REIGNITING OLD RIVALRY
Bogut part of new golden era
PRIZE NBL recruit Andrew Bogut hopes the dormant Sydney-Melbourne rivalry will be reignited, with league officials saying it’s crucial to the competition’s success.
The 41st season of the competition starts later this week, with plenty of momentum generated by former NBA No.1 draft pick Bogut’s signing for Sydney and seven pre-season games between NBL and NBA clubs.
Coming off the back of record attendances and broadcast figures last season, officials say the league is enjoying a new golden era.
One thing the resurgent competition has lacked for the past decade is a genuine rivalry between clubs in the two biggest cities.
The Kings haven’t made the playoffs since 2012-13 and it was back in 2008 when the Kings last played a Melbourne side in the finals.
“It hasn’t been deserved of a rivalry the last couple of years because we haven’t performed very well or made the playoffs, but hopefully we can change that this season,” Bogut said.
“We’ve had a couple of games against them in pre-season and they’ve been pretty competitive and physical, so hopefully that will continue.”
The recruitment of Bogut and fellow Boomers big man Daniel Kickert and NBA aspirant Brian Brown plus returning stars Jerome Randle, Kevin Lisch and Brad Newley have Sydney labelled by many as title favourites.
NBL chief executive Jeremy Loeliger said Sydney and Melbourne should be evenly matched this season. “It’s a longstanding rivalry that needs to be reprised if we’re going to be successful,” Loeliger said.
Bogut has dismissed talk the Kings have assembled the best NBL team ever. ‘I think it’s very disrespectful to Melbourne United who are the champions, and Adelaide (last season’s losing finalists) and everybody else, we haven’t accomplished anything yet,” Bogut said.
While Bogut had injury issues over his last few NBA campaigns, he’s in good shape heading into Sydney’s season opener at home to Adelaide next Saturday.
“I feel really good. I haven’t missed a practice session,” he said. “I haven’t had any niggles bothering me which has been a real positive thing.”
Opposing NBL centres are looking forward to matching up against Bogut. “It’s a great opportunity to play against one of the best Australia has ever produced and it will be a good test to see where I’m at,” Boomers and Perth centre Angus Brandt said.
Loeliger was confident smaller market teams Cairns and Illawarra would remain competitive. He said another indicator of the NBL’s progress was that about 10 nations would take live coverage of this season’s competition.