NBL 2024: Sydney Kings season preview, starting five, analysis, predictions and more
Four years is an eternity to be out of professional basketball, so signing former NBA big man Jonah Bolden is a big risk for the Sydney Kings in their pursuit of a third consecutive title.
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The Sydney Kings are aiming to claim a three-peat of championships for a second time, but they face their toughest task in NBL24.
The Kings have reloaded strongly after losing league MVP Xavier Cooks to the NBA – adding in the likes of DJ Hogg, ex-NBA guard Denzel Valentine and returning champion Jaylen Adams.
Sydney looks strong, but arch rivals like Perth and Melbourne United have also added key pieces in a bid to dethrone the Kings from their championship mantle.
The men in purple and gold are more than capable of achieving history again this season – but it will take an almighty effort.
Club: Sydney Kings
Last season: Finish: First and champions. 19-9 record
Coach: Mahmoud Abdelfattah (First NBL season, 2022/2023 NBA season: Houston Rockets assistant coach, 2021-2022 G-League championship (33-13 record) and taking out the Coach of the Year award with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the G-League affiliate of the Rockets.
Full roster: Alex Toohey, Angus Glover, DJ Hogg, Denzel Valentine, Jackson Makoi, Jaylen Adams, Jaylin Galloway, Jonah Bolden, Jordan Hunter, Klairus Amir, Kouat Noi, Makuach Maluach, Sam Timmins, Shaun Bruce and Zac Gattorna
BENCH PUNCH
Alex Toohey: Kings’ Next Star has showed why he’s among the highest-rated young talents in Australian basketball. He had a second straight eye-catching performance at the NBL Blitz against Melbourne United — a team-high 19 points off the bench on an efficient 6-12 shooting.
Jonah Bolden: The former NBA big man hasn’t played pro basketball for almost four years, but he showed enough during the NBL Blitz to prove he can be a force for the Kings this season.
Shaun Bruce: The NBL’s best sledger, but equally capable as a knockdown shooter, especially in the clutch as he has showcased on numerous occasions.
Angus Glover: One of the NBL’s most underrated players, Glover always gets the job done at both ends of the floor. He has also shown impressive resilience to return from three reconstructions, so he is fighter.
Kouat Noi: Enjoyed a stellar maiden season in Sydney in NBL23, averaging 7.9 points and 3.7 rebounds on his way to a championship.
Zac Gattorna: He’ll probably only receive limited minutes, but he is more than capable of making an impact with his size, aggression and physicality.
COACH’S CORNER
The good news, Kings fans, is that new coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah wants to play the same fast-paced style in transition as ex-coach Chase Buford.
Abdelfattah has come from the same successful G-League route as Buford and is poised to execute his knowledge in the NBL.
He led the Vipers to the 2021-2022 G-League championship (33-13 record) and took out the Coach of the Year award – while leading the league in points per game and offensive rebounds, highlighting the style of play he will bring to the Kings.
“I’ll be letting our guys play with a lot of freedom on the offensive end, allowing them to use their talents while putting them in positions to succeed,” Abdelfattah said.
“We will be playing with a high tempo that pushes the ball up the floor.
“We’ve got some great, versatile players already on the roster and I can’t wait.”
WHAT’S CHANGED SINCE LAST YEAR?
Sydney has a new coach and multiple new players, but the Kings should still thrive because they’ve been accustomed to change in recent seasons.
For the men in purple and gold, though, the more that changes, the more things remain the same.
This is personified via head coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah, who possesses a similar fast-paced coaching mindset to ex-mentor Chase Buford.
Sydney’s MVP-winning guard Jaylen Adams also returns after guiding the club to the championship in 2021-22.
The biggest change for the Kings comes via new recruits like DJ Hogg, Denzel Valentine, Alex Toohey and Jonah Bolden.
All the players mentioned are world-class in their own right, but how they settle into the Kings/ the NBL will be critical.
Sydney’s biggest weakness – free-throw shooting – will also come under the spotlight again this season.
The Kings were second last in free-throw shooting last season (71 per cent).
As dominant as Sydney has been, they struggle at the line and they’ll need to nail this area to claim a rare three-peat.
IN THE HOT SEAT
He doesn’t necessarily deserve the heat given he is in his first NBL season, but new head coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah is under pressure to maintain the club’s championship standard and success.
If the Kings drop off the season, the spotlight will come onto Abdelfattah as the man in charge.
It’s obviously tough to win three straight championships, but regardless there will be expectation on the new coach to keep the Kings at the top.
Star guard Jaylen Adams will also shoulder a lot of responsibility for Sydney. Adams has proven himself to be one of the NBL’s best players, if not the best, so he faces pressure to produce again this season.
THE BIG QUESTION
The obvious one is whether the reloaded Kings can gel to produce a rare three-peat under a new coach, new players and a highly talented roster?
However, there are a ton of subplot headlines set to play out throughout the season.
Can former NBA big man Jonah Bolden rediscover his touch after almost four seasons on the sideline?
Will ex-NBL MVP Jaylen Adams be able to replicate his league-best form from the championship season of 2021/22?
EXPERT COMMENT
It’s not easy to win three straight NBL championships. Only two teams since 1979 have claimed a three-peat. The Sydney Kings in 2003-2005 and the New Zealand Breakers in 2011-2013.
The Kings are on the cusp of joining this rare list for a second time and former club captain Brad Rosen is feeling confident about the team’s prospects.
“I love their chances,” said Rosen, who played 99 games for the Kings between 1995 and 1998.
“For a team that lost their starting five in the coach, the way they have recruited has been outstanding.
“They have so much versatility. Can go small, can go big and can have any line-up they want.
“Super excited to see Jonah Bolden returning. Very much think the Kings will be right there at the end.”
PREDICTION
Matt Logue says: Sydney possess the star power and depth to claim a third straight championship this season. The Kings should at least make another grand final – otherwise the campaign will be viewed as a failure given the high standards the club has set.
Mick Randall says: When a club loses its coach and its five best players in the one off-season, it can be catastrophic but, if there was a dream reload scenario, the Kings would be it. GM Chris Pongrass is a recruiting savant, attracting a highly-regarded coach and putting together an absolutely stacked roster that, if it gels, could be on the path to a third-straight NBL title. Not pencilling it in yet — plenty of other clubs have levelled up in NBL24 — but it will surprise no one if the last team standing happens to be from the ‘Hoops Capital’.
NBL AWARD CONTENDERS
Jaylen Adams (MVP, NBL First-Team), DJ Hogg (NBL First-Team), Alex Toohey (Rookie of the Year), Angus Glover (Six Man of the Year), Jaylin Galloway (Most Improved)
CODE BET
Title odds: $4 (via bet365)
The reigning back-to-back NBL champs are favourites heading into season 2023, despite plenty of roster turnover and a new coach. But the Kings are no strangers to churn: 2023 MVP Xavier Cooks has, in turn, been replaced by the man he replaced, 2022 MVP Jaylen Adams, with Cooks and Dejan Vasiljevic off to the NBA with the Washington Wizards.
But the Kings title hopes rely on new additions for the ‘23-’24 season: Mahmoud Abdelfattah takes over from Chase Buford (much to the relief of LED boards everywhere) as head coach, while former Philadelphia Sixers/Phoenix Suns big man (and son of Kings royalty) Jonah Bolden and former Chicago Bulls guard Denzel Valentine, join Next Star Alex Toohey and holdovers like Shaun Bruce and Angus Glover.
After an 0-3 showing at NBL Blitz and chemistry still elusive, the Kings being favourites ($4) to pull off a three-peat seems overly optimistic: only the mid-’00s Kings and early ‘10s Breakers have managed the feat. Adams winning another MVP ($6) might be more intriguing at this stage, but Sydney’s roster is still stacked, so a finals finish will be the bare minimum result the Kings fans will expect.
Best bet: To Make Top 4 – Yes ($1.25)
—Jaymz Clements
SUPERCOACH
In his NBL MVP campaign two seasons ago, Jaylen Adams (G, $377,400), with 36.1 points per game had the second-highest average of any player barring Bryce Cotton (36.9). He must be a strong consideration but the King everyone will be keen to own is versatile homegrown Next Star Alex Toohey (F, $115,000). The Canberra-born local plays every position on the floor and that should translate to a variety of different roles — and solid SuperCoach scoring. Jaylin Galloway (F, $123,600) is awkwardly-priced but could be in for a breakout season. We haven’t seen enough yet, but Jonah Bolden (F-C, $232,000) has the potential to provide import-level scoring at a budget starting price. DJ Hogg (F, $375,800) is at an ultra-premium price and, while he should score well when he returns from a shoulder injury, former NBA man Denzel Valentine (G-F, $277,000) is nearly $100k cheaper and might be the safer bet to start with.
KEY STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Angus Glover was 1st in the league last season in true shooting percentage (68.1%) and effective field goal percentage (67%)
Sydney recorded the most wins by a margin of 10+ points (13) last season.
Sydney ranked 1st for points per game (95.7) last season.
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Originally published as NBL 2024: Sydney Kings season preview, starting five, analysis, predictions and more
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