Why Davis' emotion could backfire on Kings

The Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers Championship Series rematch provided plenty of fireworks on Sunday, with none bigger than the altercation between Bryce Cotton and Kendric Davis.

In the final quarter at Afterpay Arena, the pair came face-to-face and had to be separated.

During this week’s Moments That Matter, presented by Mitsubishi Motors, 1990 NBL MVP Derek Rucker worries this type of reaction is becoming too common from Davis.

“We get this arousal of emotions from Kendric Davis when things aren’t going his way,” Rucker said.

“It’s starting to become a problem, but it’s great viewing for us.

“It happens when things aren’t going his way, or his team is losing or about to lose.

“I worry [what happens when the] team success isn’t there down the line and Kendric keeps having these disruptions.

“Is he going to get the benefit of the doubt from his teammates and from his coach, who are going to continue to say, ‘Okay, it’s all right, Kendric. Keep being you’?

“That tide never goes in one way, and there are always some repercussions when the team doesn’t meet the successful levels that the Kings did last season.”

In the same vein, Rucker wants the NBL26 Championship Series MVP to harness that emotion ahead of Wednesday’s Ignite Cup fixture.

“Here’s the other side, though. I don’t want Kendric to forget who he is,” he said.

“This is also what is making him great, but I think [he needs] to just temper it and pick and choose his times.

“Maybe we’ve seen enough for early in the season in terms of mouthing off; pull it in a little bit, and focus on playing.

“They’re going to Canberra for an Ignite Cup game, and I’m sure Brian Goorjian really wants them to consolidate now after this first wake-up call.”

Sydney hosts New Zealand at the AIS Arena from 7.30pm AEDT on Wednesday, live on ESPN.