Goorjian: 'Last season doesn't define this one'

Win or lose this season, Brian Goorjian says nothing can diminish what the Sydney Kings achieved with their NBL26 championship.

Of course, expectations are going to be high again, with a star-studded roster stacked with talent like Kendric Davis, Xavier Cooks and Torrey Craig.  

But Goorjian's message is clear: this isn't about defending a title. The Hungry Jack's NBL27 Season is its own quest.  

“We won that championship ring, and it’s ours,” he told the Sydney Kings website. “We wear that ring around our heart for the rest of our lives. We share something and nobody can have that. It’s about the pursuit of a championship.”

>> NBL27 Roster Tracker: Every signing, extension and departure

The Kings have retained the vast majority of their starpower, but aren’t without change.  

Jaylin Galloway, Bul Kuol, Tim Soares, Kouat Noi and Shaun Bruce have all departed, with the roster refreshed largely through youth. Australian big man Harry Wessels (24), locals Will Johnston (25) and Jayden Stone (25), and import centre Andrew Carr (24) are among the new additions.

Of course, any team boasting a talent of Championship MVP Kendric Davis' calibre, former League MVP Xavier Cooks, and the experience of Matthew Dellavedova and Torrey Craig is going to cause problems for opposition teams.

“I don’t sense any staleness,” Goorjian said. “There’s a real energy about this group.”

The seven-time NBL championship coach said spending time with the New York Knicks during NBA Summer League gave him a moment to reflect amongst friends.

Like the Kings, the Knicks celebrated a title in their most recent campaign.

“We clashed fists together and said, ‘The Kings won and the Knicks won,’ and it gave me an opportunity to really take it in,” he said.

The Kings tip off their NBL27 campaign against Cairns on Sunday, September 20 at Afterpay Arena.