Kings secure superstar import signing

The Sydney Kings have brought one of the most exciting players of the NBL’s modern era back to the competition with the signing of former Cairns Taipan Cam Oliver on a one-year deal.

Oliver hasn’t been sighted in the NBL since his 2020-21 campaign with the Taipans, after which he left to pursue NBA opportunities with the Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks.

He appeared in a total of six NBA games across two seasons, and has since spent time playing in Spain, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, the NBA's G-League and China.

Oliver formed a lethal import trio with Scott Machado and DJ Newbill at the Taipans, with all three earning All-NBL nomination during a stellar NBL20 campaign.

The 27-year-old will arrive in the NBL following a stint with Chinese side Zhejiang Lions, where he has averaged 12.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, alongside new South East Melbourne import Derrick Walton Jr.

"I’m most excited to come into a winning, championship organisation and keeping that the focus," Oliver said. 

"Obviously that consists of a little bit of everybody, from the players to the coaches, to the front office to buy in to one ultimate goal. That’s really exciting and I’m just ready for the journey to get there and achieve everything we all put our mind to.

"Off court I’m ready to take a big step in my leadership role. My maturity, my love for the game, my passion is going to be on full display, and I think there’s no other place but Sydney that’s going to embrace that and hopefully learn with me as we go.

"The fans are going to love it. I’m excited to see what’s it going to be like."

Oliver averaged 17.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks a game across two seasons in the NBL.

Kings coach Brian Goorjian said he would be a welcome addition to the roster.

“Cam is a real important piece to this team. The spice of recruitment are the imports. Now that we knew what the Australian content of the team looked like, we wanted a dynamic rim protecting big man, someone who had also played in the league before," Goorjian said.

“We had seen him play in the Philippines during a scrimmage with the Boomers and held his own. From then on, he was always somebody we had in mind as we were putting this team together.

“A previous All-NBL Second Team who’s dynamic, athletic who can shoot the ball and score - we see him as a real important signing of this group. He’s a proven competitive product.”