A former import has heaped huge praise on an Adelaide 36ers star.
Plus Brian Goorjian has opened up on the devastating loss that kicked his Sydney Kings into gear.
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‘DESERVES A REAL SHOT’: FORMER IMPORT’S HUGE PRAISE FOR 36ERS STAR
Former South East Melbourne Phoenix big man Alan “Big Sauce” Williams has heaped praise on Adelaide 36ers forward Zylan Cheatham, describing him as “like family” – and going as far as to say he should already be in the NBA.
Appearing on the debut episode of NBL: Alumni, where former imports reflect on their time in Australia and share updates on their careers, Williams spoke passionately about his close relationship with Cheatham – with both players hailing from Phoenix, Arizona.
“He’s like family – my little brother, for real,” Williams said.
“We grew up maybe five or ten minutes away from each other, played in the same club system, and had a lot of the same coaches coming up.
“I’m a few years older, but for the longest time I wanted him to come to my high school. We won state championships, and he was that younger kid who was super athletic and really raw. We felt like we could help him reach that next level – and he definitely did.”
Williams shared that the two have remained close throughout their careers, continuing to train together in the offseason.
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“He was extremely successful in high school – just a straight beast – and we stayed in contact all through college,” Williams said.
“Now, we even have the same professional trainer. In the offseason, we’re in the gym together two or three times a week. That’s my guy.”
While acknowledging his bias, Williams said his admiration for Cheatham goes beyond friendship – it’s rooted in respect for his work ethic and basketball IQ.
“He’s an extremely cerebral player and a heck of a teammate,” Williams explained.
“That mic’d-up session the NBL did with him this season was a perfect example of who he is – not just as a competitor, but as a person.
“He’s supportive, vocal, and works his butt off. He’s had different situations throughout his career, but I think being in Adelaide is the best thing for him. It’s giving him and everyone else a real chance to see what he can do.”
Williams closed by saying he firmly believes Cheatham has what it takes to make the leap back to the NBA
“I’m hoping the next step is the NBA for him,” Williams said.
“There’s no reason – in my opinion or my eyes – that he shouldn’t be playing in the NBA right now. Hopefully, he keeps pushing, keeps working, and gets that opportunity.
“He deserves a real shot.”
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HOW THE SYDNEY KINGS TURNED IT AROUND AFTER BEING “KICKED IN THE FACE”
Sydney Kings head coach Brian Goorjian admits “that’s as bad a loss as I can remember in the domestic competition.”
The Kings have won their previous three games, but it was their devastating loss to the Tasmania JackJumpers that became the fire starter for change.
“I was on the sideline in the middle of the fourth thinking we’d won this, like felt comfortable about it,” Goorjian said on Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast.
“It turned into an instant and diabolical finish.”
Goorjian has seen it all in professional basketball.
With over 700 games of NBL experience as a coach, Olympic experience as the head coach of the Boomers and his playing career in the NBL, Goorjian has been in many situations. But this loss was one that shocked him.
“To have the game won… and then it turned so dramatically was difficult,” he said.
Goorjian mentioned the importance of addressing the loss directly with his players, stating: “What I got from that was opportunity to build trust with my players.
“I spent a lot of time in one-on-one meetings.”
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After that loss, the Kings fell to 3-5 on the season, and with games against the Brisbane Bullets, Melbourne United and the New Zealand Breakers, this stretch was always going to be one that made or broke the team.
“The practice sessions kind of went to another level of competitiveness,” Goorjian admitted.
“I really liked where the team went after that kick in the face.”
With that loss in the background, the task turned to an up-and-down but solid Brisbane Bullets team – the result, a dominant Sydney Kings win.
“We had a great weekend going up and beating Brisbane, a good team up there by over 30.”
From there it was against the then-undefeated Melbourne United. United have been the benchmark for the competition all season long and, with the game in Melbourne and the up-and-down nature of the Kings, it was seen as one United would win. The result was different. A locked-in Kings lineup, led by their big three in Kendric Davis, Matthew Dellavedova and Xavier Cooks, took care of business to make it two wins in a row.
Kings conquer United! End nine-game run | 01:38
The New Zealand Breakers clash followed, after two straight games away from home,” Goorjian continued.
“We came back after the road trip, little prep time, and went into just a game that was gritty and grindy and kind of tough.
“We just found a way to win… defensively really locked them down, holding them to 72 points.”
The game didn’t go all smooth, with Goorjian reflecting: “We were 13 down, didn’t really have anything going and just found a way to win.”
Goorjian has been under enormous pressure this season with the club not performing to external expectations.
But after three consecutive wins, he admitted: “I felt good about us after that week, after that disappointment, because it’s one of the best weeks I’ve had in my time at the Kings.”
With state rival Illawarra Hawks now standing in the way of win number four in a row – and five straight away games looming – the lessons and message for the team remain the same.
“It’s just no let up, bringing your bag each day for practice and making sure that we’re on the improve every single day as we come down this backstretch.
“The thing about our league right now is top to bottom, there’s not a weak team.”
The biggest challenge with the Hawks is clear – JaVale McGee – and he’s firmly a focus in Goorjian’s mind heading into this game.
“McGee, NBA, seven foot, long, is getting himself in shape and is starting to dominate the competition.
“Doing whatever we can to stop him, but also trying to put him in situations that is going to be tough for him.”
For the Kings, it has been a soul-searching start to the season. With so many big names and egos, it was always going to take time. The question now is: is this the real Kings, or just a good run?