Story by: Gail Nobles
Podcast Cover by: Gail Nobles
AI Announcement: The Redemption Rivalry Story
In the 2025-26 NBL finals, there was more than just basketball on the court. A personal beef between two star guards helped fuel one of the most intense championship series in years.
Gail N: Yes and Kendric Davis had a very ugly split with the Adelaide 36ers before he joined the Sydney Kings. He claimed the club ghosted him during contract talks, then tried to rush him into signing at the last minute. Davis said he felt disrespected after giving his all for Adelaide. The split got messy and very public.
Then came the regular season MVP vote. Bryce Cotton of the 36ers won it for the sixth time with 96 votes. Davis finished a very close second with 94 votes. Many saw that as extra fuel for the fire.
Fast forward to the grand final. The two stars went head-to-head in a best-of-five series. In the deciding Game 5, Cotton dropped 35 points trying to win the title for Adelaide. But Davis answered with 35 points and 14 assists of his own. He led the Kings to victory in overtime and was named Finals MVP.
Davis basically showed everyone, “It’s my time now.” This was not just a team battle — it was a personal redemption story that made the whole series feel extra personal.
Brian Goorjian: The Undisputed GOAT Coach
While most people are talking about the Sydney Kings winning the title, few are giving enough credit to the man behind it all — coach Brian Goorjian.
Goorjian has now won seven NBL championships and seven Coach of the Year awards. Both numbers are records that no one else has come close to touching. He is simply the most successful coach in league history.
This season looked tough at the start. The Kings, a big “glamour” team, were struggling and had lost their way. Goorjian took over, faced early injuries and a slow beginning, but he turned things around. He helped engineer a 14-game winning streak that changed the whole season. In the end, he delivered a championship in his return year with the Kings.
This seventh title feels special. Goorjian has said he turned the team’s “darkest despair” into seventh heaven. In the locker room after the final win, his emotional speech showed just how much it meant after all the tough times.
Many are now calling him the Phil Jackson of Australian basketball — a coach whose longevity, winning record, and ability to build champions make him untouchable. At this point, Brian Goorjian has cemented his place as the undisputed greatest coach the NBL has ever seen.
I’m Gail Nobles. Thank you for listening to Trot Sports.