Kings secure Kuol-ity wing signing?

The Sydney Kings have reportedly added one of the most dangerous and high-potential wing defenders in the NBL to their rebuilding roster, as ESPN’s Olgun Uluc has reported the NBL22 and NBL23 champions have added Cairns’ Bul Kuol to their project.

Kuol has reportedly signed a three-year deal with the Kings, who have already officially parted ways with Angus Glover, DJ Hogg and Jackson Makoi as they build their new roster under Goorjian.

The sharpshooting former Rookie of the Year averaged a career-best 12.7 points per game in NBL24, and shot over 40 per cent from the three-point line across the campaign.

“The reason this one was able to get done so quickly was Bul Kuol told the Taipans very early in the piece he would not be returning, so other teams were able to seek permission to speak with him, and they did that,” Uluc said on The Marketplace.

“The Kings were involved, the South East Melbourne Phoenix were a team that was involved, the Illawarra Hawks and New Zealand Breakers were teams that asked the question, but it’s the Sydney Kings who get Bul Kuol – someone who they chased last season.”

Derek Rucker believes Kuol’s offensive ability has been understated due to his reputation as a defensive stopper.

“Offensively you’re getting a guy who can shoot the ball. He’s one of the best shooters in the NBL,” Derek Rucker said. “Now, if you put him in an infrastructure offensively where his offensive role is more defined I think that’s going to be even better for him.

“He is three-and-d in a championship winning team,” Peter Hooley added. “He’s not going to be your biggest offensive weapon, but he’s going to be your best three-and-d guy on a championship calibre team.”

Local college superstar links up with Kings project?

One of the most exciting Australian talents in collegiate basketball will be heading to the Sydney Kings. Keli Leaupepe will join Brian Goorjian’s side on a three-year deal, with the final season possessing a club option.

Leaupepe will arrive at the Kings from NCAA program Loyola Marymount, and Uluc has not only compared him to an NBL legend, but says there was surprise around the league that it took this long for the prospect to turn professional.

“The Kings have locked in one of the best college returnees on the market,” Uluc said. “Leaupepe, following him on Instagram. He is absolutely a monster, he is in the gym 24/7 and from a physical standpoint his frame is huge,” Uluc said.

“When you speak around the league, who does Keli Leaupepe remind you of? People are saying a Mika Vukona mould if Mika Vukona played in 2024. That’s what the Sydney Kings are getting, a really high-level, young, local big.

“There were rotation spots in the NBL last season for Keli Leaupepe and people were surprised he returned to Loyola Marymount. He was one of the most sought-after college guys this cycle.

Peter Hooley saw Leaupepe’s qualities firsthand before the highly touted talent headed Stateside, and says the big almost looked ready for the NBL five years ago.

“He was training with us at Melbourne United five years ago before he went to Loyola, around then he was almost body-ready to play in the NBL,” Hooley said.

“He’s a gym junkie and loves to get in there and lift weights, he’s scrappy and rips things down, that is a recipe for success.

“To come in and have the body to translate to a professional league as physical as the NBL, and he had the season where he shot 44 per cent from three and he’s averaged double figures in division one since he was a freshman.

“He’s continued every year to get better and he’s going to have a lot of success in this league from day one because he’s going to be able to throw his weight around.”

The signing has been confirmed by the Kings.

Archetypal Goorj wing reportedly signs on with Kings

Brian Goorjian has long held a place in his rotation for athletic, multi-talented wings over the course of his storied NBL coaching career, and Olgun Uluc has reported the coaching legend has signed another one of his archetypal favourites in Australian collegiate prospect Tyler Robertson.

Robertson has reportedly inked a three-year deal with the Kings, with the third of those being a club option.

The Melbourne-born wing has played five years of collegiate basketball, and averaged almost 17 points per game on 45.2 per cent shooting (37.2 per cent from three) for NCAA side Portland this past season.

“Robertson is someone who is really intriguing, highly skilled, guy. Interesting frame, a 6’6” Wing guy who can handle it a little bit and there’s a skillset there where we can maybe see some impact from him in year one. He’s a triple-double type,” Uluc said on The Marketplace.

“Goorj watched the Championship Series with Delly and Shili just up and in, and the value in having extra ball carriers is what they see Tyler Robertson as bringing something else to the table from that perspective.”

“Goorj has a type, going back four decades with Frank Drmic, Sam Mackinnon, Jason Smith, it’s been going on for years,” Derek Rucker added.

“He has a type on the wing and it looks like he’s continuing to add modern versions of his traditional prototype.”

"Point of attack" defender reportedly signs Kings deal

The Sydney Kings’ reported free agency blitz has continued, with the club reportedly signing star perimeter defender Izayah Le’Afa to a two-year deal.

 The former Breaker and Phoenix guard has joined Bul Kuol, Xavier Cooks, Keli Leaupepe and Tyler Robertson as reported signings in the opening hours of free agency by ESPN’s Olgun Uluc.

“Izayah Le’Afa has agreed to two-year deal with the Sydney Kings. There’s a mutual option on that second year,” Uluc said on The Marketplace.

“We spoke about the defensive potency of what the Sydney Kings are building, Izayah Le’Afa is widely regarded as one of the best perimeter point of attack defenders.

“He’s a quality spot-up shooter from downtown as well, and he joins that team under Brian Goorjian.”

The Sydney Kings’ defence was left wanting in crucial points of NBL24, however Pete Hooley believes with the reported signings could establish the NBL22 and NBL23 champions as defensive juggernauts this season.

“We already said they’re going to be a top three defensive team, this solidifies that, but it’s not just that they’re going to be elite defensively – they’ve got guys who can legitimately step up and hit the three as well.

“Justin Simon was one of the best defenders we’ve seen when he was here, he didn’t knock down the threat at a high rate, Antonius Cleveland very similar. Kuol and Le’Afa in that are very capable of knocking down the three and be very potent in that.

“The Kings have made more than just a splash on day one [of free agency], they’ve gone all guns blazing.”