Kings having a Ball with fans

THE biggest NBL crowd since NBA star Lamelo Ball graced the Harbour City is set to greet the Sydney Kings on Wednesday as they aim to win the franchise’s first title in 17 years.

And just like Ball nails the big stage, the Kings are adamant the ghosts of the past won’t derail their title dream when they play Tasmania Jackjumpers in game three of the grand final series at Qudos Bank Arena.

The previous biggest NBL finals crowd was 15,064 in a 1996 Melbourne derby between the Tigers and Magic.

Wednesday’s crowd is tipped to surpass the 13,000 fans who attended game one at Qudos Bank Arena.

The Kings are planning to open every section of the venue for the first time since the famous “Lamelo game” between the Kings and the Hawks in 2019 when there was an NBL record crowd of 17,514.

The Kings were once hailed the Violet Crumbles after getting to the finals and failing but former Kings star Shane Heal says that is in the past.

“The good thing about this current group is that they don’t carry this pressure that we haven’t won a championship in 17 years,” he said of the Kings, now just a win shy of the title.