Championship History: The Sydney Kings

Since the inception of the club in 1988 the Sydney Kings have loomed as a powerhouse in the NBL.

For as many people who associate the Kings with success though, there’s an equal number who associate them with falling under pressure – as shown by the nickname of the "Violet Crumble" through the mid-late 1990's.

After becoming the first Sydney-based side to reach the NBL semi-finals in 1989, it was a case of so close, yet so far for much of the Kings' history - until they came roaring through in the early 2000's.

If history is anything to go by, once the Kings get over the hump and win that first championship - a dynasty looms.

Star imports like Dwayne McClain (L) and Leon Trimmingham (R) couldn't lead the Kings to their first ever championship.

The wins: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2022

2003: After falling at the final hurdle so many times in their history, this was the title that got the monkey off the Kings’ back.

Former NBL Rookie of the Year and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Shane Heal was joined by the now iconic wing star Chris Williams. The legendary Brian Goorjian also brought his talents to town from the Victoria Titans to lead the team.

The side dominated the regular season and finished with a 22-8 record – enough for top spot and to secure a home series.

The Wildcats were brushed aside as the Kings swept the best of three-game series, with Williams taking home the Grand Final MVP trophy along with the league MVP award - making him the first player since Scott Fisher in 1989 to achieve the feat.

Chris Williams won championship, MVP and Grand Final MVP honours in his only season in the NBL.

2004: Heal’s departure back to the NBA and into Europe saw the Kings sign another all-time great NBL guard to take his place – CJ Bruton.

Local talent Matt Nielsen elevated his game to finish the campaign as the competition’s scoring champion and lead the side to a first-place regular season finish, this time with a record of 31-9.

It was an all Sydney affair in the Championship Series, as the Kings locked horns with a West Sydney Razorbacks side led by John Rillie and Sam Mackinnon.

The series was expanded to a best-of-five format, and it took all five games for the Kings to earn their second straight championship. After winning Game 1, Sydney dropped the second and third games of the series.

The Kings mounted an incredible comeback in Game 4 to emerge as five-point victors and force Game 5, where they would go on to win by 11 points at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

Matt Nielsen's scoring exploits translated into the Playoffs where he was named Grand Final MVP.

CJ Bruton (R) played a key role in leading the Kings to their second straight championship.

2005: The Kings had become fifth side in NBL history to win back-to-back championships after the Saints, Cannons, Wildcats and 36ers, but entered the 2005 season hoping to become the first side to earn a three-peat.

Injuries hit the side across the season, with CJ Bruton and Rookie of the Year candidate Luke Kendall suffering elbow and knee injuries respectively.

Even in the absence of their starting back-court across part of the season the Kings were a dominant force once again – a force that was only strengthened by the return of Bruton ahead of the Playoffs.

They topped the ladder for the third season in a row – this time with a 26-11 record – and faced off against another New South Wales based side in the finals, the Wollongong Hawks.

Sydney was not keen for a repeat of the drama that came with the five-game series against the Razorbacks the season prior and handily disposed of the Hawks in three games.

Jason Smith took out the Grand Final MVP for the first time in what was his third career championship, and second with the Kings.

Jason Smith won a championship with the South East Melbourne Magic in 1996 before heading to the Kings ahead of the 2003-04 season.

2022: There are plenty of parallels between the Kings’ first championship and their most recent.

They had, arguably, the best local talent in the competition. They brought in a league MVP import (Jaylen Adams), and a new head coach came in to take them to the promised land.

The Kings didn’t dominate the regular season like past triumphs in 2022. They finished third – behind Melbourne and local rivals Illawarra – but managed to pass the Hawks in the semi-finals to set up a Championship Series with the feel-good story of the competition, a Tasmania JackJumpers side in its first season in the NBL.

Import guards Josh Adams and Josh Magette couldn’t pull their side over the Kings like they had done over United in the semi-finals, and Sydney kept handily kept them at bay to sweep them in three games.

DJ Vasiljevic's iconic shot to silence the MyState Bank Arena crowd has become an inconic moment of modern NBL history, and Xavier Cooks added to his burgeoning reputation as one of the most electric athletes outside the NBA with his maiden Grand Final MVP trophy.

Sydney guard Shaun Bruce leaves the court with the championship trophy.

The losses: 2006, 2008, 2020

2006: The three-peat was secured, and an unprecedented four-peat was on the cards.

However, enter Chris Anstey and the Melbourne Tigers.

The Kings were knocked off of their perch at the top of the ladder by the Anstey led Tigers, but they did finish just two games behind them with another strong 28-9 record – a full nine wins ahead of the third-place Illawarra Hawks.

There was a clear two contenders as the Playoffs approached.

A Rolan Roberts pectoral muscle injury suffered during the dunk contest put the Kings behind the eight-ball as they approached the Championship Series – while they replaced the forward/centre with another talented import in Sedric Webber, the loss of strength and power inside allowed Anstey to dominate the Kings.

Sydney was swept aside by Melbourne as the Tigers claimed their first title since the Andrew Gaze era of the mid-late 1990's.

Although the three games were all decided by less than 10 points, the Kings couldn’t pull through against an emerging giant of the competition.

Melbourne Tigers players celebrate winning the 2006 NBL championship while Jason Smith of Sydney watches on.

2008: After a one season absence the Kings returned to the Championship series in 2008 to make it a remarkable five grand final appearances in just six seasons.

With Brian Goorjian still leading the side Sydney responded to its grand final absence the year prior with a bang, and went on an incredible 27-3 run to end the season with a record of 31-7.

The Tigers once again awaited the Kings in the Championship Series. They had fallen to a Sam Mackinnon led Brisbane Bullets side the year prior, and with regular season MVP Chris Anstey still leading the way, the Tigers were a daunting prospect to face.

After being swept in their last meeting, the Kings came out firing in Game 1 with a 21-point win, but were forced to win Game 4 to keep the series alive.

The Tigers earned an eight-point win in the decisive game of the series to put a full-stop of the all-time great dynasties the NBL has seen.

Chris Anstey once again proved to be a thorn in the side of the Kings in 2008.

2020: It would be 12 years before the Kings would grace the biggest stage again, and they would do so in the midst of a global pandemic.

The Perth Wildcats – buoyed by the mid-season signing of centre Miles Plumlee and the talent of guard Bryce Cotton, won the first game of the series before dropping game two to the Kings in Perth.

For Game 3 the Wildcats once again strolled into Qudos Bank Arena and walked home with a win – meaning the first three games of the series were all won by the away team.

Despite the five-game nature of the series, the Kings elected to forfeit the remaining games due to the uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic and award the Wildcats the title.

The mid-season addition of Miles Plumlee helped the Wildcats take the 2020 NBL championship.

Game 1 of the NBL23 Championship Series tips off on Friday, March 3 at 7pm AEDT.

All games will be broadcast live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies.