Sydney Kings Clinch Sixth NBL Championship in Thrilling Game 5 Overtime Victory
The Sydney Kings have clinched their sixth National Basketball League (NBL) championship, and their third in five seasons, by defeating the Adelaide 36ers 3-2 in a best-of-five series. The Kings secured the title with a 113-101 overtime victory in Game 5, held before a record NBL crowd in Sydney. The series was marked by competitive games, significant lead changes, and a notable individual rivalry between Kings guard Kendric Davis, who was named Championship Series MVP, and 36ers star Bryce Cotton, the NBL's regular season MVP.
Series Overview and Key Rivalry
The NBL Championship Series saw the Sydney Kings vying for their sixth NBL title. The Adelaide 36ers, on the other hand, sought their first championship in 24 years, with their last series appearance having been eight years prior.
A central and highly anticipated aspect of the series was the rivalry between Kings guard Kendric Davis and 36ers star Bryce Cotton. Cotton had recently secured his sixth NBL MVP award with 96 votes, narrowly surpassing Davis, who received 94 votes. Davis had publicly criticized the MVP voting process after the announcement, adding significant fuel to their on-court competition. This individual matchup not only intensified the series but also contributed to increased international interest in the league. The series also featured numerous on-court exchanges between players and reported confrontations between team personnel.
Game 1: Kings Secure Decisive Victory
The Sydney Kings commenced the series with a dominant 112-68 victory over the Adelaide 36ers in Game 1 at Qudos Bank Arena. The 44-point margin represented the largest win in Kings' postseason history and the 36ers' most significant loss.
The Kings established an early lead, finishing the first quarter 31-23 and extending their advantage to 20 points by halftime. They showcased exceptional shooting, recording a field goal percentage of 66% and making 13 of 24 three-point attempts. In contrast, the 36ers struggled, shooting 35% from the field and 9 of 37 from three-point range.
Kendric Davis led the Kings with 25 points and seven assists, achieving a remarkable +38 plus-minus rating. Tim Soares contributed 22 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. For the 36ers, Bryce Cotton scored 10 points and seven assists, with the Kings employing close defensive strategies against him. Following the game, an incident occurred in the handshake line involving Kings assistant coach Andrew Bogut and 36ers center Nick Rakocevic. Kings coach Brian Goorjian stated there was no intent to deliberately target Cotton, describing any contact as accidental.
Game 2: 36ers Force Series Tie with Buzzer-Beater
Adelaide leveled the series at 1-1 by securing a thrilling 91-89 victory in Game 2 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, attended by 10,058 fans. The 36ers, who had trailed by 14 points in the third quarter, mounted a crucial comeback.
In a dramatic finish, Bryce Cotton secured a defensive rebound in the final seconds, drove the length of the court, and executed a left-handed layup against Torrey Craig as time expired, securing the win for the 36ers.
Cotton led the 36ers with 28 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Flynn Cameron contributed 17 points and five rebounds. Kendric Davis led the Kings with 20 points and six assists. Following the game-winning shot, Davis approached Cotton for a verbal exchange, an incident that both coaches and players characterized as typical playoff competition. Reports also indicated a verbal exchange between Sydney assistant coach Andrew Bogut and 36ers owner Grant Kelley after the game.
Game 3: Kings Reclaim Series Lead in Sydney
The Sydney Kings took a 2-1 series lead by defeating the Adelaide 36ers 106-93 in Game 3 at Qudos Bank Arena. The game was attended by an NBL record crowd of 18,373 spectators, highlighting the series' growing appeal.
The lead changed 30 times through the first three quarters, with neither team establishing a double-digit advantage. The Kings initiated the fourth quarter with a decisive 7-0 run, including three-pointers from Tim Soares and Jaylin Galloway, which established a 10-point lead they maintained.
Kendric Davis delivered a historic performance with 34 points, 15 assists, and zero turnovers, marking the first time in NBL history a player achieved 30 points and 10 assists in a championship series game.
Jaylin Galloway added 17 points, and Tim Soares scored 12 points. For the 36ers, John Jenkins led with 22 points, including four successful three-pointers in the first quarter, while Bryce Cotton recorded 15 points and 12 assists.
Game 4: 36ers Force Decisive Game 5
The Adelaide 36ers leveled the series again at 2-2 with a narrow 92-91 victory over the Sydney Kings in Game 4 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, necessitating a decisive Game 5. The Kings held a seven-point lead at halftime and extended it to nine points late in the third quarter. However, Adelaide responded powerfully with an 18-5 scoring run across the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarters, shifting the momentum.
The game concluded with a one-point margin. Adelaide held a two-point lead in the final seconds when Torrey Craig of the Kings was fouled with 2.8 seconds remaining. Craig converted his first free throw, bringing the score to 92-91, but his second attempt was unsuccessful, with Isaac Humphries securing the rebound for Adelaide to seal the win. Zylan Cheatham led the 36ers with 23 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. DJ Vasiljevic and Bryce Cotton each contributed 19 points, with Cotton also recording 12 assists. For the Kings, Kendric Davis recorded 22 points and 10 assists, and Jaylin Galloway added 20 points.
Game 5: Championship Decider Build-Up
The NBL Championship Series culminated in Game 5, held on Easter Sunday, April 5, at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. With the series tied 2-2, the final game was a winner-take-all contest, promising an intense battle.
Kings coach Brian Goorjian emphasized the team's "takes no talent" mantra, focusing on effort, communication, ball pressure, and running the floor. Adelaide 36ers General Manager Matt Weston, embracing their underdog status, stated that the pressure was on the Kings as the favored team, describing Game 5 as a "free hit" for the 36ers.
Injury reports for the Sydney Kings included Bul Kuol, Keli Leaupepe (both knee), and Tyler Robertson (shoulder), all out for the season. The Adelaide 36ers listed Ben Griscti as TBC for a neck injury.
Sydney Kings Clinch Championship in Overtime
The Sydney Kings secured their sixth NBL championship by defeating the Adelaide 36ers 113-101 in overtime during Game 5. The game attracted an NBL record crowd of 18,589 spectators at Qudos Bank Arena, also setting a new attendance record for an NBL Championship Series.
Adelaide maintained a lead through much of the fourth quarter, holding a six-point advantage with just over two minutes remaining. Bryce Cotton further extended the 36ers' lead to four points with 41.4 seconds left after a four-point play and subsequent free throws. However, Kendric Davis scored for Sydney, and Tim Soares secured a critical offensive rebound and put-back shot with 4.6 seconds left, tying the game at 95-95 and forcing overtime. Cotton's attempt at a game-winning layup in regulation was unsuccessful.
In the overtime period, the Kings decisively outscored the 36ers 18-6. Adelaide lost key players Flynn Cameron and Nick Rakocevic to fouls during overtime, allowing the Kings to capitalize and ultimately secure the championship.
Kendric Davis was named the Championship Series MVP (Larry Sengstock Trophy), leading the Kings in Game 5 with an outstanding 35 points (including seven in overtime) and 14 assists. Tim Soares contributed 20 points and seven rebounds, while Xavier Cooks recorded 19 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and three steals. For the Adelaide 36ers, Bryce Cotton played all 45 minutes, scoring 35 points and nine assists. Zylan Cheatham added 15 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. This championship marked the Kings' first title since Brian Goorjian's return as coach.