Funky, different and a Kings cult hero

The Sydney Kings have had plenty of standouts during the opening five rounds of the NBL championship defence.

NBL26 Championship Series MVP Kendric Davis has once again been dominating, while former NBA talent Torrey Craig produced two extraordinary games for the Kings in Round 5.

Mix in the likes of NBL23 MVP Xavier Cooks, four-time Olympian Matthew Dellavedova and breakout star Makuach Maluach, and Brian Goorjian’s side isn’t short of firepower.

But one unexpected hero for the Kings during their 4-2 start to the Hungry Jack’s NBL27 Season is Sydney product Will Johnston.

The 25-year-old guard is enjoying an exceptional rookie NBL season, fresh off seven years in the United States at high school (Perkiomen School), junior college (South Georgia Technical College) and college (Texas–Rio Grande Valley, Loyola Marymount and Richmond).

One person who isn’t surprised by his play is Johnston himself, who is thrilled all his hard work is paying off.

“Growing up I never made any of the rep teams, any of the state teams, national, none of that; I was playing basketball with my boys in the park,” Johnston said during the club’s media availability.

“I ended up getting an opportunity to go to America and that was the only thing I had, so I took it. And for me that was like a fresh start.

“I started at junior college, killed it there. Then went low D1 (Division 1), higher D1 and then came home.

“[Because I was away for so long] it’s like, where’s this kid from?

“I’m the same kid that you all didn’t believe in back then, and now I’m here.”

Johnston, who played with the New York Knicks at the 2026 NBA Summer League, explained where he got his work ethic from.

“My dad’s working hard; the hours I see him work is ridiculous, he barely sleeps,” he added.

“Just seeing him going through what he's been through and then it’s like, I’ve got it easy, I play basketball.”

Johnston has scored in double digits in three of his six appearances this season, including a career-high 17 in Saturday’s win over Perth.

During these performances, Johnston’s animated antics have made him a cult hero in the Harbour City.

“I know I’m a little funky, a little different, but I embrace that,” he said.

“I play that in my game and try to make the most of it.”

Johnston and his Kings travel to Wollongong on Thursday to play Illawarra from 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.