From King to Warrior under the legendary Steve Kerr’s reign: The rise of former Sydney Kings’ NBL Next Star Alex Toohey

Alex Toohey’s new reality hit home when his phone lit up with an incoming call from Steve Kerr. Now he’s dreaming of making it big in San Francisco as a Golden State Warrior.

A draft call-up from modern day NBA giants the Golden State Warriors had ex-Sydney King Alex Toohey feeling like he was on top of the world.

The Warriors have become one of the biggest franchises in the league, having won four championships since 2015 and produced generational sharpshooter Steph Curry.

Just when Toohey thought his state of joy couldn’t go any higher he received a late-night call from Golden State head coach Steve Kerr.

Toohey’s new head coach Steve Kerr. Picture: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

It was a moment the boy from Canberra will never forget.

Kerr is not only a brilliant basketball coach who has won at club and country level, but he was equally successful as a player.

He won five NBA championships, including three with Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in the glory years of the 1990s.

Kerr also has close connections with Kings’ owners Andrew Bogut and Luc Longley.

The legendary American coached Bogut at the Warriors, with the pair combining to deliver the franchise a title in 2015.

He also won three championships playing alongside Longley at the Bulls.

Andrew Bogut chats with coach Steve Kerr during a Golden State Warriors’ practice session in 2015. Picture: Paul Chinn/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

So when Kerr’s name popped up on Toohey’s phone, he was naturally taken a back and genuinely excited.

“I spoke to Steve the night I was drafted, which was so cool,” Toohey told CODE Sports from the US this week.

“It’s hard to describe the moment. Just grateful to have that connection with one of the greatest people in this field of basketball ever.

“It’s definitely a privilege.

“There is that connection there with Bogut and Longley and Steve was excited. “He said he knows I’m the type of basketball player they like to have in their organisation and he has heard some pretty good things about me.

“Entering my name in the draft and going through the process was exciting and made me nervous as well, but I’m glad to be in a good organisation and have that path laid out.”

The Warriors went to significant lengths to understand Toohey as a player and person before drafting him.

The club sent a scout to Australia to watch Alex’s NBL games for Sydney last season. The eye test could see Toohey’s size, hoops IQ and ability to impact the game at both ends of the floor.

These team-first qualities are what Golden State has built its success upon, so officials quickly realised the 21-year-old Aussie would be a perfect fit.

Toohey is thrilled to join a Warriors franchise with “championship history”, but stressed he is locked in on taking the patient road to cementing his position in the team.

“Just develop and make sure you are getting better every day,” he said.

“I’m not expecting to come in and play a 1000 minutes a game, but more importantly get used to the systems and keep developing my body and IQ.

“Then just being willing to learn from the coach and fellow players.”

Toohey believes his decision to stay in the NBL for an extra season has paid off.

Toohey believes his decision to play a second NBL season with Sydney has paid dividends. He says the extra hours paved the way for him to become a stronger overall player.

“The NBL was a big step in being a pro and playing in a grown man’s league,” he said.

“It definitely took some time to adjust, but I feel like it has made me a better player for my future.

“I was able to really narrow down on some of the things that I didn’t do well in my first season and I was able to improve in my second season.

“I learnt a lot about the foundations of becoming a basketball player.”

Toohey makes his Warriors debut at this week’s NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

He will be joined in Sin City by a cast of current and former NBL players, as well as the three other Australians drafted in Lachlan Olbrich (Bulls), Tyrese Proctor (Cavs) and Rocco Zikarsky (Timberwolves).

Toohey credits the record number of Aussies on the NBA stage to the quality of coaching Down Under.

“It says a lot about the people, guys like Robbie McKinlay and Marty Clarke at the AIS,” he said.

“There is a lot of development and great coaching in Australia and it’s great to see so many of us coming through have played together and wish each other nothing but the best.”

Originally published as From King to Warrior under the legendary Steve Kerr’s reign: The rise of former Sydney Kings’ NBL Next Star Alex Toohey