Kings warned: Lift your game or else
BASKETBALL: Sydney Kings managing director Jeff Van Groningen has warned his players and coaching staff about how they finish the season.
The club has had only five wins this year and 11 of the Kings’ 13 players are off-contract at season’s end.
Despite the poor showing, Van Groningen said AEG Ogden was fully dedicated to its three-year commitment to rebuild the Kings.
The Kings have nine games left this season.
“Our expectations are for the players to dig in and get wins and represent the club professionally,” Van Groningen said.
“For the remaining games we want to see the level of commitment shown to the Sydney Kings uniform that we have for the Sydney Kings organisation.
“We want to all be on the same page together – the players, coaches, staff and the fans.
“I want to see how the final nine games pan out to see the building blocks for this club in the future.
“We are far from finished and there have been some exciting things unearthed through this season’s challenges.”
Van Groningen said there had been games this season when the Kings had not given their best.
He also conceded management had made mistakes, but he said Sydney had unearthed a host of positives to build on for the future.
Van Groningen points out the recruitment of former NBL MVP Jerome Randle (pictured) as a major coup.
Van Groningen also praised import Perry Ellis, and rookies Dane Pineau and Isaac Humphries.