Keys to the Kingdom

Matthew Dellavedova has been heralded as the missing piece in the Sydney Kings' NBL puzzle and will have licence to control the team on his arrival for the 2025/26 season.

An NBA champion with Cleveland in 2016 and four-time Olympian, Dellavedova's move looms as one of the most important in the Kings' modern history as he arrives on a three-year deal.

Brian Goorjian admitted the Kings struggled without a player like Dellavedova, one of the NBL's few true point guards, en route to a disappointing play-in tournament loss in his first season back as coach.

"I knew as soon as the season finished, that's the target, really the one guy of the free agents that could change us, on and off the court," the master coach said.

"Every aspect of who he is, just being Delly, is the piece that's missing. 

"You could see that last year, we needed that floor general, we needed that voice on the floor. You only saw game day, it was the same thing on the day-to-day.

"It's going to be Delly's team, I think he's excited about that, the ball's going to be in his hands and everything's going to run through him."

After two seasons taking Melbourne United to the NBL championship series, free agent Dellavedova had been in demand with the Brisbane Bullets, Perth Wildcats and Kings all interested.

But he signed with the Kings feeling they would best prepare him for a probable World Cup in 2027 and Olympic swansong in 2028.

"That was the driving factor that I was looking at," he said.

"I'm not sure (if I'll play beyond 2028), right now it's just laser-focused on this three-year block. There's three years to go in this four-year block."

Dellavedova was also lured by the chance to work with Goorjian, under whom he won Olympic bronze in 2020, as well as former Boomers teammate-turned-assistant coach Andrew Bogut.

"Just the level of trust, understanding and common goal is really exciting," he said.

"When you're sitting across the table from 'Goorj', 'Bogues', Luc (Longley, co-owner), it's just a really great choice. 

"I can't wait to get started."

Dellavedova has already gotten to work on arrival in Sydney this week, linking up with star Kings teammate Xavier Cooks for a practice session on Thursday morning.

The Kings now turn their attention to the remainder of their roster, specifically to securing a starting shooting guard and centre.

Goorjian would not rule out the prospect of making a play to retain import guard Jaylen Adams despite a mixed 2024/25 season, confident he could benefit from Dellavedova's presence.

"We need that piece, whether it's Jaylen, next to (Delly) you need a firecracker. In fairness, (last season) Jaylen was trying to play Delly and Jaylen," Goorjian said.

"Whoever that guy is there, whoever that other piece is, needs to be that style: Bryce Cotton, Jaylen Adams, KD, that type of guy. There's a market there."

The Kings have depth at centre with locals Jason Spurgin and Keli Leaupepe but lacked a gun centre last season with import Cam Oliver underwhelming on return to the Australian league.

"You've got to look at where you are financially and budget-wise when you put those pieces together. But we need another big," Goorjian said.