Goorjian reveals Sydney import wish

The Sydney Kings’ roster rebuild under Brian Goorjian is almost complete. Keli Leaupepe, Izayah Le’Afa, Bul Kuol and Tyler Robertson have refreshed the side’s local rotational core, while Xavier Cooks has sensationally returned to the club following his time in the NBA and Japan.

Now, all that is left for the NBL22 and NBL23 champions to determine are its import pieces, development players, and one final local roster spot before they join the JackJumpers in finalising their roster.

Goorjian has prioritised versatility, athleticism and youth in the early stages of his Kings rebuild, and he says the next, most important piece to fall into place will be the signing of a high-level import point guard.

“This team needs a floor general, you know the Walton, Jaylen, Casper Ware, that type of guy,” Goorjian told Kings Media.

“It’s got to be of that ilk and also a leader of men.

“I think we’ve got a lot of young guys that are going to be influenced how you practice, how you be a pro on and off the floor, and the American plays a huge role in that.

“He’ll be a guy I need a strong relationship with because when you’re standing on the sideline and you’re in war that’s the guy you call over – the point guard – to talk to.”

Despite that desire to sign a stellar import point guard and the presence of the likes of Le’Afa and Shaun Bruce, Goorjian also expressed a desire to sign a local ball-handler with the team’s final local position of the season.

The Kings were reported to have been strongly in the running for the signature of former Breaker Will McDowell-White before the Boomers prospect elected to continue his career overseas, while there was also reported extensive interest from around the competition in now Breakers veteran Mitch McCarron.

Goorjian says the versatility of this roster means it could utilise the skills of one further ball-handling piece.

“We still have a roster spot left, we see that point guard, that ball-carrying two-one or one-two, just from a practice standpoint,” he said.

“We have a lot of swing guys and guys who can play three, four or undersized five. A lot of wings who are switchable, we’ve talked about athleticism, but that second ball-carrier, that scoring two and ball-handling one.

“We’d like to get a nice local piece as our last local position in that spot.”