If there’s one thing that the Sydney Kings is known for, it is a vast array of imports. Some have lasted for seasons, some have only lasted for seconds. Some have had NBA skills and some have lied about their skills.
Here’s a look at the Imports who have escaped the revolving door and have left a strong memory in the hearts of Kings fans.
Starters:
Dean Uthoff – C
In a franchise of storied personalities, none compare to Dean ‘The Man Mountain’ Uthoff. Big Deano is a fan favourite both on and off the court.
Currently he’s in charge of the Kings ‘best dressed fan’ halftime entertainment. Uthoff may, however, be more notably known for being on the receiving end of this University of Missouri prank back in his college days:
“Iowa State center Dean Uthoff’s was the center of another Antler prank when they obtained the phone number at his dorm in Ames and called him. They posed as huge fans and wanted to show their appreciation by ordering him a pizza, and they told him and it should be downstairs in his lobby in a half hour. Uthoff fell for the scam and waited nearly an hour for the pizza. The Antlers later called again to ask how the pizza tasted. Two days later when Iowa State visited Mizzou, all of the Antlers were waving empty pizza boxes at him when he ran onto the court.”
Leon Trimmingham – F
‘Neon’ Leon Trimmingham light up the City of Sydney with more ferocity than the New Years Eve Fireworks. It’s no surprise that his two seasons with the Kings were arguably the team’s most well remembered.
Trimmingham was untouchable on the court and has a mixtape of highlights that would make Dominique Wilkins blush. He wasn’t just all scoring, Trimmingham also averaged 2.2 blocks per game throughout his Kings career.
Chris Williams – F
The minute Williams arrived on the scene, The Sydney Kings were automatic title contenders. The 2003 NBL MVP was the most important piece in the puzzle that brought the NBL Title to the Harbour City for the first time. It was a shame that we could only see him in the Purple and Gold for one season.
Dwayne McCain – G
Averaged just a touch under 28ppg in his 3 season Kings career including averaging 35ppg in the 1992 Playoffs. ‘Dunking’ Dwayne McClain was named to the 1992 All NBL Team and played an exciting up tempo and dunk ridden brand of basketball. A true NBL Legend.
Steve Carfino – G
Steve ‘Mr Magic’ Carfino’s dad once told him “You won’t make the papers passing the ball”. Lucky he didn’t listen to him!
Carfino could read the court as well as anyone to play in the NBL. Carfino averaged 20 points and 5 assists per game throughout his tenure in Sydney and is still heavily involved in the Kings. Whether or not he’s working as a commentator for One, you’ll always find him at the Kingdome supporting the team he helped build with his gripping on court performances.
Bench:
Bruce Bolden
Bruce Bolden was an NBL legend. If it wasn’t for my love for Dean Uthoff and the fact that he defected to the West Sydney Razorbacks, he’d probably be in the starting lineup. Bolden came to the Kings in 1995 to fill the void left by Mario Donaldson (who unfortunately didn’t make this list) and came to a team stacked with big men.
Playing along side Mark Dalton and Uthoff, Bolden stood out and became Sydney’s most important player in the paint.
James Smith
James ‘Showtime’ Smith’s name will forever be remembered as the King who brought life to the dull setting of the Sydney Superdome. He was the reason Kings fans ventured to the doldrums of Homebush.
Smith was an elite scorer who at times didn’t fit in playing alongside Shane Heal, Matt Nielsen, Ben Melmeth and Frank Drmic. Despite this, Smith’s had undoubtable talent. The highlight of his time in Sydney has to be his towering dunk over Mark Bradtke that lifted everyone in the Superdome off their feat.
There hasn’t been too many people that have had the ability to make one of the leagues best centres into a poster.
Dontaye Draper
Partyboy Dontaye Draper was as well known on the basketball court as he was in the Sydney nightclub scene. Carmelo Anthony’s best mate Draper impressed from day one in Sydney. In his only season with the Kings, Draper won the NBL 6th Man award, was named to the All-NBL 3rd Team, steered the second unit to the NBL Grand Final and finished up second in voting behind Nathan Jawai for NBL Rookie of the Year.
He’s still lighting up the hardwood in Europe. Draper recently took up Croatian citizenship and is now the Croatian National Team’s go-to-guy. I’m sure his name is as well known in the nightclubs of Havar as it once was in Sydney.
Isaac Burton
Isaac ‘Ice’ Burton came to the Kings in 1996 to replace Trimmingham. And what a replacement he turned out to be! The ‘black Coca-Cola’ Kings jersey of the late 1990s would forever be remembered with his time in Sydney.
With the Kings picking up both Burton and Heal in the offseason, they were automatically instilled as contenders. Heal left the season after this to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Burton wasn’t far behind him, he had to head back to the United Statesafter the 1997 season after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit sports bribery from a 1994 Arizona State point-shaving scandal.
After his punishment finished, Burton would return to Sydney for eight games of redemption in 2002, linking up with his old running partner Heal.
Kavossy Franklin
Kavossy Franklin was a highly entertaining guard. Along with Williams, Franklin was one of the key figures in the 2003 Championship team. He may have only lasted one year with the Kings, but his ‘big game’ mentality and composure in clutch situations were vital in this successful year.
Mark Ridlen
Ridlen was larger than life and and the Kings first ever starting Centre. The big man once bagged 30 rebounds in a game and averaged a monster 25.4 ppg and 13.5rpg throughout the Kings inaugural campaign in 1988.
Melvin Thomas
An NBL journeyman who thankfully found the time to play a couple of seasons in the Harbour City. It would be hard to find a better passing bigman to ever play in the NBL. Thomas actually ties the record with Shane Heal for the most assists in a game for the Kings (16).
Coach: Bob Turner
With all the showtime in this roster… Who better to have than the coach that brought showtime to Sydney!
Honourable mentions: Mario Donaldson, Ebi Ere, Rolan Roberts, Chris Carrawell, Mark Sanford. (Dis)honourable mentions: Acie Earl, Steven Jackson, Kenne Young, Kenny Payne, Drew Barry, Dave Simmons.
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