NBL – The Sydney Kings claim the NBL title as Former SIG Player Wins the 2026 Australian Championship: A Spectacular Overtime Victory
NBL - The Sydney Kings claim the NBL title, the Australian-New Zealand league, after a breathtaking overtime final against the Adelaide 36ers. Kendric Davis was named Finals MVP with 35 points and 14 assists. Former SIG Strasbourg player Xavier Cooks won the championship.
Photo Credit : NBL
The Sydney Kings claimed their third title in five seasons, defeating the Adelaide 36ers 113-101 in overtime in the decisive Game 5 of the NBL playoff finals. In front of a record crowd of 18,589 at Qudos Bank Arena, the Kings staged a remarkable comeback to deliver an unforgettable spectacle on Easter Sunday.
A Heroic Comeback Led by Kendric Davis
Down seven points after the third quarter, the Sydney Kings looked to be in trouble against a red-hot Bryce Cotton. The Adelaide 36ers guard, a six-time league MVP, had kept his team ahead with 35 points and 9 assists, including a crucial four-point play in the clutch.
With 41.4 seconds left in regulation, Cotton had given the Sixers a four-point lead with three consecutive free throws. But Kendric Davis cut the deficit for Sydney, before Tim Soares grabbed the offensive rebound of the night on a missed shot, tying the game with 4.6 seconds remaining to send the match into overtime.
Overtime Proves Fatal for the Adelaide 36ers
Overtime turned into a nightmare for Adelaide, who were without Flynn Cameron and Nick Rakocevic, both fouled out. The Kings took complete control of the extra five minutes, dominating 18-6 thanks to decisive steals converted into easy baskets by Jaylin Galloway and Makuach Maluach.
Kendric Davis, Finals MVP runner-up the past two seasons behind Cotton, finally claimed his first title and was named Series MVP. His 35 points and 14 assists in the final crowned a remarkable performance. Matthew Dellavedova, an NBA champion with Cleveland, added an NBL title to his resume with 11 points and exemplary defensive work on Cotton.
Kendric Davis Highlights vs Adelaide ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/IYQscNZSpx
— NBL (@NBL) April 5, 2026
Tim Soares dominated the paint with 20 points and 7 rebounds on 8/11 shooting, while the brief SIG Strasbourg signing (he had joined in the summer of 2019 but never actually played for the club) Xavier Cooks, now a three-time NBL champion, finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. This victory confirms the dynasty of the Sydney Kings, who have established themselves as the premier franchise in Australian NBL basketball.
Sylvain Sultat follows the NBA on a daily basis, covering individual performances, team dynamics, and the league's greatest stories. On Be-Basketball, he breaks down the latest American basketball news with passion and consistency, always on the lookout for the trends shaping the world of basketball.
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