Torrey Craig reveals what everyone gets wrong about KD

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NBA veteran Torrey Craig ($290,400) knows what it's like to live in a bubble, both literally and figuratively, and he's wrapped his arms around Sydney Kings NBL26 Grand Final MVP teammate Kendric Davis ($436,000) as though he's his little brother.

"Me and KD, I don't think there's anybody talk to KD as much since I've been here," Craig told retired NBL veteran Jason Cadee in an exclusive interview on Cut to the Jase.

"Even during off season, like, me and KD talk a lot. We talk on the phone, we go to dinners, we hang out.

"I look at him and sometimes, man, I'm not gonna lie, bro, I feel for him because he has his villain role, and it's like he accepts it, but it's like he's so misunderstood, bro, and he never gets the benefit of the doubt.

"Anything he says, anything he does, I think it is taken out of context because no one really takes the time to understand what he means or how he's saying it. Just comes off like how it is, and people just run with it.

"For example, the tweet after the Adelaide game with Bryce (Cotton), when he's like, 'I don't like dude, he whatever'. But if you understand what had happened in the game... and he didn't explain it, he just kind of tweeted, and nobody really understood. But what he meant was he don't have a problem with Bryce talking or saying stuff about him.

"I think what rubbed him the wrong way was Bryce waited till the game was over with 20 seconds left and then said something, and it kind of like, 'Nah, don't say nothing now'. Like, 'Say it to me in the first quarter, second quarter, third quarter', cause KD wants that back-and-forth stuff.

"When Bryce did that, and he kind of reacted, then after, KD felt like everybody was coming at him. But no, Bryce said something first, but y'all don't know that, and it just kind of got misconstrued.

"But I think it's a lot of respect between Bryce and KD. I think KD respect them so much that that fiery competition comes out when they play each other, and you don't do that if you don't respect somebody and what they've done in the league.

"I just don't feel like KD gets a fair shake sometimes, and he do a lot of good, but it never gets put out how the negative stuff do. For example, he wins his Foot Locker player games or whatever; he gives them to the young players on the team. He does good stuff, but people just don't know that, and they just look at him as a villain.

"I think that everybody really should embrace him because we don't know how long he can be in this league. He could be gone next year."

Craig, 35, played 538 games in the NBA, including in the NBA's COVID Bubble in 2020 for the Denver Nuggets. He joined the Kings as an injury replacement player for Bul Kuol ($156,100) in January 2026 and made an immediate impact.

"You gotta know what it takes to win, right?" Craig said.

"And I've been fortunate enough to be on good teams... and what I've learned and what I've adopted over that time is what it takes to win, what's required to win.

"You're talking to a guy that's then made my career. I'm able to take care of my family for the rest of my life off of accepting roles, of, like I said, of being unselfish and sacrificing and playing for your teammates.

"I think I could average 25 in this league if I wanted to, but I don't think that's best for the team.

"Coming into the situation, I knew it was Kendric's team. I knew he was the man, so I wasn't gonna come here with no ego trying to outscore him or whatever.

"I was able to practice with him and watch film on him, and I was able to see what they were lacking and what my skill set could bring: defensive, scoring ability when I needed to, shooting, leadership, all those things.

"I can come in any team, any situation, kind of figure out what they need and how I can fit in.

"To me that's one of my superpowers, and I've been doing that my whole career, and it was no different when I got to Sydney. Once I saw the guys that were the shooters, playmakers, rebounders, (I was) like, 'Oh, I can fit in pretty easy here', and I did.

"It's so many imports that come from America that come to leagues, and they think they too cool, they think they better than everybody else, and they think these guys not good enough cause they're not from America. KD don't do that. KD come in, he works hard, he embraces the competition, he embraces the league, he embraces the fans, he embraces everything, and I don't think that's appreciated enough.

"At the end of the day, he's a competitor. He works out hard, he does all the behind-the-scenes work, so that's why I respect him so much, and that's why I'm a ride for him and have his back as long as I'm here with him."

Craig is averaging an NBL career-high 18 points (49.6%), 6.9 rebounds, and an assist for the 7-3 defending champions.

"I think we're trending in the right direction," he said.

"Coming in this season, nobody knew what to expect, but the players here, we knew we had a really good chance to be good and have a chance to repeat. It all depends on how fast we caught our young guys up to speed.

"In the preseason, you see all the stuff; nobody gives you a chance... kind of feel disrespected a little bit because the core group is still here. But I feel like any team with Delly X, KD, Muach, I'm giving them a chance no matter what. It don't matter who's around them.

"You add guys like myself and some of the young guys and Tyler Robertson and Spurs, like, I think we got a team to repeat. But this is competitive league, man, competitive as ever been. Any night you could lose to anybody, you can beat anybody."