will fall on head coach Abdelfattah, who has signed a two-year deal.

In the space of only half a season, Sydney isn’t playing with the energy and smarts of the previous two campaigns.

A club spokesman said the Kings’ brass accepted that reality but there were no moves in place regarding the coach.

“Kings fans, management and ownership have a high expectation of team performance that’s come with winning back-to-back championships,” an official said.

“We are currently 10 and 10 and at a pivotal part of the season, there is naturally pressure on ‘Moud’.

“There is no specific instruction or action different to normal process.”

Abdelfattah is facing serious pressure to keep his job as Kings coach. Photo: Getty

The reality is Sydney needs to start winning games, and quickly.

It starts this weekend with two crucial games. The first is against the 36ers in Adelaide on Thursday and the second at home to the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday.

The clash against the 36ers won’t be easy, especially with former championship-winning King Dejan Vasiljevic out to prove a point.

Vasiljevic had a controversial departure from the Kings – both sides have had their say – and now it’s time to let the basketball do the talking.

Sydney’s season and hopes of a rare three-peat are on a precipice and it’s up to the players and coaching staff to respond.

Originally published as NBL News 2024: Will Sydney Kings coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah be sacked?