'Couldn't deal': DMac declares Kings best in league

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Interim head coach Darryl McDonald declared the Sydney Kings were "playing the best basketball in the league" after they dismantled the Brisbane Bullets 95-70 in Round 14 of NBL26 on Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at Qudos Bank Arena.

Kings head coach Brian Goorjian responded with a laugh: "Scary."

"I’m worried about every game, every… every game. I don’t see it like that. I just like what’s going on, I like where we’re headed. I think the guys understand how we can be good."

McDonald, an NBL legend in his own right, knows what it takes to win at this level and was quick in response about who the best team in the league was right now.

"Sydney. Easily Sydney," he said.

"They’ve beaten Adelaide twice, Melbourne twice. They’ve got all the pieces you need to win a championship.

"Kendrick Davis is an MVP candidate. Cooks is a top player. But it’s the way they defend. You throw Bull on, take him off, throw Delly on, then (Jaylin) Galloway – it wears you down.

"I’ve tried to explain it to my club – we’re not fit. Not physically fit. You can run suicides, but there’s a physicality to the game we don’t have.

"You look at Sydney – the physicality, man. They get after you. If they do that consistently, they’re gonna be really hard to beat.

"Really hard to beat."

McDonald described why the Kings, now 13-7, were so tough to play against.

"It’s just a tough night at the office," McDonald said.

"Tough night. It’s not a lot of positives. I mean, we did everything we said we wasn’t gonna do.

"Couldn’t deal – we struggled. We struggled with their pressure, man. Like they right now, they easily playing the best basketball in the league and and their pressure really sped us up, turned us over, and we struggled with it.

"You try to draw up stuff to be able to get it over half court, but the running and jumping – and again, I’ve been saying it all year – we need an actual point guard. A point guard besides Norto (Mitch Norton).

"Norto's our point guard. Now we got Javon (Freeman-Liberty) playing point guard – he’s not a point. I love Javon, and he knows it himself. You actually need somebody that can control the game, somebody that can run your team.

"But it’s hard. You dribble right into the corner, they trapping you. Again, they were relentless, man. And we struggled with the relentlessness.

"You try to drop it in to Ty, they doubling him. I think it’s a respect to Tyrell (Harrison) that they gotta actually double you. Whether he understands that or not, that’s what’s gonna happen. Ain’t nobody just gonna let you play one-on-one.

"He’s had some great games for us, but that was a good learning experience. He’s gotta take that next step. We gotta help him too.

"We drew up stuff – when they double you, somebody just has to go to the basket. All we did was sit around the perimeter. Sit around the perimeter. And we can’t hit shots.

"Like I said, it was always gonna be tough. We’re down on bodies. Duke’s done his toe, so he can’t play the rest of the game. Tain is out again. We got Maldonado coming in, another guy that can carry the ball and get us into some stuff.

"But we settled for jumpers to start the game. All we did was shoot jump shots. Nobody was getting to the rim. One thing they do well is attack the rim. They attack the rim, we foul them, put them on the line.

"So yeah – tough. Tough night, man."

Kings forward Xavier Cooks led all scorers with 20 points on 7-from-8 from the field, he pulled down five boards, had four assists, a block and steal while star guard Kendric Davis shot a porous 5-from-16 on his way to 16 points.

"I’m not driving the bus anymore. I introduced this. This is, again, a mindset," Goorjian revealed.

"I was told that when we started – when I came to the Kings this time and started putting some pieces together – it was built around that concept. Last year was like this with it, you know that, and then this year the pieces that we added to it were important.

"It’s taken a while. These guys are getting some success by how we’re playing, and now when I call a timeout or I turn and look, they’re all communicating, talking about the pressure and playing off each other.

"So it’s definitely the way we’ve built the team, how we’ve recruited the team. I don’t think we’re… I think we’re scratching the surface. I think there’s more to come."

Goorjian revealed his leadership group of Cooks, captain Matthew Dellavedova and Kendric Davis are driving the culture of the red-hot Kings.

"Everyone’s got a little piece on this, and that’s his (Davis)," Goorjian said.

"Everyone knows how hard he works, how much he loves basketball. He came here for a reason, and he knows there’s areas he needs to get better at.

"The leadership part is a work in progress. And how you lead – it’s a skill, just like shooting the ball.

"I find him calling me up saying, 'Got to shoot tomorrow'. I’m like, 'God, it’s Christmas, bro. Don’t I get a little glass of red, or I’ve got to shag balls today?'

"But no, I was excited about him coming because we spent time together, and I knew he would bite on it and work at it. The leadership part is a work in progress, but the work ethic, becoming a better player, and putting pressure on everybody – and making it a little uncomfortable – has been good for us.

"Then the other piece – the two imports, the situation last year – and I think the guy sitting next to me (Tim Soares) is understated. Last year we had a problem around the basket, and we had a problem in that guard spot. Now Delly and KD have made it better. And now Tim around the basket – that piece was a missing piece.

"He’s a good teammate. Like KD, he’s really biting on the defense, and I think that’s hard on imports, especially to make that a focus point.

"He’s multiple positions – he can carry the ball, shoot it, stretch the floor, protect the basket.

"He and KD are different guys, but they’re really good people and really accepted and important in our group."

Key Details

• Round: 14
• Result: Sydney Kings 95 def. Brisbane Bullets 70
• When: Monday, 30th December 2025
• Where: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings) starred with 20 points, five rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block in 20 minutes.
• Sam McDaniel (Brisbane Bullets) scored 18 points, had two rebounds, four assists and one steal in 29 minutes.

What Happened

The Kings established early control and never looked back, building a commanding lead that reached as much as 31 points. Sydney's dominance was evident from the opening tip, as they outscored Brisbane in every quarter except the final period. The hosts led 24-15 after the first quarter, extended their advantage to 51-30 at halftime, and maintained their stranglehold with a 77-49 lead heading into the final stanza.

Xavier Cooks was simply on fire for the Kings, shooting an exceptional 7-from-8 from the field to anchor Sydney's offensive onslaught. His efficient scoring display was complemented by solid contributions from Tim Soares, who added 14 points and seven boards, and Kendric Davis, who chipped in 14 points and seven assists despite shooting struggles. The Kings' balanced attack saw five players reach double figures, showcasing the depth that made this victory so comprehensive.

For Brisbane, Sam McDaniel provided the lone bright spot with 18 points on solid 7-from-12 shooting, including an impressive 4-from-7 from downtown. Mitch Norton added 15 points and six assists, but the Bullets struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm against Sydney's suffocating defence. Javon Freeman-Liberty endured a disappointing night, managing just four points on 2-from-11 shooting in over 32 minutes of action.

The statistical story tells the tale of Sydney's dominance. The Kings shot an outstanding 50% from the field compared to Brisbane's poor 34.85%, while also controlling the boards 47-38. Sydney's superior ball movement was evident in their 26 assists, eight more than the Bullets managed. The Kings also forced 17 turnovers while committing just 13 of their own, creating numerous extra possessions that translated into easy scoring opportunities.

This commanding victory reinforces Sydney's championship credentials as they continue their NBL26 campaign. The 25-point margin represents one of their most comprehensive performances of the season, with the Kings leading for over 37 minutes of game time. Brisbane, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly after this dismal offensive display that saw them struggle to find any sustained scoring rhythm against a well-organised Kings defence.