Childress back for Sydney Kings

Injury-dogged former NBA star Josh Childress is set to play just his fourth game of the NBL season when he returns for the Sydney Kings against Melbourne United on Wednesday night.

The American import comes back just in time to match up against longtime friend and former Phoenix Suns teammate Hakim Warrick in the home clash against a third-placed United team buoyed by their last-up win over ladder-leaders Perth Wildcats.

But it's been another blighted season for Childress - and the last-placed Kings - as he has missed 15 games across three injury stints to follow the 10 missed last season when he was also hit by injury and suspension.

After sitting out the opening four games with a foot complaint, he was sidelined for six games with a broken hand suffered in October against the Adelaide 36ers then broke a finger on his other hand on return in a loss to Cairns Taipans.

The Kings (14-4) have lost four of their past five games since, but they will take plenty of heart from knowing the one win in that time was against Melbourne United in Melbourne on December 16.