The roar that erupted inside Qudos Bank Arena on April 5, 2026, was more than just a celebration of a win. it was the sound of a franchise reclaiming its throne. In a game defined by shifting momentum and raw emotion, the Sydney Kings claim NBL title honors for the sixth time in franchise history, defeating the Adelaide 36ers 113-101 to cap off a grueling 2025-2026 season.
The victory was anchored by a masterful performance from Finals MVP Kendric Davis, who tallied 34 points and 14 assists. Although, the scoreline only tells part of the story. The Kings’ path to the championship was a study in resilience, overcoming a slow start to the season and a late-game deficit in the deciding match to secure the trophy.
For head coach Brian Goorjian, the win solidified a legacy that already looms large over Australian basketball. With this victory, Goorjian secured his seventh championship, a milestone that complements his seven Coach of the Year awards and cements his status as the most decorated coach in the league’s history.
The Final Surge at Qudos Bank Arena
The championship game was far from a formality. For much of the contest, the Adelaide 36ers threatened to derail Sydney’s ambitions, leading by six points with only 90 seconds remaining on the clock. In a moment that could have broken a lesser squad, the Kings ignited a decisive 18-6 run that stunned the visitors and swung the game irrevocably in Sydney’s favor.
The atmosphere played a pivotal role in the comeback. A record-breaking crowd of 18,589 fans—the highest attendance in NBL history—transformed the arena into a cauldron of noise that disrupted Adelaide’s communication during the critical closing minutes.
Forward Xavier Cooks, now a three-time NBL champion, noted that the energy shift was palpable. “Down six with 90 seconds left, we score and you can perceive the energy shift straight away,” Cooks said. “People don’t always understand how much influence a crowd has.”
Beyond the Box Score: Kendric Davis’s Redemption
While his 34-point effort earned him the MVP trophy, Kendric Davis’s most significant victory occurred away from the hardwood. Davis spoke candidly about a tumultuous period earlier in the year while in Adelaide, admitting that the weight of public criticism had become nearly unbearable.
Davis revealed that the toxicity of social media had reached a point where he avoided the platforms entirely to protect his mental health. “I couldn’t even click on Instagram at the beginning of the year. You just notice all the hateful things,” Davis said. “It was at a point where I hated Australian media. That’s why I never came in here. That’s why I stayed away.”
The turning point came through the support of the Kings’ organization and veteran teammates like Matthew Dellavedova and Xavier Cooks. Davis credited the team’s leadership for helping him rediscover his passion for the game, noting that the organization’s willingness to seem past the “hype” and conduct their own research on his character meant the world to him.
A Masterclass in Resilience
Even for a veteran like Brian Goorjian, the pressure of a Grand Final is an omnipresent force. Goorjian admitted that the external noise nearly breached his defenses shortly before tip-off when a message from his daughter alerted him to social media posts labeling the Kings’ potential loss as the “biggest choke in history.”
Rather than letting the narrative unsettle him, Goorjian relied on visualization—a technique he compared to his experiences in Olympic bronze medal games. He emphasized that the team’s ability to stay composed during defensive confusion and the pressure of the 36ers’ late lead revealed the true character of the group.
The Depth of a Champion
The Kings’ journey to the title was not a linear path of dominance. The team struggled early in the season, starting with a 3-5 record. By the time they reached the finals, they had transformed into a cohesive unit where contributions came from every corner of the roster.
| Player | Key Contribution | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Kendric Davis | 34 Points, 14 Assists | Offensive engine and Finals MVP |
| Matthew Dellavedova | 11 Points, 2 Late Threes | Stabilized late-game momentum |
| Makuach Maluach | 2 Overtime Steals | Critical defensive stops in OT |
| Xavier Cooks | Interior Presence | Anchored the 18-6 closing run |
Matthew Dellavedova, who has now achieved the rare feat of winning both an NBA and an NBL championship, spoke of the collective effort. “I’m just relieved, that’s the main thing,” Dellavedova said. “But I’m really happy for this group. We faced a lot of adversity, the slow start, tough losses, injuries.”
Davis echoed this sentiment, insisting that the “unsung heroes”—players like Goodrick, Robertson, and Kuol—were just as essential to the title run as the stars. He noted that the support he received via message from teammates like Bruce and Tyler kept him locked in during his first professional playoff series.
As the confetti settled over Qudos Bank Arena, the victory served as a reminder of the psychological toll of modern professional sports and the power of a supportive locker room. For the Sydney Kings, the 2025-2026 title is not just another trophy in the cabinet, but a testament to a group that refused to be defined by their early failures or the noise from the sidelines.
The Kings will now start preparations for the upcoming off-season, with the organization expected to release a full season review and player status updates in the coming weeks.
Were you at the record-breaking crowd at Qudos Bank Arena? Share your highlights and thoughts on the Kings’ championship run in the comments below.
