{"id":458267,"date":"2026-02-04T17:26:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T17:26:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/458267\/"},"modified":"2026-02-04T17:26:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T17:26:18","slug":"no-team-like-us-craig-on-sydneys-edge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/458267\/","title":{"rendered":"‘No team like us’: Craig on Sydney\u2019s edge"},"content":{"rendered":"

He may not have stepped on an NBL court since the 2016-17 season, but time away has only elevated Torrey Craig’s game.<\/p>\n

Through his first four games with the Sydney Kings, the 538-game NBA veteran is averaging 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks, while helping the Harbour City side to a 4-0 record.<\/p>\n

The versatile forward puts his seamless transition back to the NBL down to the similarities between the NBA and NBL.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe NBA is the best league in the world, so when you compete with some of the best players in the world, hold your own and have a lot of success at that level, you know you can play anywhere [around the world],\u201d Craig said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way the NBL game is played now is kind of similar to the NBA, with the faster pace, lots of possessions and higher scoring.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you get in a similar environment, it’s easy to adapt because you’re familiar with the style of play.<\/p>\n

\u201c[While I\u2019m still learning parts of the system offensively] on the fly, my adjustment has been easier by the team keeping it simple for me. A lot of the time I\u2019m just playing off instinct.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone has been great at helping me catch up with video and on court, and thankfully, we\u2019ve been winning some games.\u201d<\/p>\n

Torrey Craig is a $299,800 forward in the NBL\u2019s official fantasy game, Beat The Coach, presented by Choice Hotels. Take on Damon Lowery and Beat the Coach in any round of the NBL26 Season and you\u2019ll receive an entry into the end-of-season $10,000 prize draw, including $5,000 cash and $5,000 in Choice Hotels\u2122 gift vouchers. Sign up to play now here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As Craig alludes to, the Kings are on a seven-game win streak, and a big part of that has been head coach Brian Goorjian.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoorj is a player’s coach. He’s been around for a long time and knows the ins and outs [of the league],\u201d Craig said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe knows what the team needs, and he knows what it takes to win basketball games.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe does a great job of focusing on the details to help us edge out ball games.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other element is his Harbour City squad, which he thinks has few \u2018weaknesses\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think our team has a lot of weaknesses,\u201d the 35-year-old said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have guys that can shoot the ball. We have guys who can playmake. We have guys who can make plays down the stretch in the clutch. We have defenders. We have size. We have length.<\/p>\n

\u201cPosition for position, player for player, I don’t think there’s any team in the NBL that has what we have, and that’s the advantage that we have.\u201d<\/p>\n

A key piece of that player for player advantage is superstar guard Kendric Davis, who the former Cairns Taipan and Brisbane Bullet believes is this season\u2019s MVP.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe’s a competitor and just wants to win,\u201d Craig said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe’s definitely the MVP this year, just from what he’s done and how consistent he’s been. Through injuries, through adversity, you name it. He’s shown up and proven why he should be the MVP.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has this team sitting in a great position, and I can\u2019t speak highly enough about his work ethic [which wears off onto the other players].\u201d<\/p>\n

Next up for Craig and his Kings is a heavyweight battle with fellow championship contender South East Melbourne, who have defeated Sydney on both occasions this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re looking at how we lost the previous two games, seeing what we can do better and correcting those mistakes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey’re obviously a talented team. They play fast, they shoot a lot of threes, and they have a lot of great shooters.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to lock in, focus on the game plan and try to minimise what they do best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sunday\u2019s Round 20 fixture at John Cain Arena tips off at 2.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN and Channel 10.<\/p>\n

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