Basketball news: Luc Longley helps Jordan Hunter discover his on-court identity in NBL

A Sydney Kings big man has revealed how guidance from basketball legend Luc Longley helped him find his way out of an on-court identity crisis.

As a self-confessed, ‘nerd’, Sydney Kings big man Jordan Hunter long felt the need to act arrogantly to succeed in professional basketball.

The stereotype for a centre dictates you must be ruthless and rude in order to dominate at the highest level.

Hunter is as competitive as anyone, but beyond the basketball court he is a caring and calm soul who also enjoys art, theatre, writing and music.

This contrast prompted him to wage an internal battle in his own mind about his on-court identity.

Thankfully, Hunter’s personal conflict ended when he met a like-minded person in Kings special advisor Luc Longley.

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The Australian basketball legend possesses similar gentle and creative traits, but he found a way to bring out his inner ‘warrior’ persona to win three NBA championships at the Chicago Bulls alongside arguably the most competitive athlete in history in Michael Jordan.

Longley could see himself in Hunter when he first arrived at the Kings, so has gone out of his way to help the rising Australian big man.

“Luc has probably been the most vital person in my experience with the Sydney Kings,” said Hunter, who likes to call Longley the “Godfather.”

“He saw a little bit of the strange weirdo he was growing up in me.

“He told me that I can be myself and we can find ways to bring out the warrior that you need to be out there on the court.

“And once you cross these battle lines, what mask you need to where to succeed and it has nothing to do with who you are as a person.

“That was refreshing after being told my whole career that you need to be an arsehole or a dick when you are out there.”

Former NBA Chicago Bulls champion and Boomers legend Luc Longley pictured at Auburn Basketball Stadium, where he is a special advisor with the Sydney Kings. Picture: Toby Zerna

Prior to meeting Longley, Hunter felt compelled to push away his arty side to fit into the basketball circles.

He was also urged to be equally ruthless off the court, but this mindset didn’t translate and instead of thriving he just went into a shell.

“But Luc was the first person that empowered who I was and helped me thrive on the court, not to spite who I was,” he said.

“He helped me intelligently find a way for my personality to take a back seat when I’m on the floor.

“Luc has a wealth of experience from some pretty big basketball names who helped him along the journey.

“Now he is just imparting that in his graceful manner.”

Hunter says the personal parallels with Longley are uncanny.

He also grew up as a tall kid who enjoyed shooting hoops, but was equally interested in being creative through words, music or art.

It’s why Hunter felt a powerful sense of deja vu while watching Longley’s Australian Story documentary: One Giant Leap: on the ABC last year.

“Could I relate to Luc – absolutely,” he said.

“I was a lanky, artsy kid who someone put a basketball in my hand because I was tall.

“You play because you enjoy it and then all of a sudden, they make it serious and a job and you’re thinking, ‘hang on, this wasn’t part of the agreement’.

“So, it’s about working through that and finding the love for the game in the poetry of the sport like the backdoor passes and setting good screens.

“That stuff is what gets me on the court every day.”

After missing last season due to injury, Jordan Hunter can’t wait to dunk like this again for the Sydney Kings in NBL23. Photo: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

Hunter and Longley’s relationship has become so tight that they rarely talk about basketball these days.

Instead, the two big men can be seen chewing the fat about all things life.

Fortunately for Hunter, Longley was more than happy to revert back to hoops chats when the Kings’ big man missed last season through injury.

Hunter fractured his finger during the pre-season before breaking his left foot in his first session back from the finger injury.

The injury setbacks forced the 25-year-old to sit on the sidelines and watch his beloved Kings surge to the NBL championship.

You could’ve forgiven Hunter if he felt so frustrated about missing Sydney’s success that he removed himself from the team.

Instead, he focused his energy on becoming an even better teammate, and the ultimate supporter from the bench.

“And that was effortless,” he said.

“It wasn’t a conscious decision. I was on the bench trying to support my teammates.

“That’s what happens when you bring in great guys, great coaches, and support staff.

“When there are good people everywhere, it’s easy to get up for a game and support my teammates when they are doing well.

“It was just a real special cathodic moment of such hard work over the years, and you finally find a home with the Kings, and you get it done.

“Even the new players at the club felt what it meant, and knew what it meant, so it was just a pleasure to be a part of.”

What a sight 😍 pic.twitter.com/TUY4cyBtbq

— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) August 22, 2022

Hunter is now fully fit and focused on helping the Kings defend their championship crown in NBL23.

He also credits his injuries for providing invaluable perspective about his career, especially how blessed he is to live his hoops dreams.

“You don’t want to hurt yourself to learn this, but I think it’s good to learn about your basketball mortality,” he reasoned.

“This is not something that I can do forever. You ask one hundred players and not many of them are going to know what they want to do when they have to hang the sneakers up.

“You don’t want to be thinking about that and you want to be present and enjoying the basketball journey.

“But I think the injury lay-off, not in a cynical or negative way, was a good chance to reflect on what those next steps might be and what it would look like if I can’t run and jump anymore.

“Maybe it’s ego, but you want to get back there again when you are a part of winning a championship.”