Sydney Kings veteran Xavier Cooks has fired a shot at the Adelaide 36ers, not with a basketball, but with words, as the NBL championship series looms. The question on everyone’s lips is how the Kings’ marquee player, Kendric Davis, will be received in Adelaide when the two clubs clash for the ultimate prize. The best-of-five series kicks off this Saturday night at Qudos Bank Arena.
Davis’s MVP Snub Fuels the Fire
“There’s been a lot of attention on Kendric for the last couple of rounds – he’s the best player in this league,” Cooks stated. However, for those well-versed in the NBL, the claim that Davis is the undisputed best player is a point of contention. This very distinction has become a significant source of frustration for Davis himself, his teammates, and the loyal Sydney fanbase.
Despite a stellar season where he averaged an impressive 25.7 points and a significant number of rebounds, Davis narrowly missed out on the NBL’s Most Valuable Player award. For the second year running, Adelaide’s Bryce Cotton took home the Andrew Gaze Trophy, marking his sixth such accolade. The final vote was a nail-biting 96-94, and the Texan import made no secret of his displeasure. Davis openly criticised the MVP voting system, labelling it unfair, political, and a mere “popularity contest.” He even declared to News Corp, “I am going to call out some of this shit.”
In a candid Instagram live session, Davis elaborated on his grievances. “All I know is you put my stats up against his stats and take our faces off, and tell the NBA to vote on who should win MVP, I guarantee I come out on top,” he asserted.
Cotton, when asked about Davis’s comments, appeared unfazed, remarking that he was too busy “buying drinks.” Nevertheless, this brewing rivalry between two superstar guards has provided the NBL’s marketing department with a dream storyline, promising a few more compelling chapters to unfold on the sport’s grandest stage.
Cotton recently steered the 36ers to a semi-final series victory over the South-East Melbourne Magic, securing Adelaide’s place in the championship series against the Kings. The Kings, meanwhile, have been in formidable form, overcoming Perth and currently riding a remarkable 13-game winning streak.
A Grand Final Scripted for Drama
This championship series pits the NBL’s two dominant forces against each other. Adding an extra layer of intrigue is the fact that Davis departed Adelaide under acrimonious circumstances last year, admitting to lingering “bad blood.” The 36ers’ response to his exit was to sign the six-time MVP, Cotton. The narrative surrounding this NBL grand final series is so compelling, it’s as if it were crafted by the producers of reality television’s most dramatic shows.
“I know he’s excited to go back to Adelaide. He’s probably going to get booed. The energy is going to be crazy,” Cooks commented, anticipating the atmosphere. “But as a team, we really thrive in those environments. All year in that match-up [with Cotton], KD’s taken it personal. He’s just that kind of player that can really excel in those one-on-one match-ups. I think the KD thing – his past club, that kind of beef – it just puts fuel under his fire.”
Did the MVP Voters Do Sydney a Favour?
Cooks was asked if the MVP voters had inadvertently done the Kings a favour by overlooking Davis. “Nah, I think he’s already a fiery competitive dude as it is. That might have added a little bit more, but he’s already fiery,” Cooks responded.
“If you ask Kendric, the thing he wants most is a championship. When he lost that award, the one thing he says is, ‘I want to win something they can’t vote on, and that’s the championship’,” Cooks continued. “It takes out all the bias and the opinion. At the end of the day, basketball’s a team sport, and he wants to win that championship, in all honesty.”
Championship Pedigree and Underdog Mentality
Under the guidance of the seasoned supercoach Brian Goorjian, the Kings are vying for their first title since the 2022-2023 season. Given their current form and the calibre of talent on their roster, they are considered slight favourites.
Goorjian, a six-time NBL champion with a storied past including a three-peat with the Kings from 2003-2005, boasts an impressive coaching staff. This includes Andrew Bogut, a former NBA star, and Luc Longley, another NBA veteran, who serves as a consultant. Both Bogut and Longley are also part-owners of the club.
On the court, the addition of former NBA and Boomers guard Matthew Dellavedova has been a game-changer for the Kings this season. The 35-year-old is hungry for his maiden NBL crown, having experienced heartbreak in two grand final series losses with Melbourne United in 2024 and 2025.
The Kings faced adversity early in the season, starting with a 3-5 record. This period, Cooks revealed, served as a significant motivator. “You can’t help but see all the comments online, all these analysts counting us out, and that put fuel to our fire,” he admitted.
Goorjian expressed his unwavering confidence in the Kings’ ability to contend once they found their rhythm, which they did midway through the season. He particularly highlighted Dellavedova’s impact, noting that the guard, famous for his defensive efforts against Steph Curry in the 2016 NBA Finals, would play a crucial role in containing Cotton, who is averaging a remarkable 34.5 points in the finals.
