Wells: 'We want to play the best'

After an off-season that was full of headlines, the Adelaide 36ers will embark on their NBL25 journey against a team widely picked as the championship favourites, the Sydney Kings.

It's a tough start, but in many ways the perfect test for Mike Wells and his star-studded squad.

“I mean they just give us a layup right out the gate,” Wells joked, when asked about playing the Kings first up.

“Their roster and their coach (Brian Goorjian) ... they have a standard and a brand that’s successful. I think it’s always good for us early in the season to take a shot at a team that’s really good.”

Wells is driving high standards at the 36ers, as the club looks to return to Finals for the first time since 2018.

They have the talent, led by DJ Vasiljevic, Isaac Humphries, Kendric Davis and former NBA star and injury replacement player Montrezl Harrell, but of course, talent doesn't necessarily equal success.

“We want to come together as a group and we want to be hardened by competition,” Wells said.

“Our goal is to win, and we understand the pressure of the job we have.

“It starts on Sunday, but how do we get there? I don’t know if there’s a right path, but as we begin to ramp it up in practice as you all saw, we want to get right to that line.

“As a team and as a coach, every time you practice or you play, you want to better than when you started. That’s where we are trying to go.”

Harrell and Davis are set to play a big role in how successful this team can be and it’s a puzzle that the new head coach is working through.

“The group as a whole has been really coachable,” Wells added.

“It’s a good blend of the veterans and some of our new players and all get on the same page and move together.”

The 36ers take on the Sydney Kings on Sunday afternoon at 2.30pm AEST, with the game live and free on ESPN via Kayo Freebies, 10 & 10 Play.