THE KINGS’ SPEECH
Moment Legends tell young players to soak up
SAGE advice from Australian basketball royalty Andrew Bogut and Luc Longley has Sydney Kings ready to create championship history.
The Kings can secure the franchise’s first NBL title in 17 years on Wednesday night if they beat Tasmania JackJumpers.
Sydney is strongly favoured to win, but it is taking nothing for granted, thanks to messages from their two exNBA championship-winning club officials.
Club co-owner Bogut has reminded the Kings that closing out a championship is one of the hardest things to do.
The big man has played in three NBA finals series, winning one with Golden State Warriors in 2015.
Then there is the calming influence of Longley, who as the club’s special adviser has told the young Kings to savour the big moments because they don’t come around too often.
The former Bulls big man won three championships at Chicago alongside Michael Jordan.
But he also knows sport’s sliding doors could have easily taken his brilliant career down a different path.
Kings swingman Xavier Cooks reserved particular praise for Longley, who was courtside in Tasmania to see the Kings come back from a 10-point deficit to beat the Jackjumpers in Game 2.
“Luc has been really big on us enjoying the moment,” Cooks said on Tuesday.
“You’re not going to be in a championship game too many times, so don’t let the moment get too big.
“He said enjoy and savour it and don’t be scared to make mistakes, and to just go out there and have fun.”
Kings guard Shaun Bruce has noticed Longley take on a bigger role within the team in recent weeks.
“Luc has been more handson in this last month of the season,” Bruce ce said.
“Every time me he speaks to us, guys are just locked ked in. He just st seems to drop p wisdom on n us every time he speaks, so o it has been n awesome to have him around.”
The experience ience of Bogut and Longley has instilled an unwavering belief in the Kings, according to Cooks.
The players have both legends’ phone numbers and can call or text them for tips. “We have such a young team that doesn’t have championship-level experience, so using their wisdom and ideas really helps out,” Cooks said. “This season feels like a battle to see who can concentrate for the longest, which I think we’ve done a really good job of this season. We’ve We stayed locked locke in and focused, foc and that th kind of knowledge from (guys like Bogut and a Longley) really makes a big difference.” diff Bogut Bo and Longley’s Longley influence on Sydney Sy has been significant.
But Cooks has always believed the Kings could win an NBL championship.
In fact, he was dreaming about a title last year, despite an ankle injury keeping him sidelined for large chunks of the season.
“I was sitting in my bed thinking, ‘How sweet is it going to be when we win a championship in Sydney?’,” Cooks said.
“That is because of the little habits we’ve built at the Kings equates to championships. We are a winning team, and we take pride in the little things. If you are true to the game, the game is going to be true to you.
“We almost expect to win these days because we hold ourselves to such a high standard. It would mean a lot to win a championship in Sydney.”
Sydney’s Mvp-winning guard Jaylen Adams remains an outside chance to play in Game 3 after suffering a lowgrade hamstring strain.
Adams completed light duties with his teammates on Tuesday.