Bogut's plan to stop McGee leads to Kings win

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Kings star Xavier Cooks singled out centre Tim Soares and the job he did on three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee ran roughshod over the Illawarra Hawks 98-71 at WIN Entertainment Centre in Round 9 of NBL26 on Sunday, November 16, 2025.

Kendric Davis led the Kings with 17 points and eight assists while the Hawks struggled with 26 turnovers.

McGee, 37, had just nine points in 21 minutes, battled foul trouble, to go with nine boards but four turnovers as the Hawks dropped to 4-7 while the Kings won their fourth straight and are now 7-5 and on a roll.

Kings guard Tyler Robertson plays behind Matthew Dellavedova and Shaun Bruce — both were injured and he made the most of his opportunity, hitting big threes (4-from-7) to break the game open.

"The team does a good job of instilling confidence in one another," Robertson said.

"I come in every day, even on off days, get my shots up, get my reps up, and stay the course. There are going to be injuries, highs and lows of the season, and I try to keep a level head.

"I’m a young guy — second year in the league — and I’m fortunate to play with guys like Brucey, Delly, and Kendric Davis every day.

"Coming onto the bomb squad and practice squad and getting my reps there was how I stayed ready. Whenever my opportunity came, I felt like the team would have my back, and I knew I’d put in the work to be ready."

Kings head coach Brian Goorjian credited his assistants with the scout on McGee.

"I think the staff deserves credit," he said.

"Having Andrew Bogut as a post player who has played in the NBA helps. The schemes — Billy, Bogut, Shaun — in the Adelaide game defending Cotton, and now defending a big like McGee, having a seven-footer who’s played NBA and knows how to defend without fouling was important because we don’t have much depth there.

"Like with the team, it’s a collective. Playing to everyone’s strengths. Tonight with McGee, Bogut was a huge help."

Key Details

• Result: Sydney Kings 98 def. Illawarra Hawks 71
• When: 16th November 2025
• Where: WIN Entertainment Centre
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Kendric Davis (Sydney Kings) starred with 17 points, four rebounds, eight assists in 31 minutes.
• William Hickey (Illawarra Hawks) scored 19 points, and had eight rebounds, eight assists, one block in 31 minutes.

What Happened

The Sydney Kings established control early, taking an 18-14 lead after the first quarter. They then exploded in the second period, outscoring the Hawks 35-18 to build a commanding 53-32 halftime advantage. Sydney maintained their dominance throughout the second half, matching Illawarra's 18 points in the third quarter before closing out with a 27-21 final period.

Bul Kuol's defensive masterclass proved critical for Sydney, as he recorded five steals while adding 12 points in just under 28 minutes. His disruptive presence contributed significantly to the Hawks' turnover troubles, with Illawarra coughing up the ball 26 times compared to Sydney's 14.

Kendric Davis orchestrated the Kings' offense efficiently, tallying 17 points and eight assists. Xavier Cooks added 13 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Tyler Robertson provided a spark off the bench with 14 points, including four three-pointers at an outstanding 57.1% success rate.

For Illawarra, William Hickey delivered a solid all-round performance with 19 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, but his four turnovers highlighted the team's broader ball-handling issues. Tyler Harvey contributed 18 points but shot just 38.5% from the field as the Hawks struggled to find rhythm against Sydney's swarming defense.

The Kings' superior ball movement and defensive pressure proved decisive. Sydney forced 13 steals and limited the Hawks to just 34.7% shooting from the field (26-from-75). Despite Illawarra winning the rebounding battle 55-49, their inability to protect the ball nullified this advantage, allowing Sydney to attempt 13 more field goals and score 27 points from turnovers.