With the NBL26 Grand Final series set to begin on Saturday, the spotlight now turns to the biggest storylines that could shape a best-of-five championship battle between the Adelaide 36ers and Sydney Kings.
From Nick Rakocevic’s likely re-signing and what it could mean for Isaac Humphries’ future, to whether Flynn Cameron can repay Adelaide’s faith after the club backed him in the off-season, there is no shortage of intrigue on the 36ers side.
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Then there is the championship-defining star power.
Can Kendric Davis respond to missing out on the MVP award by delivering his first NBL title and claiming the Finals MVP? Will Xavier Cooks complete the final chapter of his redemption story 12 months on from his ban by leading the Kings to a championship?
And could this series deliver the ultimate revenge for Dejan Vasiljevic against his former club after a fascinating fallout following his NBA return?
This is the latest edition of NBL Talking Points.
36ERS SHARPSHOOTER TO GET ULTIMATE REVENGE ON TEAM WHO MADE HIM A ‘VILLAIN’
For Dejan Vasiljevic, returning to the NBL was anything but straightforward, with drama unfolding between himself, the Adelaide 36ers and the Sydney Kings after the Washington Wizards waived him prior to pre-season training camp.
The Wizards’ decision sparked Vasiljevic’s interest in an NBL return, but with the Kings’ roster already finalised, the club ultimately had the power to deny a move to another NBL franchise.
Sydney Kings CEO Chris Pongrass addressed the situation and the club’s frustration with how it unfolded.
“We originally amended the contract in good faith and completed our roster with the understanding that DJ would play internationally this season,” Pongrass said.
“We are disappointed with how this has been handled and another NBL team’s role in this process.
“While there is no perfect system, this circumstance highlights the inequity NBL clubs have in terms of protecting their interests as opposed to other leagues in the world.”
When Vasiljevic fronted the media for the first time as a 36er, he didn’t hold back, defending both his decision and Adelaide’s role in bringing him to the club.
“They made me look like a villain,” Vasiljevic said.
“They made Adelaide look like the villain, honestly I am going to walk away from it and be the bigger man.”
Vasiljevic also insisted there was more to the story, pushing back on claims he turned his back on the Kings.
“There is more to it than people think.”
“I took my time and wanted to make the right decision and Adelaide just came on board.”
Following the move, Kings part-owner Andrew Bogut weighed in on the situation via his Rogue Bogues podcast.
Frustration shown by MVP towards coach | 00:28
“DJ Vasiljevic, I’m not sure what the deal is, but I just don’t get why there’s all these stones thrown. He’s making comments on social media posts about ongoings that no one knows the half of what happened in Sydney,” Bogut said.
“He was contracted for this season (NBL24) with the Sydney Kings. He came to us and said at the end of our second championship, hey I’ve got an opportunity to go to the NBA on an Exhibit 10 deal with the Washington Wizards.
“Then we had some back and forth and we said, look we’re not one of those teams that tries to prevent guys from going to the NBA or realising their dream.
“Look, we’ll let you out of your contract, go ahead and chase your dream, young fella, all the best,” Bogut said.
Bogut also detailed the timeline of events once Vasiljevic’s NBA opportunity came to an end.
“We get a call on Thursday from DJ’s agent saying he’s coming back to the NBL. So we have a first right of refusal,” Bogut said.
“We get told on a Thursday, you need to let us know today. From what I understand, he was already in Adelaide training with the 36ers, that’s a separate story.
“We don’t get a call till like Sunday or Monday morning, can you release him?
“We might consider a buyout, if you want to offer a buyout, let’s chat. They didn’t offer anything and then it gets to a point where we have to make a decision.
“We let DJ’s representatives know, look, we’re not going to bring you back because we don’t have the cap space, we don’t want to cut someone.
“That’s it and he went and signed with Adelaide,” Bogut said.
It remains one of the most fascinating storylines in recent NBL history.
Now, with the opportunity to win a third championship against the team he believes made him out to be a ‘villain’, Vasiljevic enters the Grand Final series with added motivation fueling the 36ers sharpshooter whose experience and recent performances have been impossible to ignore.
Frustration shown by MVP towards coach | 00:28
MVP SNUB TO NBL CHAMPION?
When Bryce Cotton was named MVP over Kendric Davis, the Sydney Kings superstar wasted no time taking to social media to question the voting system and voice his frustration after finishing runner-up once again.
Less than 12 hours later, Davis fronted the NBL Finals launch, where he addressed the result and reflected on his initial reaction.
For Davis, however, any individual disappointment didn’t last long, with his focus quickly shifting to the ultimate prize.
“Yeah, like coach said, just win something that they can’t vote on. You know, that’s how I look at it,” Davis said.
“Just win a championship, that’s all that matters.”
“I find anything to motivate me, so yeah, it was just another fuel to the fire,” Davis said.
“But I got teammates I gotta play for, coaches that expect greatness from me. So, more than that, we gotta win a championship.
“That’s been the main goal since I got here. So, you gotta keep the main goal the main goal.
“And I think if you ask Bryce, would he trade that MVP for a championship, I think he, everybody would agree they would. So, that’s what, as a city, we hoping we can do,” Davis said.
With the two best players in the league set to go head-to-head on the biggest stage, the Grand Final series shapes as a defining battle of star power and legacy.
Who makes the big plays? Who delivers under pressure? And who ultimately lifts their team to a championship?
For Davis, the mission is clear: turn the MVP snub into the ultimate reward.
Now, the NBL world watches to see if he can lead the Kings past the 36ers and Bryce Cotton, or if the season ends without championship redemption.
MVP fires, 36ers into NBL grand final | 01:12
36ERS HAVE FOUND THEIR BIG MAN
Throughout the season, a consistent talking point around the Adelaide 36ers has been their centre rotation and the fluctuating minutes between Nick Rakocevic and Isaac Humphries.
As the year progressed, it became clear that head coach Mike Wells leaned more heavily towards Rakocevic in key moments, particularly as Humphries managed ongoing injury concerns.
The issue came to a head in Game Two of the semi-final series against the South East Melbourne Phoenix, where Humphries played just over six minutes, while Rakocevic dominated with a double-double performance.
Now, with CODE Sports reporting that Rakocevic and the 36ers are closing in on a new deal for NBL27, the spotlight once again turns to Humphries and his future at the club following what has been a turbulent two-season stretch.
There is no doubt Humphries’ talent remains high. With NBA experience, the ability to impact both ends, stretch the floor and operate effectively in the pick-and-roll, he offers a versatile skillset. However, under Wells, he has often been on a tight leash where mistakes or lapses can quickly see him replaced by Rakocevic.
Adding further intrigue, Olgun Uluc revealed on NBL Marketplace that contracts across the league may not be as secure as they appear.
“Don’t presume that someone who is contracted is unavailable. It seems like we should prepare ourselves for some, you know, the contract is worth as much as the paper is written on,” Uluc said.
“I think there will be some people stealing from other teams because certain players may want out of their current contracts,” Uluc said.
‘Each game is refereed differently’ | 01:00
As the Grand Final series approaches, Adelaide’s frontcourt will be under immense pressure.
Matched up against Sydney’s size and versatility through Xavier Cooks, Torrey Craig and Tim Soares, the 36ers will need strong production from what Mike Wells has labelled the “three best bigs” in the league with Humphries, Rakocevic and Zylan Cheatham to ease the burden on Bryce Cotton.
For Humphries, this series shapes as a defining moment. For the 36ers, it may already be clear they’ve found their big man.
XAVIER COOKS TO COMPLETE REDEMPTION ARC WITH CHAMPIONSHIP
For Xavier Cooks, the past 12 months have been a rollercoaster with his NBL25 season cut short due to a ban following a positive test to a recreational drug.
Since then, the former NBL MVP has responded in the best way possible, captaining the Sydney Kings back to another Grand Final series with the chance to secure the third championship of his career.
Speaking to Fox Sports Australia about the suspension, the emotions that followed and his path to redemption, Cooks expressed deep gratitude for the support he received from the Kings organisation and his teammates.
“I think the first word that comes to my head is just grateful. Grateful to be back in this position playing basketball,” Cooks told Fox Sports Australia.
Reflecting on the past year, Cooks admitted the experience challenged him both personally and professionally as he dealt with public scrutiny and internal reflection.
“You’re right, looking back 12 months ago was one of the lowest of lows for me and dealing with all that public perception and all that kind of stuff. I’m just glad to be back playing high-level basketball again.”
Given the circumstances, it would have been understandable if trust within the organisation had been tested.
Instead, Cooks says the Kings responded in the complete opposite manner.
Rather than distance themselves, the club rallied around him, a defining show of support that ultimately led to him being named captain.
“It meant a lot to me to know that the Kings thought so highly of me enough to pick me in this role (captain) and this position. I think when this happened, you’re right, the club could have been pointing fingers and trying to really distance themselves from me,” Cooks said.
Kings down Wildcats in a thriller | 01:11
“And I feel that’s exactly what the opposite of the club did. They really put their arms around me and made me feel like this is my real home.
“And like all children, we make mistakes, even though I’m not a child. They’ve taken me back with full arms and it starts with Goorj (coach Brian Goorjian).
“When the moment it happened, meeting with him, to guys like Delly (Matthew Dellavedova) coming in to people like that who’ve come a long way.”
Now 30, with another Grand Final opportunity in front of him, Cooks is driven by more than just a title, it’s about repaying the faith shown in him during one of the toughest periods of his career.
If the Kings go on to lift the trophy, it won’t just be a championship.
It will be one of the defining redemption stories of the NBL season.
YOUNG GUN TO DELIVER FOR THE 36ERS AFTER COMMITMENT FROM COACH
One of the most highly regarded free agents of the past offseason was Flynn Cameron, following his decision to leave Melbourne United in search of greater opportunity after two seasons with the club.
With multiple teams circling the New Zealand guard, the early favourites appeared to be the New Zealand Breakers as they looked to build a stronger Kiwi identity.
Instead, the Adelaide 36ers secured Cameron’s signature in a move that generated strong internal excitement, well before the arrivals of Bryce Cotton and Zylan Cheatham.
Following the signing, head coach Mike Wells was full of praise for Cameron and outlined exactly why the club targeted him so heavily.
“I thought when we were looking at all the people that are young free agents, he fits our timeline as a club,” Wells said.
“He’s been a valuable player at Melbourne United behind some really, really good players, and we have an opportunity for him to take the next step from a playing standpoint, and from a player development standpoint.”
“He brings a whole bunch of different things,” Wells said.
“He’s a multiple ball-handler, can play multiple positions, can defend multiple positions.
“I flew over (to Auckland, NZ) and met with him in person so he knew how serious we were about trying to acquire him.
“To get him to sign with us in Adelaide and lay out my vision with him as a player, in his personal development, and that role within our team.”
The belief from Wells has been repaid.
Cameron has delivered a breakout NBL26 campaign, averaging 11.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists across 35 appearances, while earning the league’s Most Improved Player award.
Now, the final test awaits.
With a championship on the line, Cameron has the opportunity to complete the journey whilst repaying the faith shown in him by Wells and the 36ers, and proving his decision to choose Adelaide over rival suitors was the right one.
Cotton performance propels 36ers | 01:29
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