Royal rumble in the Jungle to start NBL25

Adelaide 36ers will open the NBL25 season with a royal battle against Sydney Kings at the inaugural HoopsFest in Perth on Sunday afternoon.

The Kings have retooled substantially in the off-season, led by the recruitment of new head coach, former Boomers boss Brian Goorjian and the return of marquee player Xavier Cooks.

Sydney has been highly-fancied across the league as one of the championship favourites and has been dominant this pre-season – only dropping one game to South East Melbourne Phoenix.

With winners in all positions right across the court, the opening challenge against the Kings will be a huge test for the new-look Adelaide 36ers under head coach Mike Wells.

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THE KEY
Xavier Cooks has been earmarked as the MVP of the competition the moment he decided to return to the NBL this off-season.

The 28-year-old is a two-time champion with the Kings and has returned to Sydney on a blockbuster three-year deal.

Cooks, who spent time in the NBA with the Washington Wizards and most recently wrapping up his Japanese B-League season with the Chiba Jets, is thrilled to be coming back to Sydney.

"I can't wait to return to Sydney - it's become my second home," the NBL22 Grand Final MVP said.

"I've achieved some of my greatest basketball accomplishments in Sydney and I can't wait to make some more over the next few years with all the amazing Kings fans."

Through his first four seasons in Sydney, Cooks recorded averages of 13 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 blocks and 0.5 steals per game while shooting 54.6 per cent from the field.

THE SECRET
Alex Toohey is a star on the rise in Australian basketball and the NBL Next Star returns for a second season in Sydney.

The 20-year-old has played his way into the starting line-up of Goorjian’s side, which shows the 201cm swingman’s talent in the deep Kings roster.

Toohey averaged 8.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game across his 29 games in NBL24 and he will be looking to make the next step as he sets his sights on entering the 2025 NBA Draft.

With the Sydney side full of talent, including former NBL MVP Jaylen Adams, Olympian Bul Kuol and returning import Cam Oliver, the 36ers must not underestimate the impact Toohey can have on the contest. 

DEPTH CHART
PG: Adams / Bruce
SG: Kuol / Le'Afa
SF: Toohey / Galloway / Robertson / Maluach
PF: Cooks / Noi
C: Oliver / Leaupepe

FINAL WORD
Adelaide will go into Sunday’s season opener full of confidence after a solid pre-season which netted three wins from four games.

The only loss coming last week at the NBL Blitz when head coach Mike Wells decided to rest a number of his main rotation players.

The 36ers will get the first crack at the new-look Kings under Goorjian and will be keen to make a statement early in the season.

A backcourt match-up between Kendric Davis and Jaylen Adams is worth admission alone, but the debut of Montrezl Harrell is must watch, especially going head-to-head with Cooks.

Catch all the action Sunday afternoon on ESPN via Kayo Sports and live and free on 10HD & 10 Play