New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\nBOOMER SET TO RETURN AFTER SEVEN-YEAR ABSCENCE<\/p>\n
The FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers are fast approaching, and the squad could be set to welcome one of the biggest names in Australian basketball.<\/p>\n
Sources close to Fox Sports Australia say Mitch Creek, 33, is expected to join the Australia men\u2019s national basketball team for their upcoming away fixtures against Guam and the Philippines later this month.<\/p>\n
The squad has not yet been officially confirmed by Basketball Australia, but Creek\u2019s potential inclusion would add experience and scoring punch to a group that sits comfortably atop Group A with a 2-0 record.<\/p>\n
Creek last suited up for the Boomers in 2019 and has made 20 appearances in green and gold, averaging 9.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists. <\/p>\n
He is currently enjoying one of the strongest seasons of his career with U-BT Cluj-Napoca in Romania.<\/p>\n
SCHEDULE<\/p>\n
Game 1: Australia vs Guam, Thursday 26 February, 8:00 pm AEST<\/p>\n
Game 2: Australia vs Philippines, Sunday 1 March, 8:30 pm AEST<\/p>\n
Aaron Baynes and Mitch Creek during the 2019 FIBA World Cup at Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park Gymnasium on September 09, 2019 in Nanjing, China. (Photo by Shi Tang\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
BREAKERS STARS RETURN.<\/p>\n
The New Zealand Breakers have confirmed Sam Mennenga and Karim Lopez will both return for the club\u2019s final regular-season game against the Cairns Taipans.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the club said the pair had been cleared following their respective injuries. Import Izaiah Brockington, however, will miss the match with a hip flexor strain.<\/p>\n
Mennenga has sat out the past five games after fracturing his wrist in a heavy fall during the Round 18 clash with the Adelaide 36ers, while Lopez had been managing a lower-leg issue.<\/p>\n
President of Basketball Operations Dillon Boucher said the club was pleased to have both players back.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is fantastic to have Sam and Karim back on the floor. They have worked incredibly hard in rehab and given our medical team confidence in a return to play. They have got through a full week of training and medical testing, and we look forward to them both suiting up tomorrow.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, Izaiah picked up a hip flexor strain and won\u2019t suit up tonight. We are confident in the group we have to take on Cairns tomorrow night. Additionally, Tai Webster suffered a calf strain at the end of training today and will be a game-time decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
The reinforcements come at the perfect time, with the Breakers set to face the Adelaide 36ers in the inaugural NBL Ignite Cup final on the Gold Coast this weekend, where $300,000 in prize money is on the line.<\/p>\n
Sam Mennenga and Karim LopezSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n
NBL GOAT COACH BELIEVES THIS KINGS TEAM MAY BE HIS BEST<\/p>\n
Brian Goorjian has coached across the NBL, the Australian Boomers program, spent time around the NBA and worked in leagues around the world \u2013 and when comparing his current Sydney Kings to past teams, this group might be his best yet.<\/p>\n
Speaking on Big Sports Breakfast, Goorjian was asked where this season\u2019s Kings ranked among the most talented teams he has coached.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, just in general, the game\u2019s at an all-time high. So when you look back and compare, this team\u2019s as good man for man as you know, I\u2019ve had some good ones, obviously,\u201d Goorjian said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSix championships and some real strong lineups. But this team\u2019s right there.<\/p>\n
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 08: Kendric Davis of the Kings and Matthew Dellavedova of the Kings look on during the round 20 NBL match between South East Melbourne Phoenix and Sydney Kings at John Cain Arena, on February 08, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd in these times, the difference between my top teams that I\u2019ve coached and this one is probably depth. When you look down the bench \u2013 even the guys in street clothes \u2013 they\u2019re Division I college players.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe end of benches used to be development kids or NBL1 guys you were trying to move forward. Not the case anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Kings have surged late in the season led by MVP candidate Kendric Davis, alongside Xavier Cooks, Matthew Dellavedova and depth across the roster. Among those flying under the radar is big man Tim Soares, who is averaging 11.5 points and 5.7 rebounds in his return to the NBL.<\/p>\n
For Goorjian, Soares\u2019 impact goes beyond the box score and was central to the team\u2019s turnaround.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got a physical presence, he really runs the floor, he shoots the ball and last year our locker room wasn\u2019t great,\u201d Goorjian said.<\/p>\n
Handshake snub drama in NBL | 00:20<\/p>\n
\u201cHe played on the championship team and when I went to the leadership group and asked who they wanted to play with, everyone to a man said, get Soares back here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Goorjian also credited Matthew Dellavedova for transforming the team\u2019s culture.<\/p>\n
\u201cDelly is the best I\u2019ve ever had in that form,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat he\u2019s done is made the locker room a place of comfort where other guys feel comfortable sharing and being leaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my time with the Boomers, no one like him \u2013 the change in behaviour with this team has been driven by him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Kings now face the Brisbane Bullets in the final game of the regular season, with a win securing top spot on the ladder.<\/p>\n
Goorjian has seen almost everything in his coaching career \u2013 but the question remains: can he lead what he believes may be his best team yet to a seventh championship?<\/p>\n
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 15: Jo Lual-Aculi Jr of the Wildcats competes with Tim Soares of the Kings during the round 21 NBL match between Sydney Kings and Perth Wildcats at Qudos Bank Arena, on February 15, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
THE \u2018NO BRAINER\u2019 MVP CHOICE FOR NBL CHAMPION<\/p>\n
NBL champion and media personality Damon Lowery has weighed in on the MVP race between Bryce Cotton and Kendric Davis with one round remaining in the regular season.<\/p>\n
Speaking on SEN WA Breakfast, Lowery was emphatic when asked for his selection.<\/p>\n
\u201cKendric Davis \u2013 and let me say why,\u201d Lowery said.<\/p>\n
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 15: Kendric Davis of the Kings drives to the basket during the round 21 NBL match between Sydney Kings and Perth Wildcats at Qudos Bank Arena, on February 15, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no right or wrong answer. Both of those guys are extremely worthy, but my pick would be Kendric Davis because his team is going to finish first.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat means something to me. I want the MVP to come from the winning team, the best team in the league.\u201d<\/p>\n
With one game remaining, the Sydney Kings face the Brisbane Bullets \u2013 a matchup Lowery described as a \u201ctraining run\u201d \u2013 with the Kings able to secure top spot on the ladder.<\/p>\n
Lowery also pointed to Davis\u2019 performances against the league\u2019s best.<\/p>\n
\u201cKendric Davis\u2019 averages against top-six teams are more points and assists than Bryce Cotton\u2019s,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if you want a tiebreaker \u2013 they played each other four times. Adelaide lost three of them and Kendric Davis averaged more points and assists than Bryce Cotton.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lowery doubled down on his stance.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo me, it\u2019s a no-brainer \u2013 MVP, Kendric Davis.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney Kings dominate Perth Wildcats | 01:14<\/p>\n
The winner will be announced at Monday night\u2019s Andrew Gaze MVP Awards, with the final three nominees to be confirmed following captains\u2019 and coaches\u2019 voting.<\/p>\n
With the race this tight, the question remains \u2013 could we even see a tie between the two superstars?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Mitch Creek is set to rejoin the Boomers squad for the first time in 2019, while the New…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":487092,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[574],"tags":[64,63,726,85],"class_list":["post-487091","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-basketball","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-basketball","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/487091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=487091"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/487091\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/487092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=487091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=487091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=487091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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