As the NBL finals loom, storylines are heating up both on and off the court.
Sydney Kings star Kendric Davis has revealed he has “fallen in love” with Australia and is already in early talks about a return next season, while Adelaide 36ers guard Dejan Vasiljevic has pushed back against commentator and former NBL player Damon Lowery’s claim that the team is “not playing good basketball,” insisting the focus remains on the court and letting results speak for themselves ahead of their semi-final clash with the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
All of this and more in the latest edition of NBL Daily.
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‘HE’S A BIT DELUSIONAL’
Adelaide 36ers guard Dejan Vasiljevic has hit back at Lowery’s comments that the team is “not playing good basketball” on the latest episode of NBL Now.
“We already know Damon Lowery has said a few things about us,”
“He’s a bit delusional because he thought Melbourne United was the best team, you know, in the league ever. And when you start 9-0 and you get knocked out, I think you did really well on your expert analysis….” Vasiljevic said, referencing Lowery’s statement about Melbourne United back in October last year after they started 9-0, when he predicted they would go undefeated in 2025.
Despite the outside noise, Vasiljevic said the club’s focus remains on basketball, letting their results speak for themselves.
“We do listen a bit, but we kind of don’t buy into it because it’s an ongoing thing. People love to talk about the city of Adelaide, um, either in the wrong or when we’re winning. And, you know, we just have to put that noise aside and let the basketball do talking.”
Lowery earlier declared the Adelaide 36ers are “not playing good basketball” heading into their semi-finals clash, saying the team will need far more support around reigning MVP Bryce Cotton if they are to challenge the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Speaking on NBL Overtime, Lowery said Cotton will likely deliver his usual scoring output, but the result may hinge on the players around him.
“Bryce, let’s just pencil him in for 40. Let’s just say 40. I think he’s going to need that 40, but it’s the other guys. The other guys have really got to step up. We haven’t seen the best of John Jenkins yet, but it’s going to be for mine, Nick Rakocevic and Isaac Humphries.
“It’s going to be them two because Jordan Hunter is only probably going to play maybe 15 to 20 minutes a game. The matchup advantage I’ve seen for the 36ers is that right there with the bigs.”
Lowery believes Adelaide enters the series without its best form, while South East Melbourne arrives with momentum.
“Now, I just think that Adelaide are not playing good basketball right now and Southeast Melbourne Phoenix are. That’s why. Now, let me just say this, too. This could surprise you. Even though I don’t think Adelaide 36ers can win it, if they were to win it, I would be ecstatic. I would be over the moon with joy because I have a personal deep close attachment to that organization. If the 36ers win it, I might cry real tears.”
The Adelaide 36ers and South East Melbourne Phoenix open their semi-finals series tonight in Adelaide at 7:30pm AEDT.
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KENDRIC DAVIS RETURN FOR NBL27?
He may have fallen just short in the Most Valuable Player voting, but Davis’ focus is firmly on the finals and what lies ahead. The All-NBL First Team import has already begun discussions about the possibility of staying in Australia for another season or two.
Speaking to CODE Sports, Davis said the club and his camp have started preliminary talks about a return to the Sydney Kings for the 2026-27 season.
“We started talks early last week,” Davis revealed.
“We have expressed mutual interest to come back, whether it is on a three, two or one year deal I don’t know.
“It’s still early in my journey and it is hard when you’ve got offers everywhere, so I haven’t thought about it yet and I’m just trying to win the championship.
“But Sydney has made me fall in love with Australia.
“I liked Australia last season in Adelaide, but I’ve fallen in love with it here at the Kings.
“The way Sydney has embraced me, the organisation, the coach, my teammates.”
Davis produced one of the finest individual seasons in Kings history, averaging 24.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists. He also set franchise records for most points (806) and assists (222) in a single season.
Despite producing a historic individual season, Davis insists the Sydney Kings’ success as a team has been the driving force behind his own growth.
He credits the people around him, from teammates to coaches, for helping him develop throughout the year.
“I already had Kouat (Noi) here in Sydney who was like a brother, so I just added 15 more brothers,” he said.
“Goorj is like a father to me, Delly and X (Xavier Cooks) are like mentors and I couldn’t have had the season I did without everyone at the club.
“They’ve all played a big role in my growth and development.
“I love Sydney and the organisation. I love everything they’ve done for me.”
Davis understands the Kings have faced challenges this season, from injuries to a slow start, but he believes those moments have helped shape the group.
He is also determined to repay coach Brian Goorjian for the faith shown in him, particularly after the doubts that surfaced during his time in Adelaide last season, when some questioned whether signing him was worth the risk.
“I want to reward Goorj for trusting in me,” he said.
“I’m only 26 years old, so my journey is still fresh and he trusted in me. He didn’t believe the doubters and he stayed true to our relationship.
“We started out the season slowly, but you find out who a man is through adversity and Goorj stuck with this team and the group, so we all want to repay him.
“We also want to repay every player for the sacrifice of leaving their families. “We spend more time with each other than we do with our families, so it would mean a lot to win that championship.”
After spending time with Sydney fans at the club’s Playoff promotion at Bondi Beach last week, Davis also understands how much a sixth NBL banner would mean to the Kings’ faithful.
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“The fans that come out and spend their hard earned money,” he said.
“They would be throwing that money somewhere else, so we want to repay them and finally the organisation like (owner) Robyn (Denholm) who has spent her hard earned money.
“So, there are a lot of reasons why we want to win it.”
The Sydney Kings will face the Perth Wildcats tomorrow night at 7:30pm AEDT in Game One of the semifinals.