NBL 2023: Wildcats owner Craig Hutchison claims Sydney Kings haven’t had a ‘meaningful’ victory over Perth in recent memory

As the Sydney Kings prepare to cross the nation to take on Perth, Wildcats owner Craig Hutchison has come out swinging in a radio interview with his Kings counterpart, Paul Smith.

Perth owner Craig Hutchison says the Sydney Kings are yet to beat the Wildcats in a “meaningful” game as the arch rivals prepare to meet in a blockbuster clash at RAC Arena on Friday.

The cheeky gibe came as two of the most powerful – and outspoken – owners in basketball in Hutchison and Sydney’s Paul Smith spoke live on SEN radio together for the first time on Thursday.

They operate the NBL’s most successful franchises: the Wildcats, who are among the leaders in Australian sport with 10 championships, and the globally recognised Kings, who have five titles, including the past two.

There is a mutual respect between Hutchison and Smith but also no love lost based on a rivalry between their respective franchises that dates back decades.

The tension reached boiling point in 2020 when Perth was awarded the championship after the Kings pulled out due to Covid concerns, despite the series only being 2-1 to the Wildcats in a five-game series.

Perth Wildcats owner Craig Hutchison. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Sydney officials at the time said the NBL promised them there would be no winner of the grand final series if Covid derailed it but the league denied that claim.

Three years on, the dislike between the Wildcats and Kings will resume on Friday night.

Hutchison and Smith kickstarted the sledges in an entertaining interview on Jimmy Smith’s weekly basketball segment, The Crossover.

They were largely complimentary of each other’s successful programs, which have both helped to put the NBL on the national sporting landscape.

Hutchison, though, couldn’t help but take a little crack at Smith and his back-to-back champions the Kings.

“The Kings are still yet to beat Perth in any meaningful game that I remember, so that is ahead of them as one of their challenges,” said Hutchison, despite the fact the Kings swept the Wildcats 2-0 in the 2002-03 grand final series.

“I think you are coming over (to Perth on Friday), Paul? We’ve got security ready at the airport to get you through.”

Smith confirmed he was heading west with Kings co-owners Andrew Bogut and Luc Longley.

“We’re bringing the full battalion – two seven-footers and myself,” Smith said.

Paul Smith celebrates the Sydney Kings’ 2022 NBL championship. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Hutchison interjected: “And a great West Australian (Longley) who will be secretly barracking for us during the game, so that will be sensational.”

Hutchison’s sledges hardly rattled Smith, who had more than his fair share of ammunition.

He remains confident his charges are on track for a rare three-peat from second on the ladder with a 7-4 record.

“Can you hear that sound? That little metal sound. That is my (championship) rings clinging together,” he said.

“Last time I looked they don’t give out championships in late November. It all comes around in February and March next year when it all counts.

“We’ve changed to a new coach and imports have moved over, so we’re pretty happy with how things are going right now.”

Banter aside, Hutchison knows the Kings are a major threat to Perth, even if the Wildcats are coming off five straight wins.

“No bigger challenge than the Kings,” Hutchison said. “They are the dynasty in recent times and have been the team to beat.

“Paul wins championships and still turns coaches over – that’s how successful they are.

“I say that tongue-in-cheek but they have been the benchmark in the last couple of years.

“There is no love lost but the rivalry is good for the sport.”

FRIDAY NIGHT NBL BLOCKBUSTER

Perth Wildcats (4th) v Sydney Kings (2nd) at RAC Arena from 9.30pm (AEDT)

Originally published as NBL 2023: Wildcats owner Craig Hutchison claims Sydney Kings haven’t had a ‘meaningful’ victory over Perth in recent memory