Basketball: New-look King a revelation

Otago Nuggets forward Sam King is shining on court after losing 26kg. Photo by Linda Robertson.
Otago Nuggets forward Sam King is shining on court after losing 26kg. Photo by Linda Robertson.
Sam ''king-sized'' King is twice the basketballer but half the size these days.

Well, that is not completely accurate. But the Otago Nuggets forward has lost a staggering 26kg.

He peaked at 138kg about a year ago and has trimmed down to 112kg. It has made an enormous difference to his basketball.

Suddenly he feels he can compete the way he has always wanted to, and he has been a revelation this season.

The 23-year-old former Junior Tall Black has always had a lovely touch, and last Saturday came off the bench to score 22 points and nab five rebounds in the Nuggets' 82-64 win over the Canterbury Rams in Christchurch.

It was a breakthrough performance and just what the side needed with import Warren Carter running into foul trouble.

''It was awesome, especially with the family there. They came up from Timaru for the game,'' King said.

''I just came on during the first quarter and hit a couple of shots and kept it rolling.

''I feel like I can actually compete, whereas in previous years I've been slow. After a few times up and down the court I'd be feeling tired.''

King is in his third season with the Nuggets. He took 2013 off to shed some weight and to focus on his studies. He is in the fourth year of a physical education degree at the University of Otago and plans on doing a teaching diploma next year.

The weight came off the old-fashioned way - by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

''I was coming into the season and not in very good shape again and just felt like I wasn't ready for it,'' he said of his decision to skip last season.

''It was tough, especially that first home game. But I was also happy for the team. They got on a roll.

''[The break] definitely helped me freshen up and I got my motivation back on track. Got my body right. It was definitely a positive year for me.''

The Nuggets reached the playoffs for the first time in 16 years and the new-look team has made another strong start this season. The Nuggets have three wins from four games and host the Hawkes Bay Hawks (4-1) today. It shapes as a good contest.

The 2m-tall King is likely to start from the bench and can sub in for Warren Carter or Brendon Polyblank at any stage.

When he gets on court, he could find himself marking one of the Hawks' American duo of Kareem Johnson or Dustin Scott.

They are both over 2m tall and the Hawks will probably look to dominate the inside exchanges.

Scott is averaging 15.8 points and 10.8 rebounds in five games and guard Everard Bartlett is a big threat from the outside. He is averaging 18.6 points and is leading the three-point percentages.

The Nuggets' perimeter defence has been excellent, however, and will need to be again if the home side is going to prevail this afternoon.

The Hawks have a nicely balanced side, whereas the Nuggets will rely on tough defence and look to attack in the transition.

Player-coach Mark Dickel missed the heartbreaking 77-76 loss to the Wellington Saints on Monday with a sore hamstring but is expected to play.

The Nuggets have also been working on securing a replacement for the injured Marques Whippy.

Nuggets v Hawks
Where:
Edgar Centre.
When: Today, 5pm.
Nuggets: Mark Dickel, Micah Lepaio, Troy Payne, Brendon Polyblank, Warren Carter, Sam King, Tony Tolovae, Steve Robinson, Damon Cleverley, Olly Smith, Richard Rodger, Darcy Knox.
Hawks: Paora Winitana, Jarrod Kenny, Dustin Scott, Kareem Johnson, Everard Bartlett, Marco Alexander, Darryl Jones, Anamata Haku, Shaquille Hohipa-Wilson, Matt Wilson.

 

Add a Comment