NBL Benchmark Revealed

NBL analyst Peter Hooley has declared reigning champions the Sydney Kings are the league’s “benchmark” after nine rounds.

While it may seem an obvious statement, as the Kings sit first on the ladder, the impressive performances from the New Zealand Breakers and Cairns Taipans, and the looming threat of a healthy South East Melbourne Phoenix, has sparked some debate over who is the best team in the competition.  

However, after the weekend’s commanding 97-78 win over the Adelaide 36ers, Hooley says Sydney is still the home of the NBL’s summit.

“No doubt they’re the benchmark,” Hooley said of the Kings on NBL Today.

“They’re one of the deepest teams, if not the deepest team, in the league in terms of contributors.

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“(Jaylin) Galloway is starting to really shine in the minutes he is playing, Chase Buford has put a lot of trust in him. Everyone off the bench does their thing.

“When you’re led by Xavier Cooks, Derrick Walton Jr looks like he has got his spark back, they’re definitely the benchmark.”

Hooley added why he thinks Sydney’s losses to the Taipans will prove to be beneficial at the business end of the season.

“The losses they’ve had to Cairns are only going to help them down the stretch because when they play against those teams like Cairns and Adelaide that play really fast, they shoot a lot of quick shots, Chase Buford gets to go back and look at that,” Hooley said.

“If he comes up against them in any finals series, he is going to have the perfect game plan against them.”

The Kings travel to New Zealand on Thursday for a mouth-watering top of the table clash with the Breakers.