Latest news with #SydneyKings
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Brian Goorjian to use NBA coaching stint with the New York Knicks in a bid to finalise the Kings' NBL26 roster
Sydney Kings coach Brian Goorjian will use an NBA Summer League coaching stint with the New York Knicks to finalise the Kings' roster for NBL26. CODE Sports can reveal Goorjian has agreed to join the Knicks as an assistant coach for a five-day camp leading up to the Summer League. He will also be on the team's bench during the annual pre-season tournament in Las Vegas from July 10 to 20. Joining forces with New York – a franchise coming off its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 20 years – will give Goorjian a front-row seat to the club's talent pool as he attempts to lock in Sydney's final roster spot. The Kings are keen to sign a back-up big man to add more size to the team's front-court alongside Xavier Cooks and Keli Leaupepe. Sydney CEO Chris Pongrass has already publicly stated the club's desire to lure a 'six-foot-eleven guy with length and size'. The Kings had the fourth-best average rebound numbers in the competition last season, but were seventh in rebounding differential, a crucial part that cost them in their biggest games. Goorjian is desperate to improve this statistic in NBL26 via the help of an experienced big man who can impact the game at both ends of the floor. The legendary mentor's NBA Summer League stint with the Knicks is the perfect chance to survey the best emerging talent in world basketball. The Summer League has proven to be a successful pathway for NBL players to attract interest in recent seasons. Former Melbourne United centre Ariel Hukporti signed a two-year contract with New York following an impressive Summer League stint for the club. Hukporti, who was selected by the Knicks with the 54th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, averaged 8.4 points and 7.2 rebounds in five games for the Knicks at last year's pre-season tournament. Another ex-United star in Jack White signed a two-way deal with the Denver Nuggets in 2022 after a standout Summer League stint with the club. White went on to play 17 NBA games for the Nuggets during the franchise's run to the 2022/23 championship. A cast of NBL players are again expected to feature in this year's NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. While no players are officially locked into stints, the likes of Davo Hickey, Tyrell Harrison and Hyunjung Lee have all indicated a desire to play in the pre-season event. In other news, Pongrass has decided to step down from his role as CEO following seven successful seasons. Pongrass played a vital role in the club's consecutive championships in NBL22 and NBL23 as the team's leading recruiter. He will continue in his current role with Sydney for the next six months – assisting the club's ownership to find a suitable replacement. It's understood Pongrass doesn't have a new job as yet, but he should have no shortage of interest given his NBL success and previous NBA experience as the director of basketball operations at the Memphis Grizzlies.
Courier-Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Courier-Mail
NBA Hall of Famer Andrew Bogut courts $8m for ‘Copper House'
Aussie basketball great Andrew Bogut is courting $7.95m for his striking oceanview mansion known as the Copper House. The former NBA player and part-owner of the Sydney Kings has listed the architecturally designed Currumbin home, which had been rented at $5,000 a week after Bogut and wife Jessica purchased an acreage property elsewhere on the Gold Coast. Bogut this week became the ninth Australian inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame, following a celebrated career spanning 14 seasons in the US with the NBA, notably winning a championship with Golden State Warriors in 2015. He also captained Australia's national team the Boomers, starting in three Olympic Games, and played with the Sydney Kings where he will coach the 2026 season. Bogut paid $4.45m for the distinctive three-level beach house designed by Paul Uhlmann in 2019. The seven-bedroom, four-bathroom home on an elevated 774 sqm lot at 4 Duringan Street is marketed by Michael Kollosche. It has a curved copper-clad facade with features including an internal glass lift, sleek kitchen fitted with high-end European appliances, formal dining room with wine collector's cabinet, multiple outdoor entertaining areas plus six-person spa and pool. Interiors draw on raw materials of timber, stone and stainless steel, softened by blackbutt floors and ceiling linings. Picture windows and open-plan zones invite in natural light, leafy outlooks and sea breezes. 'Function and flow have been thoughtfully considered, with communal living spaces occupying the upper level to maximise the panoramic outlook captured from a vast covered terrace,' the listing states. The home has a flexible floor plan ideal for multi-generational living, with master bedrooms on two levels and five other bedrooms upstairs. MORE NEWS Castle, beachfront mansion sold in twin mega deals Qld house named Australian Home of the Year Auction drama marks jaw-dropping $14m sale Bogut was first pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks and also played for the Golden State, Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers up to 2019. The 213cm player has remained in the headlines since retirement for his controversial political views and criticism of the sport's governance. Accepting the Hall of Fame induction in Bahrain, Bogut made a dig at his misguided sledging of the FBA in 2019. Property records show Bogut retains a 6675sqm Mudgeeraba property purchased for $6.45m last year. In 2021, he sold a a site in Beaumaris, Victoria, which had been earmarked for a luxury home build that was stymied by council. It was priced at $11m-$12m and sold within 48 hours. PropTrack data shows house prices in Currumbin were up 12.7 per cent over the past 12 months to a median of $1.69m.
News.com.au
20-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
NBA Hall of Famer Andrew Bogut courts $8m for ‘Copper House'
Aussie basketball great Andrew Bogut is courting $7.95m for his striking oceanview mansion known as the Copper House. The former NBA player and part-owner of the Sydney Kings has listed the architecturally designed Currumbin home, which had been rented at $5,000 a week after Bogut and wife Jessica purchased an acreage property elsewhere on the Gold Coast. Bogut this week became the ninth Australian inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame, following a celebrated career spanning 14 seasons in the US with the NBA, notably winning a championship with Golden State Warriors in 2015. He also captained Australia's national team the Boomers, starting in three Olympic Games, and played with the Sydney Kings where he will coach the 2026 season. Bogut paid $4.45m for the distinctive three-level beach house designed by Paul Uhlmann in 2019. The seven-bedroom, four-bathroom home on an elevated 774 sqm lot at 4 Duringan Street is marketed by Michael Kollosche. It has a curved copper-clad facade with features including an internal glass lift, sleek kitchen fitted with high-end European appliances, formal dining room with wine collector's cabinet, multiple outdoor entertaining areas plus six-person spa and pool. Interiors draw on raw materials of timber, stone and stainless steel, softened by blackbutt floors and ceiling linings. Picture windows and open-plan zones invite in natural light, leafy outlooks and sea breezes. 'Function and flow have been thoughtfully considered, with communal living spaces occupying the upper level to maximise the panoramic outlook captured from a vast covered terrace,' the listing states. The home has a flexible floor plan ideal for multi-generational living, with master bedrooms on two levels and five other bedrooms upstairs. Auction drama marks jaw-dropping $14m sale Bogut was first pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks and also played for the Golden State, Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers up to 2019. The 213cm player has remained in the headlines since retirement for his controversial political views and criticism of the sport's governance. Accepting the Hall of Fame induction in Bahrain, Bogut made a dig at his misguided sledging of the FBA in 2019. Property records show Bogut retains a 6675sqm Mudgeeraba property purchased for $6.45m last year. In 2021, he sold a a site in Beaumaris, Victoria, which had been earmarked for a luxury home build that was stymied by council. It was priced at $11m-$12m and sold within 48 hours.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aussie teen giant Rocco Zikarsky shooting for the NBA
Teen giant Rocco Zikarsky has joined the list of Australians taking their NBA shot in 2025 as the basketball league reveals its shortest list of early draft applicants in a decade. Only 106 players lodged an application for early entry, a requirement for those who are not automatically eligible from having played four years of college or from turning 22 this year. That's the lowest number of early applicants since 91 applied in 2015, the year Karl-Anthony Towns went with the No.1 pick. Zikarsky is one of four players from the NBL's Next Star program declaring for the draft that will be held across two days in late June, announcing his intentions on social media on Wednesday. "All in," the Brisbane Bullets centre wrote on his Instagram story accompanied by two crossed-fingers emojis. Players can only nominate for the NBA draft once. Rocco Zikarsky 🆚 Sydney Kings in 15 MINS:11 PTS4-6 FG (1-1 3PT) 2-2 FT5 REB1 BLK1 AST@BrisbaneBullets — NBL Next Stars (@NBLNextStars) October 6, 2024 Zikarsky had a quieter second campaign in the NBL that ended prematurely due to a knee injury. But he is still rated a chance to be taken in the second round of the draft, offering the rare and imposing height of 220cm. Sydney Kings wing Alex Toohey last month became the first of last season's Next Star class to announce he would declare and could be taken with a late first-round pick. Top Australian college talents Tyrese Proctor and Alex Condon have chosen to prematurely end their respective stints at Duke and the University of Florida to throw their hats in the ring. Power forward Condon turned his back on the possibility of an AFL career to play college ball and could be taken in the first round after seeing his draft stocks rise in recent weeks. Proctor, a point guard, is also rated a good chance of being selected after three seasons at one of the USA's most prominent basketball colleges. Trinidadian Malique Lewis and Spain's Izan Alamansa are the international Next Stars declaring for the draft after spending last NBL season with South East Melbourne and Perth, respectively. The last remaining member of last season's Next Star program Karim Lopez is too young to declare for the draft until next year, having only turned 18 this month. The Wildcats announced on Wednesday that Alamansa's Australian teammate Ben Henshall had also declared for the draft. Lachlan Olbrich is another Australian player with draft aspirations after playing two seasons with the Illawarra Hawks, with whom he won the most recent NBL championship. Given he turns 22 in December, Olbrich did not need to apply for entry into the draft and is considered a slimmer chance than Zikarsky or Toohey to be selected.
Forbes
24-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
More Than A Game: Scottie Pippen's Mission To Bring Culture Onchain
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 28: Former NBA player Scottie Pippen looks on during the NBL Play-In ... More Qualifier match between Sydney Kings and New Zealand Breakers at Qudos Bank Arena, on February 28, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by) Scottie Pippen isn't jumping into crypto for attention. He's here to build. The Hall of Famer is part of a growing wave of athletes who see blockchain not just as a financial opportunity, but as a cultural one. In our conversation, he reflected on how little players talked about investing during his NBA days, why Bitcoin finally clicked for him, and how his latest project, $BALL, isn't just another token. It's a bet that physical objects, like the championship basketball from his first title, can carry value across blockchains, generations, and communities. Pippen's resume speaks for itself: six NBA championships, seven All-Star appearances, ten All-Defensive team selections, and two Olympic gold medals. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice, once as an individual and again as a member of the legendary 1992 'Dream Team.' Widely regarded as one of the greatest two-way players in basketball history, Pippen's impact on the game has been felt across decades. Now, he's aiming to leave a similar mark in a new arena. When Scottie Pippen entered the NBA in 1987, investing wasn't part of locker room conversations. 'I don't think players talked too much about it,' he told me. One of the few exceptions was Junior Bridgeman, a former Milwaukee Buck who quietly built a fast food empire after retiring. 'He was one of those guys we kind of idolized and respected for what he had done,' Pippen said. Bridgeman never made an All-Star team, but he turned his NBA salary into ownership of over 400 Wendy's and Chili's franchises. That transformation, from role player to multimillionaire businessman, stood out in a league where endorsements and flashy purchases were often more visible than equity or ownership. Pippen tried to follow a similar path. Early in his career, he invested in Taco Bell franchises, but a falling out with his partners forced him out of the deal. 'I didn't have the bandwidth to do it myself,' he said, noting how hard it was to navigate without the right people around him. Even standout stars at the time weren't always focused on long-term plays other than Michael Jordan's legendary Nike deal. Magic Johnson broke that mold, using his platform after retirement to build a billion-dollar portfolio that included movie theaters, real estate, Starbucks, and stakes in major sports franchises. Years later, Shaquille O'Neal followed a similar path, becoming known for savvy early investments in companies like Google, Ring, and Papa John's. 'Back then, we didn't have the bandwidth or the people around us to really understand the business side,' Pippen said. That's changed now, but it's part of what drew him to crypto in the first place. Pippen's interest in Bitcoin started around three years ago. 'I'd always been curious, but didn't really understand it,' he said. Like many people outside the tech world, it took time, and volatility, for it to feel real. What ultimately caught his attention was Bitcoin's role as the foundation of the crypto space. 'It seems like it's the main coin. It kind of sets the standard,' he said. 'When you want to learn something, you look at what the best is doing.' He and his team started paying close attention during the last cycle, when Bitcoin fell from its all-time high of $69,000 to the mid-teens. 'We really started looking at it seriously when it dropped to around $17,000,' he said. From there, they watched it climb, eventually reaching a number that happened to match Pippen's jersey: 33. 'That's when it really got on my radar,' he added. That philosophy, learned by watching the leaders, became a through line in how he thinks about investing today. While he's aware of other chains like Ethereum and Solana, he's never strayed far from Bitcoin. 'I've watched them, but I haven't put my money into anything else,' he said. 'Not because I don't think they'll do well, but because I believe in Bitcoin.' That belief in fundamentals is what led him to partner with a team of creatives and technologists to launch $BALL, a crypto project rooted in one object: the actual game ball from Pippen's first NBA championship in 1991. What started as a conversation about prized possessions turned into a thesis: that physical objects, when backed by cultural history and digitally tokenized, can become assets just as valuable as art or NFTs. 'It's not about an individual accolade,' Scottie said. 'It's about teamwork, and what the ball represents for the culture.' From there, $BALL has grown into an ecosystem: an RWA (real world asset) with a digital twin, surrounded by gaming, apparel, AI, and even a documentary. Other athletes have made moves into crypto. Spencer Dinwiddie famously tried to tokenize his NBA contract, Lionel Messi became the global face of Bitget, and Cristiano Ronaldo partnered with Binance on a series of digital collectibles. Even LeBron James has gotten involved, teaming up with to bring blockchain education to students at his I PROMISE School in Akron. But where many of these efforts were tied to sponsorships or one-off campaigns, Pippen's approach is rooted in legacy and storytelling. 'Ball is a language,' his team told me. 'Everybody speaks it. We just needed to put it onchain.' If Bitcoin is the foundation and $BALL is the story, then the future is about reach. For Pippen and his team, this isn't just about a token, it's about creating experiences that onboard people into Web3 without them needing to be fluent in the technology. 'Most people still don't understand crypto,' his team told me. 'But they understand ball.' Over the next year, $BALL will roll out integrations with games like Fortnite, a mobile game called Meme Ball, and a trash-talking AI agent modeled after the Magic 8 Ball. There's a documentary in the works, metaverse experiences planned, and a physical-digital tour aimed at bridging Web2 and Web3. All of it is built around one real-world object: a game ball that represents teamwork, history, and the idea that culture can carry value across chains. Their thesis is bold. In a space dominated by price charts and memecoins, Pippen and his team believe the most valuable asset onchain might one day be a basketball. 'Once upon a time, people didn't believe in Bitcoin. Then they didn't believe in Dogecoin,' said Pippen. 'Now there's a new category which are real-world objects with cultural weight and it needs a leader. That's what we're building.' Pippen might be deep in the crypto world now, but he still knows when to let others lead the charge. After making a few tongue-in-cheek Bitcoin predictions online about knowing who Satoshi Nakamoto is, he shared that MicroStrategy's Michael Saylor pulled him aside and told him to stop talking about Satoshi. Pippen laughed. 'I'm gonna try to keep my mouth closed and follow Michael's lead,' he said. 'It's worked out for me before.'
