Sydney Kings marquee big man Cam Oliver takes to social media to vent frustrations as on-court struggles continue
Sydney Kings star Cameron Oliver took to social media to vent his frustration at critics, while coach Brian Goorjian challenged him to aim up after being benched.
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Sydney Kings coach Brian Goorjian has challenged struggling big man Cam Oliver to aim up after the American import was benched for the entire second half in Monday’s blowout loss to Adelaide.
Goorjian also questioned Oliver’s decision not to sit on the bench with the team after he was taken out of the game.
It comes as the former NBA star recently took to social media to vent his frustrations about the unfair narrative about him from “experts” before deleting the post.
“I don’t usually do this but I can’t necessarily agree with this ‘narrative’ that is being created by people who don’t even know who I am personally,” Oliver wrote.
“Everyone is an ‘expert’ on sports these days and all I can do is just listen and laugh because the majority of them have never been in this position before.
“You’ll get nitpicked on why instead of knowing what is real. That’s the struggle all of us athletes go through, if only the experts knew.
“I F’n love criticism but only if it is constructive and beneficial.”
The reality is Oliver is failing to adhere to the team’s expectations for his role, hence his benching in multiple games this season.
He was subbed out against the Sixers with 25 seconds to go in the second quarter and didn’t return for the remainder of the game.
Even rookie centre Jason Spurgin – who has three NBL games to his name – received game time ahead of the Sydney’s marquee big man.
Goorjian said Oliver wasn’t fulfilling his the requirements of his role and he had to act with the Kings down 20 points at halftime.
“With Cam (its’s) running the line, getting on the offensive glass, rolling out of on-balls, showing on on-balls, dominating the glass,” Goorjian said about Oliver, who had 0 points, 0-4 from the field, 2 turnovers and -14 in his 10 minutes.
“I thought that wasn’t happening and if it isn’t happening then you are coming off.”
Goorjian also addressed Oliver sitting separately to the team after being benched.
He didn’t see Cam distance himself from his teammates as he was focused on coaching, but stressed it wasn’t appropriate.
“If he is removed – that isn’t something that we really want,” he said.
“As the game went on I wasn’t aware of it, but I want him with the group.”
Adding to Sydney’s woes, fellow big Keli Leaupepe suffered a hamstring injury.
Asked if it is an opportunity for Oliver to aim up, a frank Goorjian said: “It certainly is.
“I feel like the opportunity has been there for a long period of time.”
Kings chief executive Chris Pongrass used his pre-game interview on the NBL broadcast attempting to spin Goorjian’s frustrations with Oliver as “media hype”.
But Oliver did himself no favours, spending the fourth quarter sitting away from the Kings’ bench.
“Cam’s been great and you see all the media hype and it’s nothing that’s coming out internally,” Pongrass said.
“Brian’s just being open and transparent with the group and I don’t think it’s coming from a place of malice.
“I actually think it’s trying to drive our group, and it’s just Brian, again, trying to get the best out of his guys.
“So I don’t think there’s anything in there that our group haven’t heard before, because we talk about it all internally.”
Sydney has dropped to fourth following Monday’s loss to Adelaide ahead of Thursday’s crucial home clash against the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Watch for the Kings in the coming days to announce the signing of a ball-handling, backup guard who will serve as a complementary piece.
MATCH REPORT: UNDER-SIEGE 36ERS HUMBLE KINGS IN HUGE UPSET
By Sean Teuma
Sydney’s new import can’t arrive soon enough after the Kings were thoroughly humbled on their home court by a desperate 36ers outfit.
Despite talks of player unrest and on the back of three-straight 20-plus point hidings, Adelaide flew out of the blocks to leave the Kings trailing by 22 in the first term and as much as 29 before the home side added some respectability to the score late.
The 36ers kept their post-season hopes alive with a 111-96 victory as the Kings dropped to fourth ahead of an impending roster change and despite a 41-point effort from Jaylen Adams.
“We’ve been looking for a month,” CEO Chris Pongrass told ESPN.
“That was always the case with the flexibility of this roster. We only signed two imports knowing if there’s a point in time we want to make a change or if there’s an injury.
“We’ve been canvassing the one player and to be perfectly honest we’re not looking to bring in a superstar.
“We want to bring in somebody who’s going to be complementary to the pieces (we have).”
Can’t stop Trezz 🕺
— NBL (@NBL) December 30, 2024
Watch live on ESPN 📺 pic.twitter.com/9PTif8zfAa
Adelaide answers critics early
Adelaide came into the contest as heavy underdogs and with a turnover and easy Xavier Cooks dunk in the space of 20 seconds it looked like more pain was in store for the 36ers.
They quickly recovered though, going on a 32-10 run to end the quarter and defending like their lives depended on it to leave the home crowd stunned.
It was the perfect response from the team after questions were raised about how unified the playing group was after their hammering at the hands of Perth.
The Kings were restricted to just 5-24 from the field in the opening term while the 36ers lit it up at 66 per cent from the field.
“My job coming into this game was to make sure that my guys understood what was coming and what they were going to bring to this and making sure they were ready,” Kings coach Brian Goorjian said.
“This is on me. The offence, the schemes that we did defensively. There was no comparison from the time the ball went up as far as anything that involved competitive spirit.
“They kicked our arse. That falls on me.”
Davis thwarts Toohey’s efforts
The Kings needed a spark and a hot start from Adams to the second quarter was emphasised with an incredible full-quarter effort from NBA prospect Alex Toohey.
The 20-year-old dribbled the length of the floor, weaving his way through defenders and wearing contact to finish the and-one as Sydney cut a 20-point margin down to seven in the space of five minutes.
All their good work came unstuck as the 36ers hit a barrage of triples (12-18 3P at halftime), including back-to-back daggers from former King DJ Vasiljevic and a game-high 20 first half points from Kendric Davis saw Adelaide lead 62-43 at the main break.
“You’ve got to get a rhythm back. We haven’t had any sort of consistency with rotations and players,” coach Mike Wells said.
“It was good to have that competitiveness. The group wanted to go out there and prove something, and I couldn’t be more proud of the effort.
“It was good to have almost our (full) group back together. It’s been a long time. I’ve been waiting to see these guys be together on the floor.
“This group wants to win. They’ve been trying, but it’s been hard.”
Trez is pumped after the 3 and the 36ers have shocked this Sydney crowd!! 🤫
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) December 30, 2024
Adelaide have blown away the Kings to begin this game!!
Watch the #NBL LIVE on ESPN! 📺 pic.twitter.com/wbmWbolV63
Tale of contrasting bigs
Montrezl Harrell made waves on Instagram during the week when he took exception to commentary around his absence from a post-game huddle after the loss to Perth.
He responded in an emphatic way, dominating on the inside on his way to 25 points and nine rebounds.
On the other side of the floor, Cam Oliver went 0-4 in his 10 minutes in the first half.
With the Kings down 25 late in the third, Goorjian opted to run with development player Jason Spurgin over the import, who saw no court time in the second half.
“He’s one of our brothers. He came out and did what he did, and he was also six of six from the free throw line. I’d like to point that out that he’s been working on it,” Wells said of Harrell.
“He does a lot of different things. Trezz, DJ and KD have gravity. They put bodies at them and it’s our responsibility to move that ball and get the open shot.”
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