“Really hard to talk right now, hard to take it all in,” head coach Brian Goorjian said after watching the Kings blow a fourth quarter led against the Tasmania JackJumpers 90-89<\/a> at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney in Round 6 of NBL26.<\/p>\n “Called the timeout, got the ball to our best foul shooter to ice the game \u2014 neither one of them went in,” Goorjian lamented.<\/p>\n “And no timeouts left, with the ball out from the side, we had the right guy taking the ball out of bounds and the right guy we were throwing the ball to \u2026 and the next thing I know, they\u2019re laying it in. So, uh, hard one \u2014 real hard one to swallow. But I like the way we played.”<\/p>\n Kings talisman Kouat Noi missed a pair of free throws with 14 seconds that led to the JackJumpers 16-point comeback. The Kings led by one with Xavier Cooks the in-bounder on the baseline but a steal by Boomers teammate Will Magnay, outlet to Ben Ayre and a cross court pass on the break gave Nick Marshall a lane to the rim.<\/p>\n Game. The Kings fell to 3-5 despite a +17 points differential in their first eight games of NBL26<\/a>.<\/p>\n “You know, worked really hard,” Goorjian added. <\/p>\n “This game was really big for us and we addressed a lot of things, and I thought the guys did a great job. I\u2019ve said this all along \u2014 I love the team. <\/p>\n “I thought we played a great game of basketball.”<\/p>\n Seven of the next eight Kings games are on the road including two against 9-0 Melbourne United.<\/p>\n “Oh, we\u2019re in a real dogfight now,” Goorjian admitted.<\/p>\n “Lost to Cairns at home, lost this one, had a good win against Adelaide that kind of balanced the Cairns situation \u2014 but now we\u2019re in a dogfight all the way through.<\/p>\n “I like going to battle with these guys. I come in and I just feel like they\u2019re gonna do themselves proud. That\u2019s a really good basketball team \u2014 a team that has a chance to win it \u2014 and we were right there with them the whole game.\u200d<\/p>\n “One of the things we\u2019ve talked about all year is: you\u2019re gonna take punches \u2014 it\u2019s about how we respond. And right now, so early in the year, there\u2019s already pressure the rest of the way.<\/p>\n “I just feel comfortable that these guys are gonna come out, take a deep breath, and go there again. If we play like we did tonight and continue to grow, we\u2019ve got a chance in every game we play.”<\/p>\n Sydney Kings Roster<\/p>\n Head Coach: Brian Goorjian. Assistant coaches: Billy Tomlinson and Andrew Bogut<\/p>\n Injured: Keli Leaupepe (Knee I season); and Jason Spurgin (Foot I late season)<\/p>\n Sydney hasn’t signed a third import and are shallow in the frontcourt after 211cm centre Tim Soares. The 28-year-old American-Brazilian is emerging as a true two-way centre, shooting 61% FG and 78% FT \u2014 highly efficient anchor \u2014 and 7.6 rebounds, an assist and a block. But his back-up Jason Spurgin isn’t expected back until late season.<\/p>\n Six-time NBL\u00a0champion and six-time NBL\u00a0Coach of the Year Goorjian, 72, did secure his dream backcourt in the off-season, though, bringing in NBA champion Matthew Dellavedova from Melbourne United <\/a>and All-NBL First Team point guard Kendric Davis from the Adelaide 36ers<\/a> to complement Australian Boomers<\/a> forward and 2023 NBL MVP\u00a0Xavier Cooks as a potential Big 3.<\/p>\n Goorjian, arguably the greatest coach NBL\u00a0history, simply wouldn’t be drawn into speculation about a third import or the role they needed to fill.<\/p>\n “I\u2019ve really taken the approach this season of just coaching the team,” Goorjian said.<\/p>\n “Make sure the day-to-day is great, make sure we\u2019re moving forward. And it just seems like you keep taking hits \u2014 losing Kelly, losing Spurge, and now the situation you\u2019re talking about.<\/p>\n “My mindset is: how do you shuffle the pieces? I think Perth\u2019s in a similar situation right now \u2014 you\u2019re in a battle every night. And we\u2019re not having this conversation if we just do the right thing at the end of that game. It kind of puts everything on pause.<\/p>\n “But every night, I sit here after the game \u2014 I just know coming here we\u2019re in a battle. We\u2019ve gotta play really good basketball to win, and we have. Tonight was probably the best team game at both ends of the floor we\u2019ve played.<\/p>\n “They were hurting us in certain situations on the offensive end, and I thought the adjustments were good, the guys executed them well. It wasn\u2019t until the last four minutes where we were kind of protecting \u2014 they ran the ball, we were on our heels, and they just let it fly.<\/p>\n “I just personally can\u2019t go into that box. I know the team isn\u2019t, but we\u2019re in a battle.”<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/68fef62079b51b141f73b207_GettyImages-2243351815.jpg\")
Head coach Brian Goorjian looks on during the round six NBL match between Sydney Kings and Tasmania JackJumpers at Qudos Bank Arena on October 26, 2025 in Sydney. Photo: Darrian Traynor\/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/68fefb1e2a899a4b9a0189f8_GettyImages-2243350658.jpg\")
Will Magnay of the JackJumpers defends Xavier Cooks of the Kings during the round six NBL match between Sydney Kings and Tasmania Jackjumpersa at Qudos Bank Arena on October 26, 2025 in Sydney. Photo: Darrian Traynor\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/68fefb73b0e590e85d5ed3fa_GettyImages-2243348230.jpg\")
Kendric Davis of the Kings drives to the basket during the round six NBL match between Sydney Kings and Tasmania JackJumpers at Qudos Bank Arena on October 26, 2025 in Sydney. Photo: Darrian Traynor\/Getty Images<\/p>\n