Could NBA veteran be Kings' title-maker?

Could NBA veteran be Kings' title-maker?

14 Jan 2026

sydney kings

NBL champion Pete Hooley believes NBA veteran Torrey Craig is "the perfect piece" for the Sydney Kings.

Winners of eight of their past 10 matches, the Sydney Kings are one of the hottest teams in the Hungry Jack's NBL26 competition.

This is despite a mounting injury toll, which includes season-ending injuries to Bul Kuol (knee), Keli Leaupepe (knee) and Jason Spurgin (foot), as well as current issues for stars Xavier Cooks (ankle) and Matthew Dellavedova (concussion).

But reinforcements are coming in a big way, after the Kings announced they'd signed 2017 NBL Defensive Player of the Year and 538-game NBA veteran Torrey Craig as an Injury Replacement Player.

On Tuesday's episode of The Marketplace, presented by Paywise, ESPN's Olgun Uluc explained how big of a signing he could be for Brian Goorjian's side.

"This is someone who comes in as a proven forward, who's played across world basketball including the NBA, and can play multiple positions," Uluc said on The Marketplace.

"This is something that the Sydney Kings were looking for, wanting someone who can come in and plug and play in different positions.

"While he's 35 years old, he's a high-level player. Someone who can come in and shoot the ball while being regarded as a high-level defender over the course of his time as a pro.

"He comes in a solid pro who's going to come in and help the Sydney Kings in a big way."

NBL champion Pete Hooley agreed with Uluc, saying Craig could be the "perfect piece" for the Kings, as they chase a sixth NBL championship.

"When you think about how potent they could be on both ends of the floor [this is a great move]," Hooley said.

"Playing small, they could have a massive advantage. Xavier Cooks and Torrey Craig could switch everything, especially if you throw Jaylin Galloway and Makuach Maluach out there. He seems like the perfect piece.

"They're going to have a unique advantage once they get Xavier Cooks back to slot alongside Torrey Craig. Their versatility, to run and gun is going to make them hard to beat them.

"A lot of a lot of us were saying they have to go and get a backup big, but Hunter Goodrick has shown he can hold that down [alongside] Tim Soares.

"This is a great move from the Sydney Kings."

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As well as making an impact on the court, Uluc believes Craig, who played for Denver, Phoenix, Chicago, Indiana, Milwaukee and Boston in the NBA, will fit in seamlessly to the culture Goorjian has built in the Harbour City.

"The key for them was finding someone who can come in and be a really good citizen, a really good pro and not rock the boat.

"This Sydney Kings team is playing really good basketball right now. Brian Goorjian is coaching his arse off right now.

"You don't want someone to come in and cause issues or be high usage. They have a high usage guys in Kendric Davis, Matthew Dellavedova and Xavier Cooks. These are your ceiling raisers.

"Torrey Craig comes in obviously an unbelievably talented basketball player. You don't have a career like he did in the NBL and in the NBA if you're not, but this is an absolute floor raiser for this team.

"On those nights where Kendric might not be shooting it too well and it might not be Xavier Cooks' night, Torrey Craig is someone who can lift the floor of the team.

"We speak about some of the deepest teams in the NBL and the Sydney Kings [are in that conversation] with the positional versatility they have and the amount of guys they can throw out there. That's what's exciting about this team.

"It's also a really cool thing that Brian Goorjian, as an older coach, is someone who's moving with the times and playing a really modern style of basketball [to suit his roster]."

The Kings take on the Bullets on Thursday night at HoopsFest, from 9.30pm AEDT (6.30pm AWST), live on ESPN.