Basketball On The Internet.

THE return to the NBL of athletic import forward Torrey Craig substantially changes Sydney's championship aspirations in the wake of the Kings' recent season-ending loss of defensive specialist Bul Kuol. Even at 35, the 538-game NBA veteran has plenty to offer, the Kings now very much in contention again.

Remember they've been winning games of late without Boomers duo Xavier Cooks and Matthew Dellavedova, a testament to the coaching of Brian Goorjian.

In fact last night, after Sydney staved off Tasmania 105-94, the JackJumpers' championship-winning coach Scott Roth was effusive in his praise for Goorjian, the GOAT of NBL coaching.

Roth's remarks about the outstanding job Goorj has been doing flew in the face of the whispered criticisms the GOAT had to know were being uttered when the Kings were yet to find the formula.

Injuries haven't helped - but there are many clubs in that particular sinking boat.

Losing Kuol, who was finally showing long overdue glimpses of the player Sydney originally recruited from Cairns Taipans, further was compounded by Cooks' injury and Dellavedova's concussion.

Securing Craig, a 196cm forward with not only NBL experience but who also played across the ditch in the NZ NBL with Wellington Saints, is huge.

Craig, a selfless team-first man, was recruited out of college by Aaron Fearne and came off the Cairns Taipans' bench in 2014-15.

In Adelaide against the 36ers, he subbed in behind Stephen Weigh and scored 19 points with 10 rebounds, winning me as a fan for life.

Whatever sense it made to bring him off the bench, he accepted it without complaint and Cairns reached the Grand Final. Craig then spent the off-season with Wellington, winning the NZ NBL MVP before returning for a second NBL stint with Cairns.

Winning the NZ NBL championship in his sophomore season at Wellington, he then shifted to Brisbane Bullets where he starred, claiming the NBL's Best Defensive Player honours.

Next he starred for Gold Coast Rollers in the QBL - now NBL1 North - before his talent and aptitude finally were recognised by the NBA.

Across eight years in the NBA, starting at Denver Nuggets and concluding at Boston Celtics in 2025 - stops in between at Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls - he was a joy to watch, always putting his team's needs first.

He opened his Kings stint with a 12-point, 4-rebound, 1-assist, 2-steals, 2-blocks debut in the win over the Jackies, his versatility on display.

Torrey Craig may just be the missing piece Sydney wisely waited to find.