'Craig, Torrey Craig': Title X-Factor clamps Cotton

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Torrey Craig is 6'5" (1.96m), 100kg, hard as rock and the X-Factor in Sydney Kings' pursuit of the NBL26 championship.

Craig, 35, drew the assigned on the league's leading scorer (25.7 PPG) and MVP-in-waiting Bryce Cotton and not only shut him down but went to work himself as the Kings delivered a statement 106-101 to the ladder leading Adelaide 36ers in Round 18 of NBL26 on Sunday, January 25, 2026 in Sydney.

Craig, who played 538 games in the in the NBA in eight seasons, played just his second game after signing with the Kings as an injury replacement for Bul Kuol.

He was the best player on the floor for the now 18-9 Kings, finishing with 26 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and zero turnovers in 27 minutes.

Cotton, 33, finished with 17 points (a majority in a late flourish including a three at the final buzzer), nine assists, two rebounds, two steals but five turnovers.

"Picking up Torrey Craig adds a whole new dimension (to the Sydney Kings)," NBL colour commentator Andrew Gaze said during the broadcast.

basketball.com.au host Jason Cadee said the 6'5" forward said Craig was a significant addition for the Kings and the league.

"It's a massive addition, the reason it's massive is Torrey knows Australia, he knows the NBL, and he's a great guy," Cadee said.

"He's going to fit in seamlessly. Kudos to Sydney, it's a big signing and I think he'll help them."

Craig built an eight-season NBA career as a defense-first wing. Undrafted in 2017–18, after winning the 2017 NBL Defensive Player of the Year, he appeared in 458 NBA regular season games and 80 playoff games for six teams, earning minutes through on-ball defense, positional versatility, rebounding, and reliable spot-up shooting.

His most effective stretch came with the Suns, where increased responsibility, rebounding impact, and efficient three-point shooting reinforced his value as a low-usage, high-trust wing defender.

Torrey Craig NBA Regular Season Snapshot

• 19.5 minutes per game
• 5.9 points │ 3.9 rebounds │ 1.0 assists
• 45.2% FG │ 35.4% from three
• Career .545 eFG%, reflecting efficient, low-usage offence

Former MVP Xavier Cooks returned for the Kings while Matthew Dellavedova is still out with a concussion.

The 36ers dropped their third game in four but still sit atop the NBL26 ladder at 20-7.

Key Details

• Result: Sydney Kings 106 def. Adelaide 36ers 101
• When: 25th of January 2026
• Where: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
• Attendance: 16,846
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Torrey Craig (Sydney Kings) starred with 26 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 27 minutes.
• John Jenkins (Adelaide 36ers) scored 20 points, had six rebounds, five assists, and one steal in 34 minutes.

What Happened

Sydney Kings set the tone early, jumping to a two-point lead after the first quarter. The momentum swung decisively in the second period, as the Kings exploded for thirty-seven points, establishing a thirteen-point buffer at the half. Torrey Craig was instrumental, tallying 16 first-half points and igniting the home crowd with a pair of triples during a ten-point Kings run midway through the second quarter.

The third quarter saw both teams trade baskets, with Adelaide’s Dejan Vasiljevic keeping the 36ers within striking distance by connecting on two deep threes, trimming the deficit to single digits at one stage. However, timely buckets from Jaylin Galloway and timely dimes from Kendric Davis ensured Sydney maintained their edge, entering the final period up by twelve.

Adelaide mounted a furious rally in the fourth, outscoring Sydney thirty-one to 22. John Jenkins and Isaac Humphries combined for fourteen points in the quarter, and a clutch three-pointer from Jenkins at the 1:10 mark sliced the Kings’ lead to just three. However, a composed finish at the charity stripe from Craig and Davis sealed the win for Sydney, despite Adelaide’s aggressive pressing in the closing seconds.

Torrey Craig was outstanding for the Kings, shooting 9-from-15 from the field (60%) and 6-from-8 from outside the arc, demonstrating elite efficiency and ability under pressure. Kendric Davis orchestrated the offence masterfully, delivering a stellar double-double with twenty points and a remarkable 14 assists, while Jaylin Galloway added 16 points and eight boards, cleaning the glass and providing crucial stops.

For Adelaide, John Jenkins was their offensive spark, going 7-from-14 from the field and 5-from-11 from deep. Isaac Humphries delivered an exceptional all-round effort with 17 points and 10 rebounds, including a perfect 5-from-5 from the foul line and a key swat in the third quarter. Flynn Cameron contributed across the board with 14 points, seven assists, and four boards, but the 36ers’ thirteen turnovers, including five in the final quarter, proved costly.

Sydney’s offensive execution was the difference. The Kings shot a solid 48.7% from the field and 38.9% from beyond the arc, while Adelaide connected on a robust 49.3% overall and an impressive 50% from deep (seventeen triples). The Kings also dominated the boards, out-rebounding the 36ers 40 to 38, and capitalised on their second-chance opportunities. Both teams shared the ball well, tallying 28 assists apiece, but Sydney’s ability to control the ball (just six turnovers) compared to Adelaide’s 13 made the decisive difference.

With this win, Sydney Kings solidify their place in the NBL’s upper echelon, while Adelaide’s loss leaves them searching for consistency as the playoff race intensifies.