Kings under fire: Can Sydney bounce back?

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

"Who are you going to be, what is our ball club about?"

After going 2-2 in December and ending the year with a crushing 96-111 loss to Adelaide, the Sydney Kings will be looking to start 2025 fresh against the fiery South East Melbourne Phoenix on Thursday night.

Brian Goorjian took the heat for the Kings' disappointing performance against the 36ers, but only the players can step up when it matters against a red-hot Phoenix.

With four former Kings on the opposing side (Angus Glover, Jordan Hunter, Tom Vodanovich and Derrick Walton Jr.), former Sydney captain Brad Rosen says Thursday's clash will be the perfect challenge against the hottest team in the competition.

“They (South East Melbourne) would want nothing better than to beat the Sydney Kings,” he said on NBL Now.

“Right Kings, here’s the challenge; forget where you are on the ladder, you just got smoked at home by Adelaide in front of a massive crowd. Who are you going to be, what is our ball club about? I cannot wait to see tomorrow night.

“What is the stand of this Sydney Kings team? We will see tomorrow night.”

The Phoenix have risen from the ashes since head coach Josh King took over, going 8-3 in their 11 games and beating the top-of-the-ladder Illawarra Hawks twice in the past 30 days – coming into prime form for the Summer Shootout.

But with defensive maestro Bul Kuol back, the Kings become a much better team.

Can Sydney rise to the occasion and start 2025 on a high? Or will Goorjian be left to defend his team again come the post-match?

Watch the Kings and Phoenix do battle on Thursday night at 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.

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