The energetic second unit that can drive Sydney Kings to NBL championship
SYDNEY Kings GM of Basketball Jeff Van Groningen can’t help but feel history is repeating itself when he watches the club’s second unit strut their stuff.
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SYDNEY Kings general manager of basketball Jeff Van Groningen can’t help but feel history is repeating itself when he watches the team’s second unit strut their stuff this season.
The bench’s energy and enthusiasm on game day and at training reminds him of the championship-winning group he had at the Brisbane Bullets in 2007.
Dubbed the G-Unit, Mark Bradtke, Dillon Boucher, Brad Williamson, Adam Gibson and Mick Hill formed a potent bench.
Van Groningen has fond memories of Brisbane’s second unit producing intense scrimmages at practice.
“I often thought the games between the starters and the bench unit were the most competitive games that the starters faced,” Van Groningen recalled.
“In fact, I think the starters sometimes went into games thinking it was a relief compared to what they faced at practice and that was incredibly unique.”
Flash forward 11 years and Van Groningen sees similarities between the formidable ’07 Brisbane bench and Sydney’s current second-unit.
But don’t for one second think he is comparing the championship-winning Bullets to a Kings bench that are largely unproven.
No, Van Groningen is simply drawing a parallel in the energy stakes between the two.
He says the likes of Kyle Adnam, Dane Pineau, Tom Wilson and Next Stars signing Brian Bowen Jr have provided the Kings with valuable enthusiasm and depth.
This was on display against the Breakers on Sunday when the second unit combined for 36 points.
Van Groningen says this effort from the second unit starts at training.
“I’ve seen some amazingly intense practice sessions between the two units facing each other,” he said.
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“They’ve been highly entertaining scrimmages to watch, where no one is taking a backwards step.
“By challenging each other they are going to get better.
“And I like it, because that is the level of competitiveness we need to go out and compete with a Perth, Melbourne or New Zealand.”
Van Groningen says the formation of Sydney’s second-unit was planned to complement the team’s veteran starters.
Former championship-winning Melbourne guard Kyle Adnam is one player the Kings identified early on.
Adnam isn’t the biggest bloke going around but he refuses to take a backwards step.
This was on show during the NBL pre-season Blitz in Bendigo and Ballarat.
Adnam and his fellow second-unit players starred in a win against Cairns while they excelled starting in the star’s absence in a 10-point loss to Brisbane.
“That is going to be a blueprint for us,” Adnam said.
“We’ve obviously got this amazing starting five but the fact of the matter is there are going to be those minutes that will be just as vital.
“Whether it is five or 25, those minutes are ultimately going to win us a championship.
“So myself and the other young guys have got to come in and play with confidence.
“That is going to be a big thing for us.”
As for branding Sydney’s second unit with a quirky name like Brisbane’s G-Unit, Adnam is happy to listen to examples.
“We don’t have one yet, but sometimes nicknames like that don’t come from within,” he laughed.
“But hey, I’m open to any suggestions.”
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Originally published as The energetic second unit that can drive Sydney Kings to NBL championship