Exclusive: 'When We Were Kings' of Sydney

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More than 10,000 roaring fans celebrated every Dwayne "D-Train" McClain's sweeping crossover leading to a bucket, a Leon Trimmingham monster jam or Damian "Three-O" Keogh long range bomb like it was never going to end.

But the Sydney Entertainment Centre was an agonising metaphor for the Sydney Kings of the late '80s, early '90s and into the 2000s: Fresh; new; full of joy; excitement; heartbreak; but eventually demolished before being redeveloped.

The Sydney Entertainment Centre was the buzzing epicentre, the heartbeat, of basketball in Sydney in the '90s and the city's team was the Kings, born out of a merger between the West Sydney West Stars and Sydney Supersonics in 1987. Today, it's a popular tourist and food precinct known as Darling Square as part of a multi-billion dollar redevelopment that includes the International Convention Centre.

Hoops have been replaced by soups, dribbles stopped by serviettes.

The Kings folded in 2008 but not before finally winning NBL championships in 2003, '04 and '05. Today, they are back, rebuilt and are now five-time champions.

But 35 years ago, the Kings roster was a veritable who's who of Australian basketball chasing its first ring: captain Keogh, Boomers Brad and Mark Dalton, Greg Hubbard, Tim Morrissey and 1980 Olympic Games scoring champion Ian Davies, as well as a glittering array of imports such as Steve Carfino, Dwayne "D-Train" McClain, Ken McClary, "Man Mountain" Dean Uthoff and, of course, the high flying Trimmingham.

Morrissey, now 61, played 172 games between 1989 and 1994 for the Kings, the most of any player during those five seasons under moustachioed head coach Bob Turner.

"Dwayne was amazing to play with — probably the first genuine NBA player to come here," Morrissey told basketball.com.au.

"He didn’t have a long NBA career but won an NCAA championship with Villanova.

"I actually played against him in 1988 when he toured with the Traveling Daedals and the Boomers played them. He had this infectious personality, was fiercely competitive, and had incredible talent.

"He brought that NBA one-on-one style — break your man down, pull-up jumper, drive hard to the rim, defend tough.

"Ken McClary was different — serious, explosive. It didn’t take much to fire him up, but he was tough and immovable in the paint.

"Super athletic, strong rebounder, shot blocker. He complemented Dwayne well because he didn’t need the ball much — just did his job.

"I still think that ’92 season, and the back end of ’91, Dwayne was one of the best imports we’ve ever had in the NBL."

The Kings despite their stacked roster didn't win a championship during that era. Eliminated in the playoffs by defending champions Canberra in 1989, eliminated by Grand Finalist Brisbane Bullets in 1990, missed the playoffs in '91, took the Melbourne Tigers to thee games in the '92 semi-finals, missed the playoffs again in '93 and lost 2-1 to eventual '94 champions North Melbourne in the quarters.

Morrissey said the Kings and its players were hyper-focused on building a fan-base, doing endless school visits, clinics, and marketing events to make sure the Entertainment Centre was packed to the rafters.

"In Sydney, we always felt like the underdog when it came to professional sport, so we had to work harder to market ourselves," he said.

"The best way was through the players – getting out to schools, meeting kids, doing clinics. That was our advantage, and I think the Kings did it better than most clubs.

"It probably took a bit of a toll, but the competition was also red hot back then. You had great coaches and elite players – we were going up against teams like the Tigers with Andrew Gaze and Lanard Copeland.

"You had to be at your absolute best to beat teams like that. We pushed Melbourne to Game 3 – we just couldn’t get it done.

"If you can crack it in Sydney, in Australia’s biggest market, it’s huge for basketball.

"Back in the heyday, we were doing Diet Coke ads, and Dwayne even had a McDonald’s commercial – “Do you want fries with that, Mr McClain?” He called it “Mickie D’s.”

"That shows how big the Kings brand had become. Every year, the league just kept getting better.

"(And) when Leon Trimmingham arrived, his athleticism was on another level. His vertical leap was phenomenal, he was young, eager to learn, and super quick.

"He’d intimidate anyone at the rim."

Morrissey remembers how the Entertainment Centre came alive for Kings games.

"The most exciting thing was that it was new — basketball in Sydney," Morrissey said.

"You had the Supersonics (the Astronauts) from the early days, the Bankstown Bruins, and the Sydney Westars, but neither organisation really set fire or established itself. Then Michael Wroblewski and a group of investors set up the Sydney Kings, and basketball started to take off.

"The name was great, and the colours were Lakers colours — which I think was done deliberately. That first year at the State Sports Centre in 1988 was a bit tough, but we started to gain some traction pretty quickly. The stadium began to fill up, and in 1989 we probably sold out every game at the State Sports Centre.

"Bob Turner was coaching — he was super enthusiastic and that rubbed off on everyone. It was just new.

"We were out in the community promoting the game, and that kind of thing. We quickly moved into the Entertainment Centre because we outgrew the State Sports Centre in just two years.

"Homebush. It served its purpose — a great venue for the time. You’d call it a boutique stadium now. But moving into the Entertainment Centre changed everything.

"We were doing all sorts of things to promote the game. We set up a basketball ring in front of the Town Hall on George Street, wearing our uniforms and dribbling basketballs down the street, handing out flyers to come and watch the Kings or become a member.

"We pulled every trick in the book — school visits, basketball clinics, handing out purple and gold Kings basketballs.

"They were fun times, and we saw the rewards. The Entertainment Centre started filling up quickly, and within a season or two we were almost selling out every game.

"If we didn’t get 9,000 or 10,000 people, it felt disappointing. Basketball became a big buzz in the city — it felt like a legitimate professional sport."

The 190cm forward said practices were tough, especially with the Dalton brothers and Uthoff practicing like they played ... hard.

"Tough but fun," Morrissey revealed.

"Brad Dalton and Mark Dalton would set screens on teammates the same way they would on Andrew Gaze or Robert Rose — full contact. You had to be switched on.

"Training was intense, but that’s what made it enjoyable. When you’ve got a good session, you don’t want it to end. That’s part of being a pro — getting to practice and hoop for a living.

"The imports lifted everyone. Dwayne would do ridiculous things at training. Leon would dunk over people, taking off from outside of the key.

"It was competitive and enjoyable."

Full Roster Roll-Call: 1989 to 1994

Austin, Jody │ Blake, John │ Carr, James │ Carfino, Steve │ Dalton, Brad │ Dalton, Mark │ Davies, Ian │ De Ambrosis, Tony │ Donaldson, Mario │ Hill, Peter │ Hubbard, Greg │ Jensen, Tonny │ Keogh, Damian │ Kenny, Mike │ McClain, Dwayne │ McClary, Ken │ Morrissey, Tim │ Reader, Cory │ Ridlen, Marc │ Robilliard, Ian │ Svaldenis, Andrew │ Trimmingham, Leon │ Turner, Neil │ Uthoff, Dean │ Williams, Brad │ Womack, Wayne │ Young, Kenne.

1989 — The Foundation

League Rank: 6th │ Record: 15–9 │ Overall: 18–12
Coach: Bob Turner
Club MVP: Mark Ridlen
Key Players: Steve Carfino; Mark Ridlen; Damian Keogh; Tim Morrissey; and Ian Davies

The Kings’ second NBL season proved they were more than a marketing experiment. Behind dynamic stars Steve Carfino and Marc Ridlen, Sydney became an offensive force and playoff team. Their 15–9 record and crowd-pleasing style established the blueprint: fast tempo, high scoring, and fan connection.

Signature Win: A 100–92 road victory against defending NBL champions Canberra — the game that stamped the Kings as contenders.

Playoffs Run: Won elimination final against Melbourne 2–1 but lost in the semi-finals 1–2 to Canberra.

NBL Champions: North Melbourne Giants

1990 – Consolidation

League Rank: 6th │ Record: 16–10 │ Overall: 17–12
Coach: Bob Turner
Club MVP: Steve Carfino
Key Players: Marc Ridlen; Damian Keogh; Steve Carfino; Mark Dalton; and Tim Morrissey

Consistency defined 1990. The Kings again finished sixth with an elite home record and a balanced lineup. Ridlen, Keogh, and Carfino each averaged 20+ points — the only NBL team that year to boast three such scorers. Sydney solidified its identity as a must-see show.

• ‍Highlight: Nine home wins in 10 starts — the Sydney Entertainment Centre became the NBL’s loudest stage.‍
• Playoffs Run: Lost elimination finals 2-1 to Grand Finalists Brisbane Bullets.‍
• NBL Champions: Perth Wildcats

1991 – The McClain & McClary Era Begins

League Rank: 7th │ Record: 14–12
Coach: Bob Turner
Club MVP: Dwayne McClain
Key Players: Dwayne McClain; Ken McClary; Damian Keogh; Mark Dalton; and Tim Morrissey

The Kings pivoted toward athleticism, recruiting Dwayne “D-Train” McClain and Ken McClary, who transformed their offense into a high-flying spectacle. McClain averaged nearly 28 points per game and became a household name in Sydney. Despite the fireworks, defensive lapses cost the Kings a finals spot.

• ‍Legacy Moment: McClain’s charisma and showmanship made him Sydney’s first basketball superstar.‍
• Playoffs Run: Did not qualify‍
• NBL Champions: Perth Wildcats

1992 – Contenders at Last

League Rank: 2nd │ Record: 17–7 │ Overall: 20–9
Coach: Bob Turner
Club MVP: Dwayne McClain
Key Players: Dwayne McClain; Ken McClary; Dean Uthoff; Damian Keogh; and Mark Dalton

The Kings’ best season to date. Adding "Man Mountain" Dean Uthoff at centre completed the puzzle, and Sydney climbed to second on the ladder with +11.0 team rating. Their balanced attack — McClain (29.7 ppg), McClary (19.9 ppg), Uthoff (16.9 ppg) — made them genuine title threats.

• ‍Signature Win: 124–118 over Melbourne in a top-of-the-table clash before a packed Kingdome crowd.‍
• Playoffs Run: Won quarterfinals 2–0 against Brisbane but lost semi-finals 1–2 against Melbourne.‍
• NBL Champions: South East Melbourne Magic

1993 – The Fall

League Rank: 11th │ Record: 11–15
Coach: Bob Turner
Club MVP: Dwayne McClain
Key Players: Dwayne McClain; Greg Hubbard; Ken McClary; Damian Keogh; and Dean Uthoff

Injuries, roster churn, and fatigue hit hard. McClary’s absence for much of the season exposed the Kings’ depth, and a mid-season rebuild couldn’t salvage their rhythm. Despite McClain’s 25 points per game and Hubbard’s spark, Sydney slumped to 11th — their first double-digit loss season.

• ‍Signature Win: A road win in Townsville hinted at potential, but the Kings lacked defensive consistency to recover.
• Playoffs Run: Did not qualify‍
• NBL Champions: Melbourne Tigers

1994 – The Rebirth

League Rank: 7th │ Record: 16–10 │ Overall: 17–12
Coach: Bob Turner
Club MVP: Leon Trimmingham
Key Players: Leon Trimmingham; Mario Donaldson; Greg Hubbard; Damian Keogh; and Dean Uthoff

McClain left but Leon Trimmingham, whose aerial assaults and energy reignited Sydney’s swagger, arrived. Paired with Mario Donaldson and Greg Hubbard, the Kings rediscovered their offensive rhythm, returned to the playoffs, and reminded fans why basketball in Sydney mattered.

• ‍Defining Moment: A 131–109 demolition of North Melbourne — vintage Kingdome Showtime, reborn.‍
• Playoffs Run: Lost quarter-finals 2-1 to eventual champions North Melbourne‍
• NBL Champions: North Melbourne Giants

Sydney Entertainment Centre

• ‍Capacity: 13,250‍
• Opened: May 1, 1983‍
• Closed: December 20, 2015‍
• Address: 35 Harbour St; Sydney NSW 2000; Australia‍
• Architect: Edwards, Madigan, Torzillo and Briggs‍
• Construction cost: $42 million; (+$223 million in 2025)‍
• Demolished: January 2016

Where are they now

👑 Steve Carfino – 1.88m Guard: The Los Angeles-born now 63-year-old is the Head of Basketball at a prominent Sydney boys' school. He spent decades after his retirement as a NBL sideline and play-by-play commentator for Fox Sports and Network 10. He's still an NBL1 courtside announcer.

Morrissey's memory: "'Mr Magic'. Fantastic player. Super quick, great handles, could shoot and drive, charismatic personality – that smile could light up a stadium. Incredibly competitive. Unfortunately, he slipped on a courtside sign and hurt in his back. We never got to see the best of him, but even so, he averaged 20 points, five assists, and over two steals a game. He had that 'It' factor — like Robert Rose or Copeland – he sold the game."

• ‍Kings Games: 81 I Minutes: 3,393.2 (41.9 mpg) I Points: 1,683 (20.78 ppg) I Rebounds: 273 (3.37 rpg) I Assists: 413 (5.1 apg) I Steals: 205 (2.53 spg) I Blocks: 24 (0.30 bpg) I Turnovers: 238 (2.94 tpg) I FG: 645/1,358 – 47.5% I 3PT: 162/403 – 40.20% I FT: 231/288 – 80.21%

Single-game highs

• Points: 46 – Jul 1, 1989 @ Hobart (17-25 FG, 9-10 3PT, 3-4 FT)
• Assists: 12 – Mar 4, 1988 vs Eastside
• Rebounds: 9 – Mar 12, 1988 @ Newcastle
• Steals: 7 – Apr 27, 1990 vs Gold Coast
• 3PM: 9 – Jul 1, 1989 @ Hobart
• FGM: 17 – Jul 1, 1989 @ Hobart
• Minutes: 53:00 – Jul 1, 1988 vs Canberra

👑 Brad Dalton – 2.03m Centre: The Sydney-born now 66-year-old is a basketball coach at St Augustine's College in Sydney.

• ‍Kings Games: 86 │ Minutes: 2,465.0 (28.7 mpg) │ Points: 499 (5.8 ppg) │ Rebounds: 617 (7.17 rpg) │ Assists: 194 (2.26 apg) │ Steals: 84 (0.98 spg) │ Blocks: 82 (0.95 bpg) │ Turnovers: 142 (1.65 tpg) │ FG: 228/472 – 48.3% │ 3PT: 7/22 – 31.8% │ FT: 36/65 – 55.4%

Single-game highs

• Points: 19 – Apr 21, 1990 @ Canberra (W 126–100)
• Rebounds: 18 – May 12, 1990 vs Newcastle (W 109–79)
  • Offensive: 8 – Sep 22, 1989 @ Melbourne (L 89–112)
  • Defensive: 16 – May 12, 1990 vs Newcastle (W 109–79)
• Assists: 12 – three times (May 10, 1991 vs Adelaide; Jun 24, 1989 vs Illawarra; Jun 4, 1988 vs Perth)
• Steals: 4 – two times (May 4, 1991 @ Gold Coast; Jun 30, 1990 @ Adelaide)
• Blocks: 4 – three times (Sep 15, 1990 @ Eastside; May 12, 1990 vs Newcastle; Jun 4, 1988 vs Perth)
• Minutes: 50:03 – Jul 1, 1988 vs Canberra (L 89–92)

👑 Mark Dalton – 1.98m Forward: The Sydney-born big man is now 60-year-old. His son Callum plays for the Brisbane Bullets.

• ‍Kings Games: 179 I Minutes: 5,360.4 (29.9 mpg) I Points: 1,710 (9.55 ppg) I Rebounds: 1,113 (6.22 rpg) I Assists: 432 (2.41 apg) I Steals: 227 (1.27 spg) I Blocks: 145 (0.81 bpg) I Turnovers: 399 (2.23 tpg) I FG: 658/1,444 – 45.6% I 3PT: 73/236 – 30.93% I FT: 321/479 – 67.01%

Single-Game Highs

• Points: 25 – June 19, 1992 @ North Melbourne (8-13 FG, 2-3 3PT, 7-7 FT)
• Rebounds: 16 – May 10, 1991 vs Adelaide
• Assists: 10 – August 5, 1995 vs Perth
• Steals: 5 – August 2, 1991 @ Southern Melbourne
• Blocks: 6 – May 2, 1992 vs Gold Coast
• Minutes: 46:28 – August 3, 1991 @ Geelong

👑 Ian Davies – 1.98m Wing: The Tasmanian died aged 57 in Hobart on November 7, 2013. Davies owns the record for the most threes in a single NBL game with 13 in 1985. After he retired Davies spent time in Darwin, Northern Territory, playing for Waratahs in the Darwin Men's League, where he won a championship. In 2005, he was an assistant coach for the Adelaide 36ers.

Morrissey's memory: "We got him at the tail end of his career, but he could flat-out shoot. Before Steph Curry, you had guys like Ian who could pull up from five feet behind the three-point line. Injuries and motivation caught up with him later, but when he got hot, it was something special."

• ‍Kings Games: 63 │ Minutes: 1,654.6 (26.3 mpg) │ Points: 748 (11.87 ppg) │ Rebounds: 139 (2.21 rpg) │ Assists: 68 (1.08 apg) │ Steals: 35 (0.56 spg) │ Blocks: 13 (0.21 bpg) │ Turnovers: 85 (1.35 tpg) │ FG: 292/718 – 40.7% │ 3PT: 169/436 – 38.8% │ FT: 13/22 – 59.1%

Single-Game Highs

• Points: 32 – April 30 1988 vs North Melbourne (12-25 FG | 8-17 3PT)
• Rebounds: 6 – April 16 1988 vs Hobart (10-17 FG | 8-14 3PT)
• Assists: 4 – June 24 1988 vs Westside Melbourne and April 6 1990 vs North Melbourne
• Steals: 3 – February 27 1988 @ Perth
• Blocks: 1 – several games (1988 vs Melbourne, 1989 vs Adelaide, 1990 vs Melbourne)
• 3-Point Made: 8 – twice (April 30 1988 vs North Melbourne and April 16 1988 vs Hobart)
• Minutes: 44:56 – April 30 1988 vs North Melbourne

👑 ‍Tony De Ambrosis – 1.96m Forward: The Sydney-born 55-year-old is Director, Commissioning at the Gold Coast Primary Health Network.

• Kings Games: 77 │ Minutes: 910.4 (11.8 mpg) │ Points: 423 (5.49 ppg) │ Rebounds: 221 (2.87 rpg) │ Assists: 32 (0.42 apg) │ Steals: 31 (0.40 spg) │ Blocks: 15 (0.19 bpg) │ Turnovers: 76 (0.99 tpg) │ FG: 178/366 – 48.63% │ 3PT: 1/6 – 16.67% │ FT: 66/123 – 53.66%

Single-Game Highs

• Points: 20 – vs NEW (Jun 13, 1992)
• Rebounds: 11 – vs ILL (Jul 11, 1992)
• Assists: 4 – vs SEMM (May 9, 1993)
• Steals: 3 – vs BRI (May 15, 1993)
• Blocks: 3 – vs HOB (Aug 22, 1992)
• 3PM: 1 – vs ADE (May 21, 1993)
• Minutes: 28:25 – vs TSV (Sep 18, 1993)

👑 Mario Donaldson 2m Wing: 57-year-old American Mario Donaldson has returned to his home state of Illinois and is a Correctional Officer in Winnebago County.

• Kings Games: 29 │ Minutes: 1255:15 (43.3 mpg) │ Points: 640 (22.1 ppg) │ Rebounds: 151 (5.2 rpg) │ Assists: 111 (3.8 apg) │ Steals: 52 (1.8 spg) │ Blocks: 18 (0.6 bpg) │ FG: 257-516 (49.8%) │ 3PT: 50-107 (46.7%) │ FT: 76-96 (79.2%) │ Turnovers: 116 (4.0 tpg) │ Fouls: 87

Single-Game Highs

• Points: 41 – Apr 23, 1994 vs MEL
• Rebounds: 10 – Apr 23, 1994 vs MEL
• Assists: 8 – Apr 23, 1994 vs MEL (also Apr 9, 1994 vs SEMM)
• Steals: 7 – Sep 2, 1994 @ NM
• Blocks: 3 – Sep 30, 1994 @ NM
• 3PM: 6 – Jul 16, 1994 @ GCR
• Minutes: 48:00 – multiple (e.g., Jun 25, 1994 vs BRI; May 20, 1994 vs CAN; Jul 22, 1994 @ GEE; Sep 3, 1994 @ CAN)

👑 Peter Hill – 1.93m Wing: The 57-year-old is a Newcastle-born guard.

• ‍Kings Games: 55 │ Minutes: 1,131 (20.6 mpg) │ Points: 456 (8.3 ppg) │ Rebounds: 120 (2.2 rpg) │ Assists: 73 (1.3 apg) │ Steals: 33 (0.6 spg) │ Blocks: 5 (0.1 bpg) │ FG: 151-354 (42.7%) │ 3PT: 81-201 (40.3%) │ FT: 73-95 (76.8%)

Single-Game Highs

• Points: 27 – at GEE on Aug 3, 1991 (Round 17)
• Rebounds: 6 – vs GEE on Apr 11, 1992 (Round 2)
• Assists: 6 – vs ILL on Sep 21, 1991 (Round 24)
• Steals: 3 – at GEE on Aug 3, 1991 (Round 17)
• Blocks: 1 – at GCR on Sep 25, 1992 (Round 22)
• 3PM: 5 – at BRI on Aug 31, 1991 (Round 21)
• Minutes: 34:56 – at CAN on Sep 6, 1991 (Round 22)

👑 Greg Hubbard – 1.86m Guard: The 59-year-old is a Wagga Wagga-born guard.

Morrissey's memory: "'Hubs' was a character. Played hard. Great competitor, worked his guts out. Underrated Boomer."

• ‍Kings Games: 79 │ Minutes: 2916:30 (36.9 mpg) │ Points: 1238 (15.7 ppg) │ Rebounds: 218 (2.8 rpg) │ Assists: 228 (2.9 apg) │ Steals: 149 (1.9 spg) │ Blocks: 5 (0.1 bpg) │ FG: 455-1098 – 41.4% │ 3PT: 182-506 – 36.0% │ FT: 146-179 – 81.6%

Single-Game Highs

• Points: 37 vs Hobart – June 11, 1994
• Rebounds: 9 vs Hobart – September 1, 1995
• Assists: 9 vs Melbourne – April 23, 1994
• Steals: 7 vs Newcastle – June 25, 1994
• Blocks: 1 (multiple occasions)
• 3PM: 8 vs Newcastle – September 26, 1994
• Minutes: 48:00 vs Hobart – July 9, 1993

👑 Damian Keogh – 1.94m Guard: The 63-year-old Melbourne-born guard is President & CEO of The Hoyts Group.

Morrissey's memory: "'Three-0 Keogh'. Amazing player — longevity, work ethic, leadership. Went to multiple Olympics. Hardest worker I’ve ever met. Smart, disciplined, great defender, great leader."

• ‍Kings Games: 215 │ Minutes: 8,469 (39.4 mpg) │ Points: 3,248 (15.1 ppg) │ Rebounds: 876 (4.1 rpg) │ Assists: 1,572 (7.3 apg) │ Steals: 432 (2.0 spg) │ Blocks: 21 (0.1 bpg) │ 3PM: 649 (3.0 per game) │ Shooting: 43.0% FG │ 38.7% 3P │ 79.8% FT

Single-Game Highs

• Points: 41 @ PER (May 9, 1995 – Round 3)
• Rebounds: 10 vs HOB (May 19, 1989 – Round 5)
• Assists: 14 @ WES (May 18, 1990 – Round 8)
• Steals: 7 vs EAS (June 9, 1990 – Round 11)
• Blocks: 1 @ NM (Sep 2, 1994 – Round 19)
• 3PM: 8 @ MEL (Sep 2, 1990 – Round 20)
• Minutes: 50:10 vs HOB (Sep 8, 1990 – Round 21)

‍👑 Dwayne McClain – 1.98m Guard: The 62-year-old American, who a NCAA National Championship with Villanova in 1985, is the Chief Executive Officer at McClain's Mergers & Acquisitions in Florida.

• ‍Kings Games: 73 │ Minutes: 3,203 (43.9 mpg) │ Points: 2,286 (31.3 ppg) │ Rebounds: 468 (6.4 rpg) │ Assists: 316 (4.3 apg) │ Steals: 119 (1.6 spg) │ Blocks: 29 (0.4 bpg) │ FG: 864-1,583 – 54.6% │ 3PT: 18-50 – 36.0% │ FT: 540-706 – 76.5%

Single-Game Highs

• Points: 48 – @ Illawarra (July 18, 1992 – Round 15)
• Rebounds: 16 – @ Illawarra (September 7, 1991 – Round 22)
• Assists: 13 – vs Gold Coast (April 24, 1993 – Round 2)
• Steals: 7 – vs Hobart (September 13, 1991 – Round 23)
• Blocks: 4 – vs South East Melbourne (August 10, 1991 – Round 18)
• 3PM: 3 – vs Melbourne (October 18, 1992 – SF3)
• Minutes: 49:06 – @ Newcastle (June 19, 1992 – Round 12)

👑 Ken McClary 2.03m Forward: The 59-year-old American is in sports management in Los Angeles, California. He is the step-father of retired NBA champion Trevor Ariza.

• ‍Kings Games: 70 │ Minutes: 2,712 (38.7 mpg) │ Points: 1,561 (22.3 ppg) │ Rebounds: 853 (12.2 rpg) │ Assists: 153 (2.2 apg) │ Steals: 86 (1.2 spg) │ Blocks: 63 (0.9 bpg) │ FG: 673-1,234 (54.5%) │ 3PT: 2-8 (25.0%) │ FT: 213-406 (52.5%) │ Double-Doubles: 48 │ Triple-Doubles: 0

Single-Game Highs

• Points: 42 – vs Geelong (July 24, 1993 – Round 14)
• Rebounds: 24 – @ South East Melbourne (July 3, 1993 – Round 12)
• Assists: 7 – @ Hobart (April 26, 1991 – Round 4)
• Steals: 5 – vs Hobart (August 7, 1993 – Round 16)
• Blocks: 4 – vs Melbourne (August 15, 1991 – Round 15)
• 3PM: 1 – vs Newcastle (June 5, 1993 – Round 8)
• Minutes: 48:25 – @ Newcastle (June 19, 1992 – Round 12)

‍👑 Tim Morrissey – 1.95m Forward: The 61-year-old Wollongong-born forward is a highly-respected sports media executive and journalist at News Corp Australia. After he retired he became a sports reporter at Sydney's Daily Telegraph.

Morrissey's memory: "(Laughs) Just a battler from Wollongong. I just played hard. Early on with the Hawks, I didn’t really know what was going on – it was just fun to be there. The NBL was only in its third year then. My athleticism was my main strength. I could run all day, play above my height, defend hard. That’s what kept me in the league – just doing whatever the team needed. I wasn’t the most talented, but I worked. I got to play for the Boomers, go to a World Cup – achieved more than I ever dreamed of."

• ‍Kings Games: 191 │ Minutes: 5,023:38 (26.3 mpg) │ Points: 1,704 (8.9 ppg) │ Rebounds: 616 (3.2 rpg) │ Assists: 138 (0.7 apg) │ Steals: 76 (0.4 spg) │ Blocks: 26 (0.1 bpg) │ Shooting: 735–1,500 FG (49.0%) │ 4–24 3PT (16.7%) │ 230–342 FT (67.3%)

Single-Game Highs

• Points: 27 – @ ILL – Sep 7, 1991 (Round 22, W 125–106)
• Rebounds: 14 – vs CAN – Sep 29, 1989 (SF1, L 98–108)
• Assists: 6 – vs GEE – Apr 11, 1992 (Round 2, W 126–116)
• Steals: 3 – vs TSV – Jun 26, 1993 (Round 11, W 104–96)
• Blocks: 2 – vs GEE – Jul 24, 1993 (Round 14, L 92–95)
• 3PM: 1 – @ GEE – Aug 3, 1991 (Round 17, L 117–126)
• Minutes: 46 – @ NEW – Sep 9, 1989 (Round 21, L 97–102)

👑 Marc Ridlen – 2.06m Power Forward: The American-born forward forward is now the owner of Ridlen Enterprises in North Sydney.

Morrissey's memory: "'Big Money'. That was his nickname — he always wanted to be the highest-paid player in the league. Really solid import, one of the foundation Kings. Great scorer, great teammate."

• Kings Games: 83 │ Minutes: 3,134 (37.8 mpg) │ Points: 1,886 (22.7 ppg) │ Rebounds: 1,036 (12.5 rpg) │ Assists: 80 (1.0 apg) │ Steals: 64 (0.8 spg) │ Blocks: 39 (0.5 bpg) │ FG: 782-1,423 (55.0%) │ 3PT: 13-47 (27.7%) │ FT: 309-400 (77.3%)

Single-Game Highs

• Points: 38 (@ WES – June 18, 1988)
• Rebounds: 30 (vs NEW – March 26, 1988)
• Assists: 8 (vs GEE – July 28, 1989)
• Steals: 5 (vs PER – June 16, 1990)
• Blocks: 4 (@ MEL – September 24, 1989)
• 3PM: 3 (@ GEE – May 21, 1988)
• Minutes: 48:00 (@ CAN – August 4, 1989)

👑 Ian Robilliard – 1.95m Guard: The 64-year-old is the Commercial Director at Regional Academies of Sport on the Central Coast in NSW.

• ‍Kings Games: 85 │ Minutes: 1,492 (17.6 mpg) │ Points: 452 (5.3 ppg) │ Rebounds: 201 (2.4 rpg) │ Assists: 173 (2.0 apg) │ Steals: 80 (0.9 spg) │ Blocks: 18 (0.2 bpg) │ FG: 176-385 (45.7%) │ 3PT: 3-28 (10.7%) │ FT: 97-139 (69.8%)

Single-Game Highs

• Points: 18 – vs Illawarra – July 27, 1990
• Rebounds: 9 – @ Melbourne – April 28, 1991
• Assists: 8 – vs Perth – June 16, 1990
• Steals: 5 – vs Newcastle – May 12, 1990
• Blocks: 1 – multiple games (first: @ Hobart – April 26, 1991)
• 3PM: 1 – @ Perth – June 29, 1990
• Minutes: 41:40 – vs Illawarra – July 27, 1990

👑 Andrew Svaldenis – 2.05m Centre: The Lithuanian-born 60-year-old is a now a basketball coach.

Kings Games: 93 │ Minutes: 1,102 (11.9 mpg) │ Points: 195 (2.1 ppg) │ Rebounds: 157 (1.7 rpg) │ Assists: 309 (3.3 apg) │ Steals: 41 (0.4 spg) │ Blocks: 39 (0.4 bpg) │ FG: 100-210 (47.6%) │ 3PT: 0-0 (–) │ FT: 43-70 (61.4%)

Single-Game Highs

• ‍Points: 5 – vs Illawarra – September 21, 1991‍
• Rebounds: 6 – vs Westside Melbourne – August 19, 1989‍
• Assists: 13 – vs Eastside Melbourne – March 4, 1988‍
• Steals: 5 – vs Brisbane – May 27, 1988‍
• Blocks: 4 – @ Eastside Melbourne – August 5, 1989‍
• 3PM: 0 – none recorded‍
• Minutes: 34:20 – vs Eastside Melbourne – March 4, 1988

👑 Leon Trimmingham – 2.04m Forward: The 54-year-old American is a coordinator, coach and mentor in Houston, Texas. He has been a National Basketball Director with Athletes Without Limits since 2014.

Kings Games: 53 │ Minutes: 2,076 (39.2 mpg) │ Points: 1,710 (32.3 ppg) │ Rebounds: 693 (13.1 rpg) │ Assists: 98 (1.8 apg) │ Steals: 111 (2.1 spg) │ Blocks: 120 (2.3 bpg) │ FG: 662-1,037 (63.8%) │ 3PT: 3-13 (23.1%) │ FT: 383-527 (72.7%)

Single-Game Highs

• ‍Points: 43 – vs Newcastle – June 18, 1994‍
• Rebounds: 19 – @ Hobart – September 2, 1995‍
• Assists: 5 – multiple games (first: @ Adelaide – June 2, 1995)‍
• Steals: 5 – multiple games (first: vs South East Melbourne – April 22, 1995)‍
• Blocks: 6 – vs Perth – August 5, 1995‍
• 3PM: 1 – multiple games (first: vs South East Melbourne – April 22, 1995)‍
• Minutes: 48:40 – vs Perth – August 5, 1995

👑 Dean Uthoff – 2.08m Centre: The 67-year-old American worked in the Sydney Kings front office after he retired before coming a teacher.

Morrissey's memory: "'Man Mountain'. Great guy. Despite his size and serious face, he was a soft-hearted bloke. He’d set brutal screens, then pick you up off the floor and apologise. He was massive – 6'10", about 120 kilos, shoulders like a truck. Played his role perfectly: rebounded, blocked shots, defended. If he’d been a little more athletic and offensive-minded, he could’ve been in the NBA."

• ‍Kings Games: 107 │ Minutes: 2,819 (26.4 mpg) │ Points: 727 (6.8 ppg) │ Rebounds: 1,091 (10.2 rpg) │ Assists: 115 (1.1 apg) │ Steals: 67 (0.6 spg) │ Blocks: 26 (0.2 bpg) │ FG: 452-726 (62.3%) │ 3PT: 1-1 (100.0%) │ FT: 150-303 (49.5%)

Single-Game Highs

• Points: 31 – vs MEL – September 12, 1992
• Rebounds: 24 – vs MEL – July 31, 1993
• Assists: 6 – vs NM – August 29, 1992
• Steals: 4 – vs NM – September 4, 1993
• Blocks: 2 – vs NEW – September 16, 1994
• 3PM: 1 – vs HOB – September 19, 1992
• Minutes: 45:20 – vs NM – August 29, 1992

Morrissey was reflective about those five seasons between 1989 and 1994 where the Kings outgrew the State Sport Centre at Homebush and moved right into the heart of the Sydney CBD.

"On the floor, yeah, probably (we underachieved)," he said.

"We had a team capable of winning a championship. But the league was so tough back then. The talent was incredible — the Tigers, Magic, Perth — every night was a challenge.

"We made semi-finals in ’89, lost to Canberra in three games, lost to the Bullets in 1990, the Giants in ’94 when they went on to win it with D-Mac in his prime.

"So, yeah — we probably underachieved because we never won a title, but we were always in the mix.

"Off the court, though, we overachieved. We created a brand through sheer hard work — Mike Wroblewski, Lorraine Landon, Bob Turner — they built something huge.

"Selling out the Entertainment Centre was unheard of back then. It set the bar for what basketball could achieve in Australia.

"Other sports took notice. That foundation we built is the reason the Kings brand still has weight today. Without that early 90s groundwork, the club probably wouldn’t have been able to resurrect itself 20 years later.

"Mike Wroblewski once said, 'What’s the point of winning a championship if no one knows who you are?' I think that sums it up.

"We didn’t win on the court, but we definitely won off it."

About the Author

Peter Brown is the head coach of the Sydney Comets Women’s Youth League team in the Waratah Basketball League in NSW. He is also the assistant coach for the Comets NBL1 women’s team in the NBL East Conference. Peter is a 30-year journalist, starting as a sports reporter at the NT News in the early 1990s. He played junior basketball for the Northern Territory at national championships from U16 to U20 and for the Territory’s senior men’s team at numerous international tournaments. Peter has been a basketball fan since the early 80s, especially the NBA. Basketball is his passion — and his opinions his own. Email peter.brown@basketball.com.au with feedback. Any email feedback on articles sent to Peter can be published on basketball.com.au for others to read.