Made for this moment: How Davis built a champion’s mindset

Sunday’s Hungry Jack’s Championship Series Game 5 between the Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers will be a game that hoops fans talk about for a long time.

Not only was the Qudos Bank Arena fixture the first-ever Championship Series Game 5 to go to overtime, but the back-and-forth clash had 31 lead changes throughout, capped by a memorable momentum swing in the extra period.

The catalyst for that late push was Championship Series MVP Kendric Davis, who put up 35 points and 14 assists on the day, becoming the first player to do so in a Championship Series game.

Upon reflecting on the incredible game, in which the Kings came back from the brink, Davis credited the whole Kings squad for helping the franchise win its sixth title.

“We were the best team all year; we had to get it done. There’s no excuse,” Davis said on the Moments That Mattered, presented by Mitsubishi Motors.

“We said it at the time when Bryce [Cotton] hit the big three. We’ve been the best team, let's show it, and man, did we stick together.

“We were down seven, but we also talked about being up nine in both games, so [we knew] it wasn't over.

“[I know] everybody is going to talk about me, but the offensive rebound Tim [Soares] got. The screens X (Xavier Cooks) set, the offensive rebounds by Torrey [Craig], the deflections JG (Jaylin Galloway) got, they were all huge, as was the deadly defence by Makuach [Maluach].

“Honestly, Goorj (Brian Goorjian) and I stayed up all night trying to [figure out how we were] going to stop Bryce.”

It wasn’t just the playing group and coaches that received praise from the Championship Series MVP.

“I owe the Kings everything. They took a chance on me after everything that got said last year. I was getting plenty of hate, but they helped me fall back in love with the game,” Davis said in the post-game press conference.

“You don’t find too many organisations like that, and this is bigger than basketball to me.”

Not only did Davis reflect on the 12-point win and his purple and gold franchise, but he also spoke about his incredible journey to get to this point and the role the Harbour City club played in it.

“My mom always said if we’re not doing greatness, we're not doing nothing, and that's in anything we do. If it’s racing line to line, I need to beat you, and that’s just how I’ve prepared myself for life,” Davis said on Moments That Mattered, presented by Mitsubishi Motors.

“That’s why I’m in the gym two hours before practice and 30 minutes after, preparing for moments [like this], not to mention also taking care of my body by not drinking or smoking.”

One of the main narratives throughout the season was Davis’ growing rivalry with six-time MVP Bryce Cotton, which the former said was “all love”.

“I'm a little guy, so I always try to find a chip on my shoulder.

“When I see him [Bryce Cotton] say I’ve never had a rivalry in this league, that's the motivation I need. There’s no grudge, I love the guy, I grew up watching him and take stuff from how he plays and [implement it] into mine. It’s all love, and [competition like that] is how I get myself going.

“We love each other and are going to spend time together in the summer, but I just wanted to show I’m the better player this year and make him feel me.

“This was all part of my growth as the player I am today. It's my time now and I'm coming home a champion."

The 26-year-old wrapped up his chat with NBL commentators Pete Hooley and Derek Rucker by acknowledging the competition and what it’s done for him over the past two seasons.

“ I just want to say thank you to the NBL for giving me this opportunity and for this platform,” he said.

“Basketball in Australia is great right now. It's a Sunday afternoon, and we had nearly 19,000 people in the stands in Sydney. That's hard to do.

“We want to keep the game growing even if I'm not here.

"I still want the game to keep growing, and hopefully next year, it could get even better.”