Sydney Kings great Matthew Nielsen to farewell Kingdome this weekend

AFTER finishing his coaching commitments for the Perth Wildcats, Sydney Kings great Matthew Nielsen will take one last chance to take everything in.

Perth Wildcats assistant coach Matt Nielsen Pictured at the WA Basketball Centre

AFTER finishing his coaching commitments for the Perth Wildcats at the Kingdome on Sunday, Sydney Kings great Matthew Nielsen will sit down and take one last chance to take everything in before farewelling the arena.

Nielsen, who is now an assistant coach at the Wildcats, has a strong connection to the Kingdome — playing the most games and scoring the most points for the Sydney Kings, winning the 2004 NBL season and grand final MVP awards, and finishing his Kings career with back-to-back championships.

The second of Nielsen’s back-to-back championships in 2004 was the only title Sydney won on their home floor and it will be among many memories Neilsen and Sydney Kings fans will think of when they farewell the Kingdome.

“I spent a lot of years there and things didn’t always go the way we would’ve wanted, but for the way it ­finished — I couldn’t have asked for a ­better end,” Nielsen said.

“Winning my second championship with the Kings at home against Western Sydney in game five was one of the highlights of my career and was my last game at the Kingdome.

“Just talking about the game brings a smile to my face. It was such an ­emotional game. We managed to win it right at the end.

“It looked like we were going to lose, but to come back the way we did was unbelievable and it was an amazing feeling. The change rooms were packed, but I just wanted to sit down and take it all in.

“I remember sitting there on my own after everyone left. I knew my time at the Kings was coming to an end and I just wanted to lap it all up.”

But it just more than just the championships that Nielsen will think of.

He will think of crowds that packed out the stadium during the late 1990s and 2000s during a period when Sydney had a lot of success, getting to play with ­fellow Kings greats like Damian Keogh and Dean Uthoff, and playing under coaches Brett Brown and Brian Goorjian.

Nielsen will also think of the not-so-good times. One memory that quickly comes to him is during the Western Sydney Razorbacks’ first NBL game against the Sydney Kings at the Kingdome in 1998.

“When we got 8000-10,000 people, the Kingdome was rocking and it had such a great atmosphere and energy,” Nielsen said.

The Kingdome holds great memories for Matt Nielsen.

“Playing in Western Sydney’s first game of existence, I was part of a controversial refereeing decision for hanging on the rim too long after a dunk.

“It certainly wasn’t my greatest ­moment, but it was great to be involved in some pretty big games we won there.

“I remember when Dean Uthoff was subbed out for the last time. My first year was the last year Dean and ­Damian Keogh played at the Kings and it was a great experience for me as a young player.

“I definitely still feel attached to the club. I have never played for another Australian club and I’ve still got a lot of connections there.

“It was a sad time when the Kings were not in the NBL but I’m glad the Kings are back up and running and I would like to see them become successful in the future.”

To mark Sydney’s farewell to the Kingdome, the Kings will wear a special edition uniform that celebrates the club’s three-peat from 2003 to 2005.

The Sydney Uni Flames will also get to play at Kingdome, taking on Townsville Fire at 12.30pm, before the Kings-Wildcats clash tips off at 3pm.

The Kings will play their last five home games of this season at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre.

Originally published as Sydney Kings great Matthew Nielsen to farewell Kingdome this weekend