Cooks credits Delly’s defensive masterclass

Xavier Cooks says the Sydney Kings’ run to another NBL Championship Series has been built on the relentless effort and winning plays of teammates like Matthew Dellavedova and Makuach Maluach, while also crediting the leadership of coach Brian Goorjian.

Dellavedova has been central to that effort.

The NBA champion and four-time Olympian has brought trademark intensity on the defensive end, most notably against Perth star Kristian Doolittle across the first two games of the series.

When Doolittle threatened to take over in the third quarter of Game 1, Dellavedova spent the rest of the night hounding him and making every possession difficult.

He followed it up with another relentless defensive display in Game 2 on Saturday, helping hold the Wildcats forward to 3/15 shooting for 15 points and stopping him from finding any real rhythm.

"I absolutely love it (having him as a teammate) and just watching him work his absolute tail off there for all the minutes he played and to ask for a sub because he's trying so hard," Cooks said.

"His physicality he brings and the wear down factor, to keep Doolittle to 3/15 who's an All-NBL elite level player, I think it's a wear down effect that Delly does and he just plays his arse off every single game.

"We're lucky to have him."

The addition of Torrey Craig has been significant, but another key reason the Kings have continued to surge after losing Bul Kuol is the way Maluach has stepped up.

What began as a defensive presence has quickly grown into far more, with Maluach’s offensive game now flowing. That was on full display in Game 2, where he delivered a career-best 23 points and eight rebounds.

"He just makes winning plays and I even go back to the last game and that block he had on JLA (Jo Lual-Acuil Jr), I think that won us the game with the momentum we had from that," Cooks said.

"Then tonight, he made huge plays down the stretch with little mid-range pull ups, he plays his tail off and he's guarding the best player and has a huge role on offence now.

"There's no better person for it, he's the nicest guy and he's worked his absolute tail off to get here."

Cooks was equally full of praise for coach Goorjian, particularly the way the veteran mentor has adapted to guide the Kings into his first NBL Championship Series in 17 years.

"It's unbelievable and I think coaching goes so much further than the X's and O's, it's about knowing your players and the relationships, and reading the room and things like that," Cooks said.

"He's just an elite coach like that and with the way we started this year and changed our identity, and how he rallied the boys together, and the love that this team has for this man is unbelievable.

"I keep saying this, but we're so lucky to have him as well and he's just such a great coach."