NICKNAME/S: Stiffy

BIO: David Stiff was born in Melbourne (VIC) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Knox basketball program.

NBL EXPERIENCE

David Stiff made his NBL debut with the Hobart Devils at 20 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

After his 1992 stint with the Hobart Devils Stiff took up a scholarship in the United States with Boston College where he played for three years.

1995
Upon returning to Australia, he re-joined the Devils and played a further two seasons albeit by 1995, Hobart was struggling financially, and coach Bill Tomlinson would continually struggle to maintain a roster with his younger talent being snapped up by richer team’s while his veteran players were retiring.

Anthony Stewart (to Perth), Lamont Middleton (to Europe) and Calvin Talford (to Europe) exited Hobart after the 1994 season, while Wayne McDaniel (retired) and Keith Nelson (retired after a severe knee injury) were also gone from the previous year’s roster.

Veteran guard Darren Perry, who was still recovering from a ACL injury, was the only player to return. Coach Bill Tomlinson rebuilt the squad by adding Stiff, as well as Andre Moore (via Brisbane), import Jerome Scott and local talent Darren Smith, Mark Nash.

Stiff (15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.7 blocks) delivered a breakout season, earning Rookie of the Year honours. He would produce his best game in loss to North Melbourne (86-102). Stiff (23 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks) dominated at both ends, but Chris Jent (34 points) and Pat Reidy (32 points) proved too strong, delivering the Giants the win.

Over the course of the season, Jerome Scott (23.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.9 steals) proved he wasn’t shy to launch a shot during his debut season in the NBL, finishing the year with 528 attempts, bettered only by Derek Rucker, Andrew Gaze and Lanard Copeland. Fellow import Moore (17.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists) gave Hobart a veteran presence inside and Perry (14.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.8 steals) battled through his return from injury to form the key nucleus for the club.

Young talent Darren Smith (12 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.3 steals) and Mark Nash (5.7 points and 4.4 rebounds) showed potential, but Hobart managed to win only four games this season, finishing the year with a loss to Townsville (127-107).

Some oldschool NBL Dunk Comp highlights #straightfromthetapes pic.twitter.com/8GqXQ3x4wm— RANDOM HOOPS (@HoopsRandom) May 23, 2024

1996
1996 saw Andre Moore, Darren Perry and Travis Rousell all exiting, leaving coach Bill Tomlinson to rebuild around Jerome Scott, David Stiff, Darren Smith, and Mark Nash.

While Tomlinson added import Jonathan Roberts to the squad, with Hobart under financial uncertainty, coach Bill Tomlinson was tasked with filling these roster gaps with low cost talent like Tim Brenton, Craig Adams and Mark Banovic.

The Devils opened the season with a home loss to Canberra (89-102), which kickstarted a six game losing streak to start the season.

Stiff (15.9 points, 9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks) built on his Rookie of the Year season, becoming Hobart’s leading rebounder and shot-blocker while carrying heavy minutes in a depleted frontcourt.

His best scoring game came when he finished with a season-high 30 points, while another strong game came against Melbourne on June 16, where Stiff (27 points) led Hobart in a 85-100 road loss to the eventual minor premiers, with Jonathan Roberts (23 points) also providing support.

Over the course of the season, Roberts (21.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.6 steals) became Hobart’s leading scorer, while Scott (17.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2.4 steals) remained aggressive offensively and Tim Brenton (13.2 points), Nash (8.2 points and 6 rebounds) and Darren Smith (7.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.6 steals) filled out the main rotation.

Hobart missed the playoffs, finishing 12th with a 8-18 record after closing the season with a 79-101 home loss to South East Melbourne, with Roberts (21 points), Darren Smith (15 points) and Stiff (14 points).

The loss also became the final game in Devils history, with the club folding after the 1996 season due to financial difficulties.

NORTH MELBOURNE GIANTS
1997
With the demise of the Hobart Devils, Stiff would head to the mainland to play under coach Brett Brown, whose Giants were facing similar financial struggles. Other key roster movements included Tonny Jensen (to Newcastle) and Paul Maley (back injury) exiting the squad, and the addition of Mike Mitchell (via Brisbane), Andrew Goodwin (via Brisbane), and Matthew Reece (via Newcastle).

Retaining the core group of Pat Reidy, Darryl McDonald, Paul Rees, Rod Johnson, Matthew Shanahan and Stephen Hoare, the Giants chose to play the entire season with the league minimum of 11 players.

North Melbourne secured an 85-81 win over Sydney to start the season, with Stiff (8 rebounds and 6 blocks) instantly solidifying the Giants frontcourt, alongside top scorers Reidy (24 points) and Mitchell (23 points), who outgunned Kings duo Isaac Burton (19 points) and Bruce Bolden (14 points).

A major setback came when Rees suffered a severe knee injury that kept him out for the majority of the season, only to return and break his wrist against the Bullets in the second last round of the season.

Stiff (13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks) would step up in Rees’ absence, with one of his best games coming in an 83-96 road loss to Perth in May, where Stiff (15 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks) helped North Melbourne battle the Wildcats on the glass against David Van Dyke (12 points and 15 rebounds) and Todd Lichti (13 rebounds).

Over the course of the season, Reidy (20.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals) led North Melbourne in scoring, while McDonald (17.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 8.9 assists, and 3.3 steals) led the league in assists and steals.

Mitchell (15.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.7 steals) gave the Giants another reliable import option, while Rod Johnson (10.8 points), Goodwin (10.5 points and 5.7 rebounds), Matthew Shanahan (7.7 points) and Rees (4.6 points and 3.8 rebounds) filled out the main rotation.

North Melbourne finished the regular season in third place with an 18-12 record and faced off against Canberra in the elimination finals. Game 1 saw the Cannons toppple the Giants (93-104) at the AIS Arena with to take the early edge in the best-of-three series.

Game two moved to the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre, where North Melbourne answered with a 108-98 win, with Rees returning for the playoffs and his presence making a huge difference inside.

Game three stayed in Melbourne and North Melbourne closed the series with a 102-75 win, with Stiff (16 points) helping the Giants handily defeat Canberra and move into the semifinals.

The semifinals opened against Melbourne at the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre, where Stiff (24 points) kept North Melbourne in touch before the Tigers took game one 107-99.

Game two moved to Melbourne Park, where Melbourne completed the sweep with a 112-105 win over North Melbourne, with Stiff (6 points) unable to make the same impact in the deciding game.

1998The Giants defeated Perth 109-103 in their final home game before closing the season with a 113-115 road loss to Sydney. The emergence of David Smith (7.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals) was one of the few positives from a difficult season, with the 18-year-old winning the NBL Rookie of the Year award as the Giants limped home to end the season in 10th place (9-21), winning eight games at home but only one on the road before the club merged with the South East Melbourne Magic to become the Victoria Titans.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
1998/99
After winning the 1998 NBL championship, Adelaide entered the league’s first summer season, losing John Rillie (to West Sydney), Dean Brogan (to Newcastle) and Scott Ninnis (retired) from the title team.

Captain Brett Maher, Kevin Brooks, Darnell Mee, Martin Cattalini, Mark Davis, Paul Rees, Rupert Sapwell, Paul Bauer and Jason Williams all returned, while coach Phil Smyth added David Stiff (via North Melbourne) to replace Rillie and provide another frontcourt piece next to Rees, Davis and Cattalini.

The defending champions opened the new summer era slowly, winning just two of their first six games and slumping to a 2-4 record after back-to-back home losses against West Sydney and Brisbane. Adelaide took time to adjust after losing Rillie and Brogan and bringing Stiff (9.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks) into the group, but once the 36ers found their rhythm they won five of their next six games and nine of their final 10 to claim first place and home court throughout the playoffs with an 18-8 record. Stiff (30 points) delivered his best scoring game in Adelaide’s 110-94 win over Newcastle.

Maher (19.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals) and Brooks (17.3 points and 6.1 rebounds), who earned All-NBL First Team honours, would lead the 36ers in scoring. Cattalini (14.9 points and 7 rebounds), and Mee (14.8 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1.2 blocks), who was awarded the NBL Best Defensive Player, would rounded out the team’s other key contributors this season.

The qualifying finals opened at Challenge Stadium, where Adelaide defeated Perth 99-87 with Brooks (24 points) leading six 36ers in double figures as the defending champions took game one.

Game two moved to Adelaide, where Mee (25 points), Maher (22 points) and Stiff (4 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block) powering the 36ers to a 97-80 win over Perth and a two-game sweep into the semi-finals.

Adelaide opened the semi-finals in Wollongong, defeating the Hawks 93-81 behind Maher (25 points), Brooks (22 points), Mee (8 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Stiff (9 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 block), all filling the box score to deliver a game one  victory on the road.

Game two moved to the Clipsal Powerhouse, where Wollongong led by 16 points late in the third quarter behind Bruton (27 points) and the Hawks still led 88-85 with 9.9 seconds left before Stiff (22 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 blocks) saved Sapwell’s missed three-point attempt and kicked it back out for Sapwell to force overtime as Adelaide closed out a 99-98 overtime win and a second straight Grand Final appearance.

The Grand Final series opened at Melbourne Park, where Adelaide defeated Victoria 104-94, with Maher (31 points) hitting six three-pointers and Mee (25 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) controlling the match-up with McDonald (23 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals). Stiff (7 rebounds and 5 assists) would also contribute.

Game two moved to the Clipsal Powerhouse, where the Titans slowed Adelaide down and levelled the series with a 88-82 win. Maher (25 points) led Adelaide, but no other 36ers player scored more than 12 points, while Ronaldson (22 points), Wheeler (18 points and 9 rebounds) and McDonald (12 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists) did most of the damage for Victoria. Stiff (8 points and 7 rebounds) also made a number of key plays.

With the deciding game back in Adelaide, the 36ers held Victoria to 32 first-half points and closed out a 80-69 win. Stiff (6 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks) would contribute behind Cattalini (19 points and 9 rebounds) and Maher (15 points and 7 rebounds), while Pepper (15 points) top scored for the Titans as Adelaide became three-time NBL champions and the first team to win back-to-back titles since Perth in 1990 and 1991, with Maher named Grand Final MVP.

1999/00
Coming off back-to-back championships after the NBL’s move to summer, Adelaide seemed primed for a NBL dynasty but suffered a major blow with the league reducing the salary cap which would see Kevin Brooks (to Sydney) lost with the team unable to re-sign him without breaching the salary cap.

Captain Brett Maher, Darnell Mee, Martin Cattalini, Mark Davis, David Stiff, Paul Rees, Rupert Sapwell, Paul Bauer and Jason Williams all returned, while coach Phil Smyth added replaced Brooks with Paul Maley (via Victoria), who in similiar fashion had been squeezed out of North Melbourne due to their merger with South East Melbourne.

Days later, high-scoring forward Martin Cattalini agreed to play in France, which would have been a double blow after losing Brooks, but prior to the season tipping off he backflipped and re-signed with Adelaide in the hopes that a big year would result in being selected for the 2000 Olympics to be held in Sydney.

The season kicked off with a 109-89 win over Perth at home, with the 36ers fielding a starting lineup of Cattalini, Maher, Mee, Rees and Maley. Coming off the bench, Stiff (13.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.4 blocks) responded to a larger role in his second season in Adelaide, becoming one of the team’s strongest frontcourt pieces as Maley battled a recurring back injury.

As a result of winning the 1999 NBL championship, the 36ers were again invited to participate in the McDonald’s Cup, held at the 12,000 seat Fila Forum in Milan, Italy during the first month of the regular season.

After losing their first game 90-79 to Brazilian side CR Vasco da Gama, who went all the way to meet the San Antonio Spurs in the final, Adelaide won the 5-6 place playoff 91-84 over Lebanese team Hekmeh BC.

After returning to Australia, Adelaide never skipped a beat, winning three straight games before heading to Townsville, where Maher nailed five from five threes, scored 15 points in the first quarter, and finished with a career-high 40 points as Adelaide lost its first game of the season in overtime.

Maley then missed a number of games due to a recurring back injury which saw Stiff enter the starting lineup, where he responded with his best game of the season, scoring a career-high 35 points on 70% shooting in a 111-103 win over Wollongong.

On 6 February 2000, the 36ers participated in the league’s first open air game, where 10,318 fans gathered to see the Titans deliver Adelaide a rare loss, 83-75 at Melbourne Park, with Stiff (12 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks).

Over the course of the season, Cattalini (20.3 points and 7.5 rebounds) and Maher (20.2 points and 4.3 rebounds) led Adelaide in scoring, while Mee (13.6 points, 7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks) again filled almost every category on the stat sheet.

Maley (12.3 points and 6.1 rebounds), Davis (8.2 points and 5.3 rebounds), Rees (7.8 points and 5.2 rebounds) and Sapwell (7.1 points and 3.5 rebounds) rounded out the main rotation as Adelaide again finished first on the ladder with a 22-6 record.

Due to finishing in the top two, Adelaide and Townsville were given first-round byes, while Perth defeated West Sydney and Victoria knocked out Melbourne in the elimination finals, resulting in the 36ers facing off against a Brian Goorjian led team for the third year in a row.

The Titans, who had discarded Maley only to see him become a valuable contributor for Adelaide, entered the series as favourites and won game one 101-86 in Melbourne, with Ronaldson (26 points and 5 rebounds) and McDonald (24 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) leading Victoria.

Game two moved to Adelaide, where the 36ers returned to their high-scoring offence behind Cattalini (24 points and 7 rebounds) and Mee (22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals), evening the series with a 95-72 win.

With many pencilling in another Titans elimination from the 36ers, Victoria rallied behind McDonald (24 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals), while Mee (22 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) was equally up to the task for Adelaide before the remaining 36ers struggled to score through the impenetrable Titans defence, with Victoria winning the decider 93-89.

2000/01
After falling short of a third straight championship, Adelaide lost Martin Cattalini (to Spain), while Brett Maher, Darnell Mee, David Stiff, Paul Maley, Paul Rees, Mark Davis, Rupert Sapwell and Jason Williams returned for coach Phil Smyth.

Smyth added Kevin Brooks (via Sydney), bringing back the championship-winning import after his one-year stint with the Kings, and Mark Nash (via Brisbane) to fill Cattalini’s spot on the wing.

Adelaide opened the season with a 92-84 road win over Perth, but Stiff aggravated a groin injury that was later diagnosed as osteitis pubis and missed more than half the regular season.

Stiff (7.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists across 19 games) returned later in the season and his best game came in Adelaide’s 118-107 loss to Melbourne, where Stiff (12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks) gave the 36ers frontcourt production against the Tigers.

Adelaide finished the regular season in sixth place with a 16-12 record, ending the year on a four-game losing streak despite the production of Maher (20.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals), Brooks (19.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists), Mee (18.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.6 steals, and 1.6 blocks), Nash (9.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists), Maley (9.0 points and 3.0 rebounds), Rees (6.9 points and 5.0 rebounds), Davis (6.2 points), Sapwell (6.0 points) and Jason Williams (4.7 points).

Mee was named to the All-NBL First Team and won his third straight NBL Best Defensive Player award, but Adelaide’s season had been hurt by Stiff’s injury, Maley’s recurring back problems and the loss of Cattalini from the championship core.

Adelaide opened the playoffs against first-placed Victoria and dropped game one 96-101, with Chris Anstey (27 points and 16 rebounds) leading the Titans before the 36ers responded behind Mee and Brooks.

Game two moved to Melbourne, where Adelaide defeated Victoria 96-83 behind Brooks, Mee and Maher to force a deciding game.

Game three saw Adelaide complete the upset with a 115-103 win over Victoria, with Brooks (34 points) and Maher (24 points) leading the 36ers, while Tony Ronaldson (22 points) was best for the Titans.

Adelaide then opened the semifinals against Wollongong at home and lost 83-84 after late contact on Mee and Stiff went uncalled, with Melvin Thomas (18 points and 13 rebounds), Charles Thomas (17 points and 6 rebounds) and Glen Saville (13 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists) leading Wollongong.

Game two moved to Wollongong, where Adelaide stayed alive with a 111-100 win behind Brooks (30 points) and Mee (24 points), while Axel Dench (26 points) and Saville (15 points and 10 rebounds) led the Hawks.

Game three became a NBL classic, with Brooks (26 points) leading Adelaide and Stiff (4 points and 12 rebounds) controlling the glass, while Melvin Thomas (28 points and 11 rebounds) and Mat Campbell (19 points) kept Wollongong close before Damon Lowery hit three free throws after the buzzer to give the Hawks a 109-108 win.

2001/02
Following a painful semi-final exit in 2001, Adelaide 36ers head coach Phil Smyth overhauled the roster, with Kevin Brooks (to Sweden), Darnell Mee (to Cairns), Paul Maley (retired) and Mark Davis (retired) all exiting the team. Brett Maher, David Stiff, Paul Rees, Rupert Sapwell, Mark Nash and Jason Williams returned, while Smyth added Willie Farley, Oscar Forman, Jacob Holmes and Matt Illman.

Stiff (12.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 steals across 38 games) bounced back from an injury-hit 2000/01 season and returned to being one of Adelaide’s most important frontcourt players. His size, rebounding and passing helped balance a team now built around Maher and Farley on the perimeter.

The 36ers started the season 6-4, before financial difficulties forced Cairns to release Matt Garrison, who Smyth quickly signed for the remainder of the season. Garrison (10.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists) played the final 26 games and helped Adelaide finish third with a 17-13 record.

Farley (25.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.2 steals) quickly became the team’s leading scorer and earned All-NBL Second Team honours, while Maher (21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.4 steals) was named to the All-NBL Third Team. Rees (10.2 points and 7.2 rebounds), Sapwell (8.6 points and 3.8 rebounds), Nash (7.5 points and 6.3 rebounds), Williams (6.9 points), Forman (2.4 points and 2.5 rebounds) and Holmes (2.5 points) rounded out the rotation.

Adelaide opened the playoffs in Wollongong, defeating the defending champion Hawks 107-90 behind Farley (26 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals), Sapwell (19 points and 11 rebounds) and Maher (16 points and 6 assists).

Game two moved to Adelaide, where Farley (33 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) and Maher (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the 36ers to a 101-95 win and a two-game sweep.

Adelaide opened the semifinals in Melbourne with a 99-92 upset of Victoria behind Farley (25 points and 4 rebounds) and Maher (23 points and 8 rebounds).

The Titans responded in Adelaide, winning game two 86-81 as Farley (24 points) and Maher (15 points) were held to their lowest combined total of the postseason.

Game three saw Adelaide bounce back with a 103-92 win behind Farley (33 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists), Maher (16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Rees (16 points and 9 rebounds), sending the 36ers into the Grand Final.

Adelaide opened the Grand Final series with a 106-97 win over West Sydney at Adelaide Arena, with Farley (34 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals) and Maher (25 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists) leading the 36ers.

Game two moved to Sydney, where Simon Dwight (20 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 blocks) and John Rillie (28 points) led West Sydney to a 103-100 win, while Farley (24 points and 8 rebounds) and Maher (25 points and 7 assists) kept Adelaide close.

Game three saw Adelaide deliver one of the most dominant Grand Final performances in NBL history, hitting a Grand Final record 19-of-31 from three-point range and scoring a record 125 points. Maher (30 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists), Farley (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists), Stiff (19 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block), Sapwell (19 points and 8 rebounds) and Nash (18 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the 36ers to a 125-107 win over West Sydney.

SYDNEY KINGS
2002/03
After missing the playoffs and finishing eighth the previous season, Sydney lost Frank Drmic (to Europe), Isaac Burton, Derek Moore, James Smith and Stephen Whitehead, while Shane Heal, Matthew Nielsen, Ben Melmeth, Travis Lane, Michael Kingma and BJ Carter returned.

The Kings entered the season after a turbulent period off the court, having spent time in administration less than 12 months earlier. Brett Brown had put together much of the roster before accepting an NBA role with the San Antonio Spurs a month before the season, handing the team over to Brian Goorjian, who arrived from Victoria and added David Stiff (via Adelaide), Brad Sheridan (via Victoria), rookie Gary Boodnikoff and import duo Chris Williams and Kavossy Franklin.

Stiff (5.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists across 26 games) moved into a bench frontcourt role after helping Adelaide win the 2002 championship, giving Sydney extra size and rebounding behind Nielsen and Melmeth. His arrival would prove significant, with Stiff becoming one of the rare players in league history to win back-to-back championships with different clubs.

Sydney quickly emerged as the competition’s benchmark, winning eight of their final nine regular-season games to finish first with a 22-8 record and secure home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Williams produced one of the great individual performances in club history on 18 January against West Sydney, recording a 34-point, 15-rebound and 11-assist triple-double.

Williams (23.6 points, 12.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks) dominated in his first professional season at just 22 years of age, while Heal (20 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 6 assists), Franklin (17.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists), Nielsen (15.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks), Melmeth (9 points and 5.5 rebounds) and Sheridan (7.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals) rounded out one of the deepest rosters in the league.

Williams was named league MVP and Grand Final MVP, becoming the first player since Scott Fisher in 1989 to win both awards in the same season. Heal joined him on the All-NBL First Team, Nielsen was named to the All-NBL Second Team, Franklin made the All-NBL Third Team and Boodnikoff won Rookie of the Year.

Sydney opened the playoffs against Melbourne and won game one 101-89, with Stiff (18 points and 11 rebounds) providing a major lift off the bench alongside Williams (13 points) and Franklin (12 points), while Andrew Gaze (21 points) led the Tigers. The victory was hailed as further proof that the Kings were no longer the competition’s perennial underachievers.

Game two moved to Sydney, where Melbourne won 108-104 behind Gaze (25 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists), Lanard Copeland (22 points and 5 assists) and Mark Bradtke (21 points), while Williams (32 points), Nielsen (21 points) and Franklin (16 points) led Sydney.

With the series returning to Sydney, the Kings won game three 114-89 behind Williams (25 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks), while Stephen Hoare (15 points and 12 rebounds) was best for Melbourne.

Sydney then opened the semifinals against Townsville with a 124-107 win after trailing by three points at half-time, with Williams (26 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block), Nielsen (25 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds), Franklin (25 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Heal (19 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals) leading the Kings, while Pat Reidy (29 points), Andrew Rice (20 points and 5 rebounds), Robert Rose (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Wayne Turner (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 steal) led the Crocodiles. Stiff (2 points) played limited minutes in the win.

Game two moved to Sydney, where Townsville kept the series alive with a 113-91 win behind Goodwin (22 points and 11 rebounds), Reidy (22 points and 7 rebounds), Turner (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal) and Rice (16 points and 9 rebounds), while Nielsen (31 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal), Heal (13 points) and Williams (12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) led Sydney. Stiff (2 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal) played 15 minutes off the bench.

With the series returning to Sydney, the Kings won game three 114-99 behind Williams (31 points, 18 rebounds, 5 steals, 4 assists, and 2 blocks), Heal (31 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals), Nielsen (13 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 blocks) and Franklin (12 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists), while Peter Crawford (25 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals), Wayne Turner (16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Robert Rose (15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Townsville. Stiff (3 points) played limited minutes as Sydney moved into the Grand Final.

The Grand Final opened in Sydney, where the Kings came back from 14 points down in the final six minutes to defeat Perth 98-94 in front of more than 10,000 fans, behind Williams (26 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 steals).

Game two moved to Perth, where Sydney led 22-15 after the opening quarter and blew the margin out to 28 points by half-time before defeating the Wildcats 117-101. Williams (24 points), Heal (23 points) and Nielsen (21 points) led the Kings as Sydney secured the club’s first NBL championship, the breakthrough title that launched the franchise’s eventual three-peat. Williams was named Grand Final MVP, while Stiff won his third straight NBL championship.

2003/04
After winning the club’s first NBL championship, Sydney lost Shane Heal (to San Antonio Spurs), Chris Williams (to Europe), Kavossy Franklin (to Europe), Ben Melmeth, Travis Lane and Michael Kingma, while Matthew Nielsen, David Stiff, Brad Sheridan, Gary Boodnikoff and BJ Carter returned for coach Brian Goorjian.

Goorjian added C.J. Bruton (via Canberra) as Heal’s replacement, import Ebi Ere, Jason Smith (via Europe), Brett Wheeler (via Perth), Luke Martin, Graeme Dann, Joe Brown, David Barlow and Adrian Bauk as the Kings looked to defend their title.

Rather than chase a second import, Sydney leaned further into its Australian core, with Stiff (8.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2 assists across 40 games) taking on a bigger frontcourt role than the previous season and giving Goorjian extra size, rebounding and passing alongside Nielsen, Smith and Wheeler.

The Kings opened the season with ten straight wins before losing Smith to a season-ending injury after 13 games. Goorjian replaced him with import Chris Carrawell, who played the final 11 regular-season games and helped Sydney finish first with a 26-7 record.

Nielsen (22.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks) delivered a breakout season and won league MVP, while Ere (19.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals) and Bruton (16.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals) gave Sydney three elite scoring options.

Carrawell (13.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks), Smith (11.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists), Wheeler (8.3 points and 7.9 rebounds), Sheridan (7.9 points), Stiff and Martin (5.3 points) rounded out the main rotation.

Nielsen was named to the All-NBL First Team and added Grand Final MVP honours, while Ere and Bruton gave Sydney the perimeter scoring needed to replace the production lost when Williams, Franklin and Heal exited.

Sydney opened the semifinals against Brisbane with a 104-100 win at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, taking game one of the series and moving within one win of another Grand Final berth.

Game two moved to Brisbane, where Sydney completed the sweep with a 101-96 win over the Bullets, advancing to the Grand Final for the second straight season.

The Grand Final became the first best-of-five series in NBL history, with Sydney facing crosstown rivals West Sydney. Game one opened at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, where Bruton (35 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Kings to a 96-76 win, while Simon Dwight (23 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 blocks) was best for the Razorbacks.

Game two moved to the State Sports Centre, where West Sydney responded with a 87-72 win behind John Rillie (18 points) and Aaron Trahair (17 points), evening the series at 1-1.

Game three returned to Sydney and went to overtime, with West Sydney taking a 82-80 win behind Rillie (18 points), Dwight (17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks) and Sam MacKinnon (14 points, 17 rebounds, and 6 assists), putting the Razorbacks one win from the championship.

Game four moved back to the State Sports Centre, where Sydney kept the series alive with a 82-77 win despite Rillie (31 points) carrying West Sydney, forcing a winner-takes-all game five.

Game five was played in front of 9,609 fans at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, where Sydney’s defence held Rillie (12 points and 10 rebounds) in check, while Trahair (20 points) and Dwight (18 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists) led West Sydney. Ere (25 points), Wheeler (18 points and 11 rebounds) and Nielsen (14 points and 12 rebounds) led the Kings to a 90-79 win, with Nielsen named Grand Final MVP as Stiff won his fourth NBL championship and completed a personal three-peat.