'We don’t win without them': Kings salute crowd after classic

The Sydney Kings turned home court into a decisive edge, setting back-to-back NBL record crowds, and both Kendric Davis and Xavier Cooks were adamant the 18,589 in attendance proved instrumental in securing the Game 5 overtime win.

This wasn’t just talk about the value of home court. When the Kings trailed by seven at three quarter-time in Sunday’s decider at Qudos Bank Arena, they needed that record crowd.

As Sydney mounted its comeback, the noise lifted to another level. It was deafening when Davis scored with 35 seconds remaining to cut it to two, and again when Tim Soares secured the offensive rebound and put-back to force overtime.

In the extra period, the 36ers were rattled, with the Kings feeding off a crowd that may well have been the loudest in NBL history, fittingly also the biggest.

Cooks, now a three-time champion in five years with the Kings, said he had never heard Qudos Bank Arena louder and was emphatic about the role it played in the win.

“We don't win that game without the crowd,” Cooks said.

“Down six with 90 seconds to go, we hit a layup and you could feel the energy, the momentum, the shift from there. I don’t think people understand the influence a crowd can have on a game, especially on the road when it feels like everyone’s against you.

“We don’t get that done tonight without 18,000 people in the crowd yelling, screaming and creating an incredible atmosphere, so thanks to everybody.”

In many ways, Davis has been the defining story of NBL26. From his exit in Adelaide and the bad blood that followed, to his growth into a leading role at the Kings, and ultimately finishing runner-up MVP to Bryce Cotton, his journey has been compelling throughout.

His battle against his former team, and against Cotton, in the Championship Series only added to the spectacle. But above all, Davis has been fully embraced by the Kings and the Sydney fan base.

He was just as emphatic about the role they played in delivering the title.

“It feels great, but 19,000 on a Sunday is unbelievable, and we wanted to do it for our fans who showed up for us today,” Davis said.

"You could see it in overtime them guys (Adelaide) were nervous when our crowd got going and there were some bobbles, and some missed free throws, and that comes from the crowd honestly.

"When the crowd gets going like that you can't hear the play calls and they say role players play better at home so when the crowd get going, the road players freeze up and there was a crucial time where I missed up a switch with DJ.

"He didn’t shoot it and I knew then that our crowd is into it because that shot is going up in Adelaide, and that's credit to our fan base.

"They came out and packed it out, they could be doing anything they want with their time or money, but they came to support us and we don't win without them, honestly. We just don't."