NBL trophy breaks as Sydney Kings celebrate thrilling overtime win
The Sydney Kings are celebrating with gusto their championship-winning victory over the Adelaide 36ers.
With so much gusto, in fact, that the NBL trophy broke.
Standing on stage with his team on Sunday as purple and gold confetti was sent streaming through the air, Sydney captain Xavier Cooks rocked the trophy from side to side in celebration of the Kings' thrilling 113-101 win in overtime.
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Xavier Cooks and his Sydney Kings teammates celebrate winning the 2026 NBL title. Getty
He then hoisted the trophy above his head, and with a couple of shakes the NBL's holy grail fell apart.
Two figurines that adorned the trophy tumbled off and hit the floor with a thud — to the bemusement, of course, of Cooks and his teammates.
The Kings, coached by legendary mentor Brian Goorjian, edged the 36ers in game five of the 2026 championship series to secure their third NBL title in five years.
Superstar Kings guard Kendric Davis chalked up 35 points and 14 assists in front of a record crowd of 18,589.
He was then crowned MVP of the championship series.
Adelaide guard Bryce Cotton tallied 35 points of his own in another enthralling battle with Davis.
Adelaide led by seven points at three-quarter time and six points with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth term, but Davis and Tim Soares then scored two points each to ensure the scoreline was 95 apiece at the end of regulation time.
Davis proved the difference in overtime, scoring a pair of two-pointers and a three-pointer.
Makuach Maluach was also superb in overtime. The gun forward blocked a shot and Jaylin Galloway scored on the back of it. Maluach then stole the ball, streaked away and slam-dunked for a basket of his own.
