It was a six-word sledge that sparked another chapter in the Bryce Cotton and Kendric Davis rivalry, while the NBL’s expansion plans are heating up, with three cities emerging as potential destinations for the league’s 11th team.
All of this and more in the latest edition of NBL Daily.
Watch every NBL game LIVE with ESPN, available on Kayo | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
‘HELL NO’
It’s a rivalry that has been brewing since last season and, at times, has spilt into off-court drama, particularly following last season’s MVP awards, when Kendric Davis lost to Bryce Cotton by just two votes.
The result prompted the Sydney Kings’ championship-winning guard to take to social media to vent his frustrations, adding another layer to an already heated rivalry between two of the league’s biggest stars.
MVP Rankings: Injured superstar holds top spot as Wildcats sharpshooter surges; big man’s bold MVP case
Now, following last round’s blockbuster clash between the Kings and Adelaide 36ers, the rivalry has reached another level, with Davis once again taking to social media following their latest confrontation.
New footage from Sunday’s clash has emerged, providing a different angle of the incident and revealing what Cotton said in the moments leading up to Davis’ heated reaction.
The audio makes it clear that Cotton directed a comment towards Davis following a turnover, before making another remark that could not be heard over the crowd noise.
It was a moment that appeared to frustrate Davis, with the two guards coming face-to-face just seconds later.
In the footage, Cotton can be heard saying, “Hell no! Give me that s***!” before the pair exchange words, adding another chapter to a rivalry that shows no signs of slowing down.
Following the game, Davis took to social media, seemingly circling the next meeting between the two sides, when the 36ers host the Kings on Sunday, 13 December.
On the latest Fox Sports NBL Show, two-time Emmy Award-winning reporter and courtside commentator Ariana Prather shared her thoughts on the incident and the growing tension between the two stars.
“Listen, I was watching the game live,” she said.
“What I saw was BC (Bryce Cotton) dribbling the ball up, KD (Kendric Davis) playing some pretty hard defence on him,”
“BC jumps up to throw the ball, get it out of his hands. Again, they’re trying to waste time. There’s like 30, 40 seconds left on the clock.
“Once he lands, they start going at it back and forth.”
BREAKING: Bullets land NBA veteran as replacement for injured star
Prather has covered the league for several years and witnessed her fair share of heated exchanges, but believes there is a line when on-court rivalries spill into personal attacks away from the basketball court.
“You say you want to become the new face of the league. You want to be the leader of the team. You want to be this person. That’s BC.” she said.
“BC doesn’t react out of emotion like that. You cannot go on Twitter and be Montrezl Harrell and do tweets and talk out of emotion.
“And again, his tweet had nothing to do with him as a basketball player. It was attacking him as a person.”
“I just didn’t think that it was necessary. And again, when you react out of emotion like that and you tweet out of emotion”
EXPANSION ON THE HORIZON?
The NBL’s expansion plans are gathering momentum, with three cities emerging as potential destinations for the league’s 11th franchise as the race to secure new stadiums continues.
According to CODE Sports, Sydney, Gold Coast and Canberra are all in contention for an expansion licence, with each city facing its own challenges as plans for new basketball venues progress.
Canberra’s push for a return to the NBL will be firmly in the spotlight on Wednesday night, when the Sydney Kings take on the New Zealand Breakers at AIS Arena.
The clash is expected to attract significant interest from league officials, government representatives and corporate figures, with the fixture providing another opportunity to demonstrate the capital’s appetite for professional basketball.
A return of the Canberra Cannons would be a welcome sight for long-time NBL fans, with the former franchise competing in the league between 1979 and 2003, winning three championships.
Power Rankings: Giants face reality check, fallen champs in crisis as dark horses make their move.
The ACT Government has already shown its support for basketball, committing $37.5 million towards an expansion of Belconnen Basketball Stadium, although a construction timeline is yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, the possibility of a second Sydney franchise has gained momentum following the expiration of a 10-year exclusivity agreement established under the Kings’ previous ownership.
While a location and team name are yet to be determined, league officials are reportedly open to establishing a franchise in the city’s east, potentially playing out of a new 15,000 to 20,000-seat arena proposed for Moore Park.
Two bidders remain in contention for the multibillion-dollar redevelopment of the Entertainment Quarter, with Carsingha Investments and American sports venue developer Oak View Group competing for the project.
The Kings could remain at Afterpay Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, although there is also the possibility of both Sydney franchises sharing the proposed venue.
‘Season in the toilet’: Hawks great’s brutal spray as ‘soft’ stars put on notice
The Gold Coast, long considered the frontrunner for the NBL’s next franchise, remains firmly in contention, but plans for a new 10,000 to 12,000-seat arena at Southport have encountered delays.
Rising construction costs, reportedly approaching $1 billion, have created funding challenges, while delays surrounding the Queensland Government’s Olympic venue decisions have also slowed progress.
As a result, the proposed venue is not expected to be operational until at least 2030, potentially delaying the Gold Coast’s hopes of returning to the NBL.
Meanwhile, the Illawarra Hawks will also be keeping a close eye on developments in Canberra, with the club exploring temporary venues while WIN Entertainment Centre undergoes redevelopment.
According to CODE Sports, AIS Arena remains an option, alongside the International Convention Centre at Darling Harbour and the Quaycentre at Sydney Olympic Park.
The Hawks have indicated that any decision on a temporary home will be made with their supporters at the forefront of the process.