NICKNAME/S: Wookie

BIO: Kingma was born in Manly, New South Wales, where he started his basketball playing as a junior.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Michael Kingma made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 18 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

Sydney came into 1998 looking to improve on the previous year’s 12-18 finish, with Bill Tomlinson replacing Alan Black as coach. Isaac Burton (to Newcastle), Melvin Thomas (to Canberra), Cameron Dickinson (to Wollongong) and Ben Knight (to South East Melbourne) departed, while Shane Heal (via Minnesota), Scott McGregor (via Newcastle), Matt Nover and Stephen Jackson joined a returning group headed by Bruce Bolden, Aaron Trahair and Matthew Nielsen.

The Kings began with three consecutive victories, but their season soon became dominated by roster movement. Jackson suffered a broken foot while attempting to block Adelaide’s Kevin Brooks and was lost for the year, while Nover and Bryan Caver were later released and replaced by Evers Burns and Dave Simmons. Simmons lasted only six games before Kelsey Weems joined the backcourt as Sydney searched for a combination capable of reversing its slide.

Michael Kingma received his first NBL opportunity against Melbourne at Melbourne Park on March 28. Kingma (0 points and 1 rebound) made a brief appearance off the bench as Heal (19 points) and Burns (19 points and 7 rebounds) led Sydney, but the Tigers defeated the Kings 115-86.

Kingma (1 point across 2 games) was used sparingly during his first season with Sydney, finishing the campaign with only seven minutes of court time and two total points.

His second appearance came six days later in Brisbane and produced his best and highest-scoring game. Kingma (2 points and 1 rebound) made 1-of-2 field goals in less than three minutes, while Heal (14 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists) and Trahair (14 points) led the Kings. Leroy Loggins (27 points) was Brisbane’s leading scorer as the Bullets defeated Sydney 112-82.

Kingma did not return to the court during the remainder of the winter season. Heal (20.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists across 29 games) led Sydney in scoring, with Weems (20 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.5 steals across 12 games), Burns (16.5 points and 9.4 rebounds across 22 games), Nielsen (16.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across 28 games) and Trahair (13.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3 assists across 27 games) carrying most of the load after the roster settled. The Kings never fully recovered from losing 10 of 12 games after their 3-0 opening.

Sydney played its final game in Townsville on June 9, where Nielsen (38 points and 15 rebounds) and Bolden (29 points and 8 rebounds) led a 140-131 win over the Crocodiles, whose leading scorer was Simon Kerle (29 points). The Kings ended the season eighth with a 13-17 record and missed the playoffs.

1998/99
After finishing eighth with a 13-17 record and missing the playoffs in 1998, Sydney entered the 1998/99 season facing another major roster overhaul as the NBL shifted from a winter to a summer competition. Shane Heal departed to play for Near East in Greece, longtime captain Bruce Bolden joined the newly established West Sydney Razorbacks, and Brad Williams and Stephen Whitehead were not re-signed. Evers Burns also departed, leaving the Kings without another established frontcourt contributor. Head coach Bill Tomlinson retained Matthew Nielsen, Aaron Trahair, Scott McGregor, Kelsey Weems and young centre Michael Kingma, while adding Ben Castle (via Brisbane), Darren Smith (via state league) and import Alonzo Goldston. Veteran point guard Brad Rosen was appointed captain following Bolden’s departure.

Sydney opened its season against the expansion West Sydney Razorbacks at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on October 10, with Kingma not selected for the Kings’ opening game. Nielsen (23 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks) led Sydney offensively, while Trahair (18 points and 5 rebounds) provided additional backcourt support. John Rillie (23 points) led the Razorbacks to a 103-97 victory in their NBL debut, beginning a difficult opening stretch for the rebuilt Kings, who lost eight of their first nine games.

Kingma (2.1 points across 8 games) returned for his second NBL season after making his debut with Sydney in 1998, when he had appeared in just two games and scored two points. Having developed through the Manly basketball program, Kingma remained a young frontcourt prospect and received limited opportunities behind the Kings’ established big men. His playing time increased from 3.5 to seven minutes per appearance, while his scoring rose from one point per game the previous season. Across his eight appearances, he scored 17 points, collected 14 rebounds and blocked four shots, converting eight of his 14 field-goal attempts at 57 percent. However, with Tomlinson relying heavily on his starting frontcourt, Kingma remained on the fringes of the rotation throughout the campaign.

Kingma made his first appearance of the season against Canberra on November 7, playing just under three minutes as Sydney suffered a 111-88 defeat at the AIS Arena. He was held scoreless without recording a rebound, assist, steal or block, receiving limited opportunities to influence the result. Nielsen (27 points and 4 rebounds) led Sydney in scoring, while Weems (17 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) provided further support. Former Kings import Melvin Thomas (27 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists) dominated for Canberra, extending Sydney’s losing streak as the team continued struggling to establish a consistent rotation.

The Kings’ difficult start resulted in a change to their import combination, with Goldston (14.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks across 6 games) released after six appearances and replaced by former NBA centre Acie Earl (21.6 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 2.9 blocks across 20 games). Earl had previously played for the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors after being selected in the first round of the 1993 NBA Draft, and had famously scored 40 points against his former Boston teammates while playing for Toronto. His arrival gave Sydney another established interior scoring option, further limiting the opportunities available to Kingma in the frontcourt. Earl quickly made an impact, including a 33-point, 12-rebound performance on 12-of-19 shooting against Brisbane, where he helped restrict Bullets centre Thaddeus Delaney to four field goals from 14 attempts. Sydney defeated Brisbane 103-95 in overtime on December 12, completing a three-game winning streak, although Kingma did not appear during that run.

Kingma produced one of his strongest performances of the season against Townsville at the Townsville Entertainment Centre on January 8, finishing with 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block. He converted two of his four field-goal attempts and committed no turnovers, providing some resistance inside as the Kings suffered their heaviest defeat of the campaign. Weems (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Sydney’s scoring, while Earl (14 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks) provided further frontcourt production. Sam MacKinnon (24 points) led the Crocodiles, who recorded a convincing 116-68 victory. Although Kingma’s contribution was relatively modest, his rebounding and defensive presence represented one of his better all-around performances in a season where his playing opportunities remained limited.

Kingma’s highest-scoring return during the season was six points, although he remained a secondary option in Sydney’s frontcourt. His final appearance came against Victoria at Melbourne Park on February 27, where he was held scoreless but recorded a block as the Kings suffered a 98-87 defeat. Earl (23 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks) led Sydney, while Trahair (14 points and 10 rebounds) provided additional support. Tony Ronaldson (27 points) was Victoria’s leading scorer, helping the Titans secure another victory as Sydney’s hopes of returning to the playoffs disappeared. Kingma did not appear in either of the Kings’ remaining two games.

Beyond Kingma’s limited opportunities, Sydney relied heavily on its leading Australian players and the production of Earl. Nielsen (20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 19 games) increased his scoring from 16.4 points the previous season and established himself as one of the club’s primary offensive weapons. Trahair (15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across 26 games) remained a dependable contributor across both guard positions, while Weems (15.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists across 26 games) provided scoring and playmaking despite being unable to match the 20 points per game he had averaged during his late-season arrival in 1998. McGregor (12.7 points and 6.4 rebounds across 26 games) increased his production from the previous season, while Smith (6.1 points and 3 rebounds across 25 games), Castle (4.6 points across 16 games) and captain Rosen (3.6 points across 25 games) provided additional Australian depth. Earl’s dominant individual performances earned him All-NBL Third Team honours, but Sydney remained unable to establish consistent winning form, finishing with a 5-8 home record and a 4-9 road record.

Sydney completed its season against cross-town rivals West Sydney at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on March 12, with Kingma not appearing in the Kings’ final game. Earl (26 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks) dominated inside, while Trahair (19 points and 3 rebounds) provided additional backcourt scoring. Derek Rucker (29 points and 5 rebounds) led the Razorbacks, whose roster also included former Kings captain Bolden, the season’s NBL Sixth Man of the Year. Sydney secured a 98-91 victory to finish with consecutive wins, but the Kings ended the campaign ninth with a 9-17 record and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

1999/00
Michael Kingma entered his third season with Sydney in 1999/00, having previously appeared in two games during 1998 and eight games in 1998/99. The developing Australian centre remained a depth option behind the Kings’ established frontcourt as the club attempted to rebound from consecutive disappointing seasons. Brett Brown replaced Bill Tomlinson as head coach, with Sydney adding Ben Melmeth (via Newcastle), Derek Moore (via South Carolina-Aiken University) and reigning NBL MVP Steve Woodberry (via Brisbane) alongside returning stars Matthew Nielsen, Aaron Trahair and Acie Earl. Kingma’s opportunities remained limited, particularly after Earl was replaced by former Adelaide championship forward Kevin Brooks during the opening weeks.

Kingma made his first appearance of the season against Wollongong on December 17, playing less than two minutes in Sydney’s 120-97 victory. He received more playing time the following evening against Perth at the Sydney SuperDome, recording 6 points and 1 rebound in almost eight minutes. Kingma converted two of four field goals and both free throws, but the Kings suffered a heavy 115-84 defeat. Derek Moore (18 points, 9 rebounds and 1 block) and Darren Smith (17 points) led Sydney, while Paul Rogers (23 points and 12 rebounds) dominated the paint for Perth. The performance represented Kingma’s equal highest-scoring game of the season.

Kingma (3 points across 5 games) averaged just over five minutes per appearance, with his strongest all-around performance coming against Adelaide at Adelaide Arena on January 14. He recorded 6 points, 4 rebounds and 1 steal in just under eight minutes, converting three of six field goals to match his season-high scoring total. Kendrick Johnson (19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists) led Sydney offensively, while Trahair (17 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists) provided additional support. Brett Maher (33 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists) dominated for Adelaide, leading the 36ers to a convincing 124-99 victory. Despite the result, Kingma’s four rebounds and efficient contribution represented his most productive appearance of the season.

Kingma’s final game of the season came against Perth the following evening, where he played just over three minutes without scoring. He finished the campaign having scored 15 points and collected 7 rebounds across five appearances, although his limited playing time provided few opportunities to establish himself in Brown’s rotation. Despite strong performances from Nielsen, who was named Sydney’s team MVP, and Moore, who won NBL Rookie of the Year, the Kings struggled throughout the season and finished ninth with an 11-17 record, missing the playoffs for a fourth consecutive year.

2000/01
The 2000/01 season saw Kingma average 1.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.1 assists and play a key role in helping the Kings to a fifth place finish in the regular season (17-11).

2001/02
During the 2001/02 season Kingma averaged 2.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.2 assists and helped the Kings finish the regular season in eighth place (14-16).

2002/03
Kingma was a member of the Kings’ 2003 NBL championship team, averaging 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds that year under Brian Goorjian.

HUNTER PIRATES
2003/04
As a result of Canberra’s NBL licence moving to Newcastle, former Cannons players Brendan Mann, Matthew Shanahan and Cameron Rigby all came across to the Pirates to form the beginnings of the Pirates roster. Hunter chose not to retain Cannons coach Cal Bruton and signed Bruce Palmer as their first head coach.

Hunter signed rookie point guard Chris Harriman (via Augusta State) straight out of college and filled the remainder of the roster with low-cost imports Kevin Brooks and Chris Brown, local players Josh Morgan and Adam Melmeth, and a number of players who had been discarded by their former clubs like Geordie Cullen (via Wollongong), Michael Kingma (via Sydney) and Travis Lindstrom (via Perth) who were all unable to secure deals elsewhere.

It took six games before the Pirates won their first game, a four-point victory over Adelaide at home (103–99) and then managed to win only one more, a home win against Cairns (109–103) and ended their first season on a 15-game losing streak. Their two win season was the second worst in NBL history (outside of Geelong’s zero win season in 1988).

Initial coach Bruce Palmer was controversially fired partway into the season and was replaced by assistant coach David Simmons but that made little difference to the team’s success.

Cullen (17.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) would lead the team in scoring and win the league’s Most Improved Player award at the end of the season. Kevin Brooks (16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists), Matthew Shanahan (15.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists) and Chris Brown (10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) would lead the team in scoring. Starting point guard Brendan Mann (9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals) suffered a season ending injury only three games into the season, resulting in rookie Chris Harriman (7.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4 assists) stepping into the starting lineup. Harriman would narrowly miss out of winning the Rookie of the Year award, finishing second to West Sydney’s Steven Markovic.

Kingma would play in all 32 games for the Pirates and deliver the best numbers of his career, averaging 9.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks.

Michael Kingma played seven seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Hunter Pirates and the Sydney Kings. He averaged 4.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.3 assists in 120 NBL games.