Randle, Tate Drive Sykes Move to South East Melbourne

New South East Melbourne Phoenix import Keifer Sykes says the influence of Jerome Randle and Jae’Sean Tate helped convince him to join the NBL.

The 26-year-old Sykes has played for a number of clubs across the world – most recently at EuroLeague giants Panathinaikos – and will now lead the Phoenix into the 2020/21 NBL season.

The Chicago native has told NBL Overtime the success of another Chicagoan in the league inspired him to come to Australia.

“Jerome Randle is from Chicago and has had a lot of success in this league winning the MVP, I believe he made it to the finals, a fellow Chicago guy, so just following him,” Sykes said.

“Knowing he does a lot of things on and off the court with his camps, the fans have a lot of love.”

Another player that drove Sykes to the NBL was Tate, who has just inked a deal with the Houston Rockets after a stellar campaign with the Sydney Kings.

Sykes and Tate played together at the NBA Summer League in 2019 with the Denver Nuggets and have since formed a close bond and friendship.

After interrogating Tate on the league and Australia, Sykes made all the necessary moves to ensure he landed a deal in the NBL.

“It’s crazy, that summer before Jae’Sean came here, we were talking so much about that because we both played in the Champions League and I was letting him know my deals in Europe and China and he was letting me know his deals,” Sykes said.

“It was just interesting with me to talk to him and let him know that in our young careers it’s more about playing where it’s going to bring the best out of our abilities, it’s not always about chasing the money.

“I also spoke to him again this summer and let him know man, I have these offers but how was your time in Australia. He was actually the one that pushed me over the top on coming to the NBL with him saying how great of a season he had, how much he loved it, he didn’t want to leave but it opened up so many doors for him and how he was getting prepared for the NBA.

“I also switched my agent to have the same agent as him and they filled me in on just how wonderful this league is.”

South East Melbourne tip off their 2020/21 campaign on January 10 against Melbourne United in the Throwdown.