Sydney Kings Clinch Minor Premiership: Goorjian’s Men Demolish Bullets in Historic Run
Spores Desk /Posted 21 February,2026
SYDNEY — The Sydney Kings have officially been crowned the 2025-26 NBL Regular Season Champions, securing the top seed with a clinical 117–77 demolition of the Brisbane Bullets.
The victory marks an incredible 11th straight win for the Kings, completing a mid-season turnaround that has seen them go from a shaky 3–5 start to a dominant 24–9 finish.
Davis Makes MVP Statement
While the team celebrated the minor premiership, point guard Kendric Davis used the regular-season finale to deliver a final, deafening argument for the MVP trophy. Davis was unstoppable, racking up 31 points in just three quarters of action.
His rhythm was evident from the jump, shooting a perfect five-of-five in the opening period. By halftime, he had 27 points, marking his 10th consecutive game surpassing the 20-point mark in the first half alone.
Defying the History Books
Under the guidance of legendary coach Brian Goorjian, this squad has become only the second in franchise history to reach the playoffs after starting a season 3–5. They join the elite company of the 2022-23 championship team coached by Chase Buford.
The Kings’ offensive potency has reached historic levels; Friday night marked the eighth consecutive game where Sydney surpassed 100 points—a feat the franchise hasn’t achieved in over two decades.
Game Breakdown: A Tale of Two Halves
The last-placed Bullets initially showed plenty of heart, jumping out to a 33–26 lead after the first quarter. However, the Kings’ depth and defensive intensity eventually wore Brisbane down.
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The Turnaround: Sydney’s bench sparked a defensive shift in the second quarter, allowing the Kings to take an 8-point lead into the main break.
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The Blowtorch: A devastating third quarter saw Sydney blow the game open, outscoring Brisbane 59–27 in the second half to turn a competitive contest into a 40-point rout.
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Milestone Moment: The game also marked the 150th NBL appearance for star forward Xavier Cooks, a cornerstone of the Kings’ recent championship era.
Mixed Emotions Heading into Finals
Despite the jubilant atmosphere at Qudos Bank Arena, the win was partially clouded by a fourth-quarter injury to Tyler Robertson. The guard, who had contributed 11 points, left the court with a shoulder concern, leaving fans anxious ahead of the post-season.
With the minor premiership locked up, the Kings now earn a week of rest as they await the results of the play-in tournament to see who they will face in their home semi-final series.
