Kings aiming high as Brazilian big man makes NBL return
After two seasons abroad, Brazilian big man Soares has reunited with the Kings on a one-year deal alongside fellow key additions Kendric Davis and Matthew Dellavedova.
Soares, 28, won a title under then Kings coach Chase Buford in his only previous NBL season in 2022/23.
The 211cm centre averaged 10.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 0.9 blocks across 20.9 minutes throughout that campaign, and combined well with MVP Xavier Cooks.
"I was always hopeful I'd get another chance to come back and play in Sydney, so I'm really excited to be given this opportunity again," Soares said.
"Having the chance to join this talented roster, full of young guys and veterans who know the game, and be coached by someone (like) Goorj, was an easy decision to come back to Sydney.
"Not to mention having two talented ball-handlers like Kendric and Delly on the roster will make my job easier as a big man, much like Xav did in our first stint together.
"Xav and I had great chemistry during our championship run together, with me being able to space the floor for him to attack the rim, which in fact benefits the whole team."
Goorjian was thrilled to sign Soares, who has had stints in Puerto Rico and Japan since his championship-winning season with Sydney.
The Kings are aiming high after losing a play-in qualifier last season in legendary coach Goorjian's return to the helm.
"The five-man spot is a really important one for us, and after looking at ways to build on last year, we really needed to bring in someone who can bang with those bigger bodies on the inside," Goorjian said.
"Tim is exactly that, while also being someone who can finish around the rim, protect the paint and also stretch the floor, which is key alongside Xavier."
SYDNEY KINGS' 2025/26 NBL ROSTER:
Shaun Bruce, Xavier Cooks, Kendric Davis, Matthew Dellavedova, Jaylin Galloway, Bul Kuol, Keli Leaupepe, Makuach Maluach, Kouat Noi, Tyler Robertston, Tim Soares, Jason Spurgin.
NBL champion Tim Soares has confirmed his Sydney Kings return as master coach Brian Goorjian puts the finishing touches on what he hopes can become another title-winning roster.
After two seasons abroad, Brazilian big man Soares has reunited with the Kings on a one-year deal alongside fellow key additions Kendric Davis and Matthew Dellavedova.
Soares, 28, won a title under then Kings coach Chase Buford in his only previous NBL season in 2022/23.
The 211cm centre averaged 10.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 0.9 blocks across 20.9 minutes throughout that campaign, and combined well with MVP Xavier Cooks.
"I was always hopeful I'd get another chance to come back and play in Sydney, so I'm really excited to be given this opportunity again," Soares said.
"Having the chance to join this talented roster, full of young guys and veterans who know the game, and be coached by someone (like) Goorj, was an easy decision to come back to Sydney.
"Not to mention having two talented ball-handlers like Kendric and Delly on the roster will make my job easier as a big man, much like Xav did in our first stint together.
"Xav and I had great chemistry during our championship run together, with me being able to space the floor for him to attack the rim, which in fact benefits the whole team."
Goorjian was thrilled to sign Soares, who has had stints in Puerto Rico and Japan since his championship-winning season with Sydney.
The Kings are aiming high after losing a play-in qualifier last season in legendary coach Goorjian's return to the helm.
"The five-man spot is a really important one for us, and after looking at ways to build on last year, we really needed to bring in someone who can bang with those bigger bodies on the inside," Goorjian said.
"Tim is exactly that, while also being someone who can finish around the rim, protect the paint and also stretch the floor, which is key alongside Xavier."
SYDNEY KINGS' 2025/26 NBL ROSTER:
Shaun Bruce, Xavier Cooks, Kendric Davis, Matthew Dellavedova, Jaylin Galloway, Bul Kuol, Keli Leaupepe, Makuach Maluach, Kouat Noi, Tyler Robertston, Tim Soares, Jason Spurgin.
NBL champion Tim Soares has confirmed his Sydney Kings return as master coach Brian Goorjian puts the finishing touches on what he hopes can become another title-winning roster.
After two seasons abroad, Brazilian big man Soares has reunited with the Kings on a one-year deal alongside fellow key additions Kendric Davis and Matthew Dellavedova.
Soares, 28, won a title under then Kings coach Chase Buford in his only previous NBL season in 2022/23.
The 211cm centre averaged 10.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 0.9 blocks across 20.9 minutes throughout that campaign, and combined well with MVP Xavier Cooks.
"I was always hopeful I'd get another chance to come back and play in Sydney, so I'm really excited to be given this opportunity again," Soares said.
"Having the chance to join this talented roster, full of young guys and veterans who know the game, and be coached by someone (like) Goorj, was an easy decision to come back to Sydney.
"Not to mention having two talented ball-handlers like Kendric and Delly on the roster will make my job easier as a big man, much like Xav did in our first stint together.
"Xav and I had great chemistry during our championship run together, with me being able to space the floor for him to attack the rim, which in fact benefits the whole team."
Goorjian was thrilled to sign Soares, who has had stints in Puerto Rico and Japan since his championship-winning season with Sydney.
The Kings are aiming high after losing a play-in qualifier last season in legendary coach Goorjian's return to the helm.
"The five-man spot is a really important one for us, and after looking at ways to build on last year, we really needed to bring in someone who can bang with those bigger bodies on the inside," Goorjian said.
"Tim is exactly that, while also being someone who can finish around the rim, protect the paint and also stretch the floor, which is key alongside Xavier."
SYDNEY KINGS' 2025/26 NBL ROSTER:
Shaun Bruce, Xavier Cooks, Kendric Davis, Matthew Dellavedova, Jaylin Galloway, Bul Kuol, Keli Leaupepe, Makuach Maluach, Kouat Noi, Tyler Robertston, Tim Soares, Jason Spurgin.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
8 hours ago
- West Australian
Seven West Media among finalists for Kennedy Awards, including The West Australian Sports Editor Jakeb Waddell
The West Australian's sports editor Jakeb Waddell has again been nominate for his headline craft in the prestigious Kennedy Awards. Waddell has been recognised for his dry wit and puns on a series of iconic back pages, which bring colour to the newspaper's sports section. Three headlines, ' The Lying King', 'Falcon Hell!', and ' Demon Awwww' were part of the entry for the Outstanding Three Headlines category. The first was used as the back page splash on May 23 when news broke Perth Wildcats record breaker Bryce Cotton had returned to the NBL after having left the WA side despite declaring he would not play for a rival club. West Perth's WAFL troubles after the sacking of coach Jason Salecic was at the heart of 'Falcon Hell' as coaches quit over the decision. The final nominated headline came on January 23 after Australian tennis ace Alex De Minaur was eliminated from his home grand slam. Liam Bartlett, John Varga, Ben Fogarty and Luke Mortimer are finalists for Outstanding Reporting on the Environment for Spotlight segment Indonesia's Dirty Nickel Trade . 7NEWS Podcasters Alison Sandy, Liam Bartlett, Marc Wright and Cassie Woodward are also a chance at a top gong in the Outstanding Crime Reporting category with The Truth About Amy. The podcast series investigating the death of Amy Wensley, which was initially ruled a suicide but is now being treated as a potential homicide. Finalists were selected after a judging process involving 101 of the nation's most experienced media professionals. Kennedy Foundation Chairperson Carl Dumbrell said it had been another extraordinary year for journalism. 'It's been another extraordinary year, with more than 900 entries of exceptional quality. This is clear evidence that not only is a Kennedy Award held in the highest esteem, but that the finest traditions of Australian journalism remain alive and thriving,' he said.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
'Didn't do this': NBL player's DV charges withdrawn
Former Cairns Taipans guard Jackson Makoi is free to move on with his life and his basketball career after he was cleared of assaulting and choking a woman. The NBL player, who is also known as Anyiarbany Makoi, had pleaded not guilty to one count of common assault and two counts of intentionally choking a person with recklessness. He was due to fight the domestic violence charges in a contested hearing at Blacktown Local Court on Thursday, but the charges were dismissed after the complainant failed to show for a second time. Makoi offered to agree to an apprehended violence order without admission of guilt, which was accepted by the prosecutor. The order includes standard conditions that the basketball player not assault, threaten, or stalk the woman or anyone with whom she is in a relationship. The charges were subsequently dismissed. "Jackson's had his date in court," his lawyer Peter Agoth said. "He was in the position to have everything dismissed including the AVO but he made a peace offering." Mr Agoth said the charges had been a "huge impediment" to the basketballer's life and he was relieved with the outcome. "He did stick to what he said from the start, which is 'I didn't do this'," the lawyer said. "He was very happy it's finally behind him and he can finally move on with his life." The charges stemmed from an incident that was alleged to have occurred on November 11, 2023 in western Sydney while the basketballer was contracted to the Sydney Kings. The Oxley Park resident was stood down by the Cairns Taipans after the accusations came to light and his contract has since expired. He is not on the team roster for the upcoming season, but is understood to have a number of opportunities on the horizon. Makoi played for South Sudan at the Paris Olympics and has averaged 4.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 11 NBL games last season. He received his first big break when he signed with the Kings as a development player in 2022. Makoi played 15 games in the 2022-23 NBL season for the Kings during the club's championship-winning campaign, but he ruptured the ACL in his right knee before the finals. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney FC in shock swoop for Bayern Munich legend Thomas Müller
Sydney FC are in talks to sign former Bayern Munich legend Thomas Müller in what could be one of the greatest marquee coups in A-League history. Müller, 35, is a free agent after departing Bayern, the only club he has ever played for, at the end of the recent FIFA Club World Cup after more than 500 games across nearly two decades, and is seeking a new experience to round out his career. Though reports have linked him to Major League Soccer in the United States – and some have gone as far as to say he has already made up his mind – this masthead can reveal that the Sky Blues have been in discussions with Müller and his representatives for several weeks about an A-League switch, and that they remain an outside chance of convincing him. An answer either way is expected within the next week or so, with the club recently informed that they are one of the final two options he is considering. The other is in MLS, and that is believed to be his favoured option, but Sydney are still in with a shot. Sources with knowledge of negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Müller – a 13-time Bundesliga winner, two-time UEFA Champions League winner, and part of the Germany squad that won the 2014 World Cup – had been impressed with the pitch made to him by Sydney FC. Two of his former teammates are already at the club: Brazilian star Douglas Costa, who he played with between 2015 and 2017 at Bayern Munich, and the retired Alexander Baumjohann, Sydney's head of player management who spent a year on the books at Germany's biggest club and is believed to be spearheading the attempt to sign him. His recruitment would be an enormous boon for the financially stricken A-League and for Sydney FC, whose board has undergone an off-season restructure with the departure of long-time chairman Scott Barlow. Jan Voss, a German-Australian business executive and president of Ferrari Australasia, has replaced Barlow as chairman, while the club's foundation chairman Walter Bugno – hugely influential in their 'Bling FC' era – is back on the board as a director. No A-League club – not even the Sky Blues – can compete with the wages that Müller would be able to attract in the US or elsewhere; like any high-profile player who decides to move to Australia, it would involve him prioritising the low-key lifestyle he would be able to enjoy in Sydney over money.
