Tag: Sydney Kings

REPORT: Denzel Valentine signs one-year deal with reigning NBL champions

REPORT: Denzel Valentine signs one-year deal with reigning NBL champions

A Michigan State basketball legend is heading down under. On Saturday, it was reported by Olgun Uluc of ESPN that Denzel Valentine has signed a one-year contract with the Sydney Kings of the NBL, the top men’s professional basketball league in Australia and New Zealand.

The Kings have won the NBL Grand Final the last two seasons and are the reigning NBL champions. Valentine will suit up next to former Michigan Wolverine and reigning Grand Final MVP Derrick Walton.

Valentine bounced around the NBA and G-League the last few seasons after having one breakout year with the Chicago Bulls back in 2017-18, where he averaged 10.2 points per game and started nearly half the season for the Bulls. Unfortunately, Valentine had multiple serious injuries in his left leg and ankle and never quite looked the same as he did for a brief window that season.

The move to the NBL will give Valentine, who is still just 29, a chance at a second career in a very competitive and fun league.

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What was going through your mind …

What was going through your mind playing with Belgium and the Sydney Kings? Tate: Honestly, my first year in Belgium, my feet were just on the ground. That was a young team, and we were just trying to win. I went out there on a tryout. I was trying to stay on the team. As time went on, I began to show what I am and got more comfortable and confident. That led to me coming back to a Summer League. In Australia, it was different. I always knew that I wanted to get to the NBA. I felt I took a jump from that first year to my second year. I knew going into my second season, LaMelo Ball, RJ Hampton and Didi Louzada would have NBA eyes on them out there. I turned down a lot of money in Europe and took a pay cut to go to Australia because I knew that the publicity and the amount of attention those young rising stars were going to bring could be my opportunity to get to the league.

Brooklyn Nets draft prospect Xavier Cooks signs NBL contract

Former undrafted talent Xavier Cooks just signed a three-year deal in the NBL, but is hopeful to earn a spot on an NBA team.

Winthrop Eagles alum Xavier Cooks has decided to sign a three-year deal with the Sydney Kings of Australia’s NBL, Cooks spoke with the Nets before his decision.

Cooks signed a contract that leaves him “an out” for the NBA, where he remains hopeful to get a roster spot come draft day.

According to reports, Cooks and the front office of the Brooklyn Nets had “good talks” surrounding the idea of a two-way contract. The super athletic forward just won the NBL Finals for the Sydney Kings, earning a Grand Finals MVP honor along the way.

Cooks went undrafted in 2018 before going to play for professional German basketball team S.Oliver Würzburg, ultimately signing a deal with the Sydney Kings.

Cooks was a talented collegiate athlete for Winthrop University, where he won Big South Player of the Year. Cooks averaged 17 points per game with six boards per contest in his senior campaign.

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The Sydney Kings will have yet another …

The Sydney Kings will have yet another NBA great in their corner ahead of game 3 of the NBL Grand Final, with Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen recording a video message voicing his support for the Kings and their fans. Posted by the Kings on their Twitter account, Pippen says that he wished to “say hello to all the great fans in Australia”, as well as “wish the Sydney Kings the best of luck.”

Pippen also joins current Golden State …

Pippen also joins current Golden State Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in giving their support for the Kings, after the pair shared their own videos earlier in the series. Again, Curry and Thompson may be diehard Kings fans, but they are also former teammates of Andrew Bogut – part of the team’s ownership group – as well as current Kings import Ian Clark, both of whom were part of the Warriors’ championship dynasty from 2015-2017. Others who have shared their support for the Kings include former Kings players who are now in the NBA – Didi Louzada and Jae’Sean Tate – as well as former Kings coach Will Weaver, former NBA lottery pick Thon Maker, Sydney Swans player Jake Lloyd, and Super Netball team the NSW Swifts.

The Sydney Kings have signed NBA …

The Sydney Kings have signed NBA championship-winning guard Ian Clark for the remainder of Hungry Jacks NBL22 season.  The 191cm versatile guard will come into the line-up for tomorrow’s clash against the Brisbane Bullets at Qudos Bank Arena and takes his place in the roster as an injury replacement for Jordan Hunter.  Clark played 330 games in his NBA career, which was highlighted by playing a vital role off the bench for arguably one of the greatest teams of all-time, the 2017 NBA champions the Golden State Warriors, playing alongside Kings part-owner Andrew Bogut and backing up one of the greatest shooters in the game, Steph Curry.  Hoops Capital and Kings CEO Chris Pongrass said Clark’s signing came after an extensive and considered search.  “We are thrilled to have Ian joining our organisation.”

Former Warrior Andrew Bogut announces retirement after 14 seasons in NBA

After 14 seasons in the NBA, including five with the Warriors, Australian center Andrew Bogut has announced his retirement from basketball.

To open the 2005 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Australian center Andrew Bogut out of the University of Utah with the No. 1 overall selection. Fourteen seasons later, the big man is hanging up his jersey.

On Tuesday, Bogut announced his retirement on his podcast “Rogues Bogues.” After a reunion with the Golden State Warriors during the 2018-19 season, Bogut played the 2019-20 season with the Sydney Kings in Australia’s NBL.

Following seven seasons to start his career in Milwaukee, Bogut was traded to the Warriors in a blockbuster deal that featured Bay Area crowd favorite Monta Ellis.

Bogut initially spent four seasons in Golden State, tallying 6.3 points on 58.1% shooting from the field with 8.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.6 blocks in 23.7 minutes per contest.

The seven-footer was a key piece on Golden State’s run to an NBA championship in 2015. After stops with the Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers, Bogut rejoined Golden State for 11 games and the playoffs in the 2018-19 season.

Next to NBA champion, Bogut earned several accolades and honors during his time on the hardwood. In 2010, Bogut was named to the All-NBA Third Team. He also earned spots on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2015 and the All-Rookie First Team in 2006. In 2011, Bogut led the NBA in blocks.

On Twitter, the Golden State Warriors thanked the 36-year-old center.

Via @warriors on Twitter:

Along with his fierce defensive prowess and strength as a leader, Bogut will be remembered for his crafty vision as a passer from the post. The big man had a knack for finding Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson leaking away for an open jumper from beyond the arc.

Bogut will finish his 14-year career averaging 9.6 points on 53.5% shooting from the field with 8.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 blocks.

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Former Ohio State forward Jae’Sean Tate signs three-year deal with Houston Rockets

Former Ohio State basketball star Jae’Sean Tate has signed a three-year deal with the NBA’s Houston Rockets.

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Former Ohio State star Jae’Sean Tate is reportedly on the move.

According to a report from the Houston Chronicle (subscription may be required), Tate has signed a three-year deal with the Houston Rockets.

Tate played for the Buckeyes from 2014-2018 and went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft. He eventually found his way overseas where he blossomed into one of the best players in Australia’s National Basketball League, earning First-Team All-League designation while playing for the Sydney Kings.

He averaged 16.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game in 28 contests in the league during the 2019-2020 season.

Now, Tate will finally get a chance to realize his dream of playing in the NBA. He’ll be joining his head coach in Sydney, Will Weaver, who accepted an assistant position with Houston.

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Sydney Kings head coach Will Weaver says LaMelo Ball on path to becoming a dynamic player

LaMelo Ball took a risk and had a big season with the Illawarra Hawks and NBL, which could lead to a big future in the NBA next season.

LaMelo Ball took an interesting risk by joining the NBL to continue his basketball career. With a likely easier option available in joining the Chinese Basketball Association, Ball chose Australia and one of the tougher non-NBA leagues.

His risk paid off as he jumped into the discussion for the No. 1 pick because of the success he had in the league. Despite his success, though, it came in a poor environment as the Illawarra Hawks were a franchise that the league took over before being sold in the weeks after Ball departed.

At the next level, the environment around him will play a bigger role in his development, something Sydney Kings head coach Will Weaver pointed out in his recent appearance on The Wingspan podcast.

“The arc of development is long and the context these guys go into matters so much. Everything I’ve heard is really positive about their likelihood of taking advantage of those opportunities. I’ll be interested to see how their careers compare to Didi Louzada or Jae’sean Tate or any of these other young guys that have big dreams and a long way to go and are willing to take some risks to get there. It’s pretty compelling to watch and be apart of.”

Pelicans fans are familiar with Didi Louzada, who will return to the Kings next season for a second year with the club. Jae’sean Tate is a 24-year old that earned First Team All-NBL honors this season and will likely make the jump to the NBA next season.

Weaver had some high praise for Ball in the same interview, comparing him to Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson. He went on to speak more about Ball’s versatility and the reason he’s optimistic about his defense.

“I think what’s exciting about LaMelo is just the versatility that he has. The ability to be a playmaker and learn to not only be dynamic but become a great decision-maker. I think he’s well and truly on the path there. Some of the physical aspects that he has means that he’s got a chance to become a good defender.”

If Ball can land with the right team and the right staff around him, it’s entirely possible he can live up to the lofty words of Weaver. But even if he doesn’t, as we saw with Illawarra this season, it’s still possible for Ball to stand out due to his immense talent.

Sydney Kings coach Will Weaver compares LaMelo Ball to Zion Williamson, Anthony Davis

Sydney Kings head coach Will Weaver is the latest person associated with both the NBL and NBA to have high praise for Lamelo Ball.

One of the few people to have experience both with the NBA and with the NBL and, specifically, LaMelo Ball, is current Sydney Kings head coach Will Weaver. As a coach, Weaver spent time with the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets as an assistant before spending a season as the head coach of the Long Island Nets, a G League side.

In March of 2019, Weaver took over as the head coach of the Kings, leading the team to a 20-8 record and a spot in the Grand Finals. As a result, Weaver is uniquely positioned to give his take on Ball when it comes to the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft.

On the Wingspan Podcast, Weaver compared Ball to some big names in the league already (h/t Nets Daily).

“I think there are not a lot of people of LaMelo’s size and quickness that can play the game as he does at his age. Anthony Davis was really good as a senior in high school. Zion Williamson was really good as a senior in high school and that is what we are really looking at with LaMelo and this thing. Those guys tend to end up being really good when they are 24 year-olds, 28 year-olds, and 32 year-olds.”

Ball’s basketball IQ, size and skill does make him a special prospect at his age, though it’s lofty to compare him to the likes of Williamson and Anthony Davis. Realistically, given what Davis is doing in the NBA Finals and throughout the postseason, it’s lofty to even compare Williamson to him.

Nonetheless, Weaver’s point largely relies on how good those prospects were at a young age, which does apply to Ball. The way Ball has handled being in the national spotlight from a young age is a sign of his maturity as well, which is another positive.

Weaver is the second person associated with both the NBA and NBL to have strong, positive words on Ball with Andrew Bogut, who played under Weaver this season. Considering that few people would know the two leagues better than those two players, it’s a huge positive for Ball’s future that both have been complimentary of him.