What we didn't learn from Jeff Van Groningen's reply to the fans

What we didn’t learn from Jeff Van Groningen’s reply to the fans

  • October 25, 2017
  • Olivia Oliver-Hopkins
  • NBL News
  • 0
  • 2599 Views
Google Advertisements

It was a pleasant surprise to get as comprehensive, quick and (somewhat) honest a response as I did from the Kings management and ownership team, not least as I wasn’t really expecting any response at all. Van Groningen’s decision to address my letter on the Aussie Hoopla podcast has definitely gained my respect.

 

I will reiterate that I am just a fan – one who’s been around the game as a fan, player, coach and referee for a long time now, but still just a fan, and as such everyone should feel free just to disregard this as the ramblings of someone who has a lot of feelings about the Kings, but not necessarily any qualifications to speak about them. I’m more aware than ever after listening to the podcast that Van Groningen may only have one NBL championship to his name, but it’s still one more than I have. And, finally, I recognise that AEG Ogden have only had the reins of the Kings for just over a year, and given that, they haven’t made a bad start.

 

However, in the spirit of asking the best questions I can with the information I have, as Van Groningen himself encouraged fans to do in the interview, there are still a few things that don’t add up – as well as, admittedly, a few things that the Kings now have me (at least partly) convinced on. And as twee as it may sound, I do truly hope that the Kings management has learned a lesson about communication from this. I (and other fans, I believe) are mollified somewhat by their elaboration of their plans, but a little heads-up before we get so frustrated with the early stages of said plans that we write angry open letters would be nice. I get that they don’t want to show too much of their hand too early to the other teams, but trust needs to go both ways sometimes.

 

Firstly, Tommy Garlepp. Van Groningen seemed sincere (but then, what good PR man doesn’t?) when recounting the way that the club approached Tommy in the off-season about a likely reduction to his minutes, and if Tommy isn’t upset, then, short of being sad about the lost chance to watch our favourite play, it is probably true that we fans shouldn’t be too upset on his behalf. But I will say this. No minutes at all, or junk minutes when a game has already gotten away from us, is not “reduced minutes”, especially when compared with the reduction in Brad Newley and Jason Cadee’s minutes in favour of Blanchfield and Leslie (Van Groningen’s comparison, not mine). Is this really what Tommy thought he was agreeing to?

 

The centre/import argument, I will concede. It was a risk to wait for the NBA squad cuts before deciding on a final import, but a calculated one, at least. I’m less convinced on Kendle, as we will now have to let someone go in order to bring in the third import/centre, which seems bad for team unity and morale in a team that just today was defending reports of agitation among players during training.

 

RE Amritpal Singh – if he chose the Bollywood music, that’s cool with me (albeit odd) and as a 11th man who we’re trying to develop, he is indeed a good pick. But as a 11th man, why is he getting more time than Tommy Garlepp, who can also play centre and is (at least in theory) higher up in the bench hierarchy? And, as someone on Facebook pointed out to me, we already have a 7ft development player in Darcy Malone – surely two development-level centres is one too many? Singh’s also 26, which many would say is too old for a developing prospect.

 

Moreover, if Singh was the first Asian player we’d hired since the new rules came into play, I’d be more willing to buy that he was hired primarily for talent, and not marketing – but Bo Liu, who was hired as a development player last year and is now nowhere to be seen (guess his development didn’t go too well?), seems to suggest a pattern… I’m happy to give Van Groningen the benefit of the doubt here (although if we get rid of Singh next season, especially if it’s only to get yet another Asian player of a different ethnicity present in large numbers in the Sydney Asian diaspora, I won’t be so generous), but even he must concede that it does look suspicious.

 

Similarly, I’d love to see if Pineau, Thoseby etc. stay around for future years. I totally understand – and applaud – the need to build a core of benchies, but we’ve had a revolving door of them for a few years now. Admittedly most of those years were pre-AEG Ogden, but Van Groningen and crew need to understand that, fairly or not for them, Kings fans now have relatively little patience for broken promises.

 

Finally, what about the firing of the Lion? Come on, Jeff, inquiring minds want to know! But seriously, he meant a lot to many people at the club. Or maybe just to one now-grown-up little girl for whom he is irrevocably tied up with many, many fond memories of ‘90s blimp prizes and the glorious championship days. But I’d bet I’m not the only one.

Olivia Oliver-Hopkins (5 Posts)

Olivia is a long-suffering Sydney Kings fan as well as playing and refereeing basketball in local competitions for over a decade. In her real life, she's trying to get into academia, having just completed her PhD in film studies, and runs her own high school tutoring business. Her hobbies include trying to get love from unfriendly cats, drinking tea, and being jealous of fans of teams that actually win.


Share:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • 2024–25 NBL Salary Breakdown: Cap vs Cash for Every Team

    NBL25: Salary Spend Revealed for Every Team ESPN has compiled detailed salary and spending data for the 2024–25 NBL season, giving fans and analysts a unique look at how teams managed their budgets on the road to a championship. While some clubs leaned into the NBL’s flexible salary rules and pushed their spending past the cap in pursuit of success, others stayed conservative — with three franchises failing to even hit the league's salary floor. Understanding the System The NBL operates under a soft salary…

    READ MORE
  • Nick Horvath on the 2009 Dragons vs Tigers Championship and Becoming the Author of an Action Hero

    Nick Horvath joins the podcast to reflect on a one-of-a-kind basketball journey—becoming the only player to ever win a NBL, NZNBL and NCAA championship. Horvath opens up about writing his debut novel Sledge Vs, the highs and lows of his pro career, and what it was really like playing under legends like Mike Krzyzewski and Brian Goorjian. We go deep on the South Dragons’ fiery 2009 Grand Final clash with the Melbourne Tigers, including the now-infamous Game 3 brawl and Chris Anstey’s ejection. Horvath shares…

    READ MORE
  • NBL Teams Eye Chinese Star Lin Wei Amid NBA Draft Buzz

    Chinese basketball standout Lin Wei is emerging as one of the most intriguing international prospects ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft—and he's already drawing serious interest from NBL heavyweights. The Sydney Kings and Melbourne United are currently leading the race to sign the dynamic guard should he not land on an NBA roster this offseason. Wei, a 191 cm, 85 kg combo guard, recently declared for the 2025 NBA Draft and is viewed as a borderline second-round candidate. While he’s intent on chasing his NBA…

    READ MORE
  • NBL Free Agent Tracker

    Below is an up-to-date roster for each NBL team and a list of rumours and potential signings derived from discussions with NBL staff and media. Players listed as contracted come from information supplied by the National Basketball League. * = Denotes import player ** = Naturalised Australian DP = a member of the team's development roster SRP = the previously named Asian player exception denoting an Asian player who qualifies as a local in the NBL. MP = Marquee players listed as known Click here…

    READ MORE
  • Adam Caporn’s Vision for the Boomers: Merging Goorjian and Lemanis’ Success

    With Adam Caporn taking over as head coach of the Australian Boomers, the national team enters a critical phase in its evolution. A student of both Brian Goorjian and Andrej Lemanis, Caporn intends to build on their foundations, blending their distinct philosophies to create a balanced, adaptable, and high-performing team. In a recent interview with Aussie Hoopla, Caporn outlined his vision for the Boomers, his approach to coaching, and how he plans to shape the roster heading into major tournaments like the 2027 FIBA World…

    READ MORE
  • Luke Kendall on developing basketball in India, 2006 FIBA World Champs & Sydney’s 2005 NBL Title

    Former NBL player and current Casey Cavaliers head coach Luke Kendall joins the podcast to share his journey—from his junior basketball days to professional success and now a rising coaching career. Kendall developed under legendary coach Mike Dunlap at Metro State, where he won a national championship before moving to the NBL. He played for the Sydney Kings, Melbourne Tigers, Perth Wildcats, and Gold Coast Blaze, winning a championship with the Kings before injuries forced an early retirement. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of…

    READ MORE
  • Larry Kestelman Says Geelong Deserves an NBL Team But Is Missing a Real Estate Component

    The possibility of an NBL expansion team in Geelong has gained momentum, with league owner Larry Kestelman confirming the city is a strong candidate—provided it can secure a suitable venue. However, much like we outlined in an article a number of years ago, How the Geelong Supercats could return to the NBL within 3 years, the missing piece isn’t just a stadium, but a real estate-backed development plan to make the project financially viable. Kestelman recently acknowledged Geelong’s growing basketball scene, citing record participation numbers…

    READ MORE
  • The Wollongong Hawks’ 2001 NBL Championship: The defining moment of an underdog’s rise

    There have been championship runs in the NBL defined by dominance and the sheer weight of talent that could overwhelm opponents before the ball was tipped. The dynasties of Perth, the star-studded reign of Melbourne, and the rise of Sydney’s financial muscle all tell tales of powerhouses that knew how to stay at the top. But there has only ever been one championship like Wollongong’s in 2001—a title won through sheer resilience, a team that had no business being there until they forced their way…

    READ MORE
sekolahtoto

SITUS TOGEL

Selamat datang di website resmi situs slot depo 5k yang merupakan agen slot gacor terbaik di Asia untuk semua yang ingin mencari peruntungan dengan modal receh.

sekolahtoto

Fitur dan layanan dari toto togel 4D difokuskan pada kemudahan bagi pengguna untuk mengakses dan bertransaksi

sekolahtoto merupakan situs gaming provider lengkap terbaik yang dimainkan secara online.

TOGEL RESMI menawarkan layanan situs deposit toto 5000 terbaru dengan filing prediksi toto togel online terbaik kemenangan tinggi hingga 99,89%.

sekolahtoto sebagai situs togel ruang bermain togel online.

sekolahtoto merupakan situs pemersatu bangsa yang menyatukan pemain togel online.

sekolahtoto sebagai tempat hiburan toto slot online resmi.

Banyak pemain togel beralih ke SEKOLAHTOTO karena platform ini mengutamakan kepercayaan dan keamanan pengguna.

Sekolahtoto ialah situs toto bo togel yang menyediakan pasaran toto togel resmi terbaik.