Sydney Kings skipper Kevin Lisch reunites with family after Honolulu heartbreak
LOSING a basketball game hurts but it’s nothing compared to losing your home. It’s a reality that hit Sydney Kings skipper Kevin Lisch recently when his family’s home was destroyed by lava flow in Hawaii.
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LOSING a basketball game hurts but it’s nothing compared to losing your home.
It’s a reality that hit Sydney Kings skipper Kevin Lisch recently when his aunty’s home was destroyed by lava flow on Hawaii’s Big Island.
Hearing the stories from Australia, Lisch felt helpless when the house was initially lost.
Thankfully, the Boomers veteran will get a chance to catch up with his aunt when the Kings play the LA Clippers in Monday’s pre-season clash in Honolulu.
“My aunt, uncle and cousins that live on the Big Island and they are all coming over for the game, so I can’t wait to see them,” Lisch told The Daily Telegraph.
“It will be great, especially given what they’ve been through.
“My aunt’s house just got swallowed by the lava flow and she has been living out of my cousin’s basement.
“But they’ll be at game, which means a lot to me.”
As a proud American, Lisch always enjoys returning home to play in front of his loved ones.
The Belleville-born point guard had his brother, sister and parents travelled to Salt Lake City last year to watch him take on the Utah Jazz.
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Lisch’s immediate family won’t be in Honolulu but he’ll still have plenty of support from loved ones in the crowd.
He is also keen for the Kings to make a statement against a strong Clippers side as they continue to build for the NBL season.
“I’m really looking forward to the game,” he said.
“It will be another opportunity for us to grow with the season right around the corner.
“I think we’ve learnt some really good things this pre-season.
“At times we can be frustrated trying to learn from each other but for the majority of the time we are out there having fun and learning from each other.
“I think we are a really good team.”
Lisch has been particularly impressed with the form of Next Stars signing Brian Bowen Jr.
The former La Lumiere School small forward has stood out this pre-season with his ability to score and rebound.
A number of NBA scouts will be in Honolulu to watch Bowen take on the Clippers – which doesn’t surprise Lisch.
“I was going to say Brian is sneaky athletic but it is not so sneaky when you watch him play,” he said.
“He has just got an instinct for the ball, so he is a lot of fun to have around the team.”
The Kings will take on the LA Clippers live on ESPN from 11.30 on Monday morning.
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