Today the Sydney Kings announced through media release that they have signed guard Damien Ryan to their “resurrected” roster for 2010/11. The Australian Boomers squad member brings fire-power from the perimeter as well as valuable experience gained during the past six years played in Italy.
Prior to heading to Europe, Ryan was named NBL Rookie of the Year with the Canberra Cannons in 1999, as well as playing for the Brisbane Bullets (2000-03) and a short stint with the Perth Wildcats in 2006. He is capable of handling both guard positions, which is a versatility-boost for a Kings team that had some questioning the choice to sign two small point guards in Luke Martin and Luke Cooper. Fans now await the announcement of final signings to fill out the roster, with rumours suggesting that swingman Rod Grizzard will take the other import slot, completing a likely starting lineup alongside Martin, Ryan, import small forward Taj McCulloch and big man Julian Khazzouh. The rest of the signings can be seen here.
From the press release:
“I have been looking for the right opportunity to return from Europe and rejoin the NBL competition. The proud history of the Kings, the city of Sydney, and the revamped NBL competition all combined for the ingredients I have been looking for,” said Ryan. “The addition of Conner Henry, who I played for shortly in 2006/NBL season, the style Coach Ian Robilliard will instil in the programme, and the excitement to be a part in the resurrection of the iconic Sydney Kings were added incentives to return to Australia now,” he added.
Joining Head Coach Ian Robilliard as the full-time assistant coach is former Boston Celtic NBA player Conner Henry. Part time assistant Tim Hudson and full time Team Manager Laurie Watterson will also join the off-court team.
The pedigree of Conner Henry makes him one of most prominent basketball identities to participate in Australian basketball. The former college teammate of NBL star Scott Fisher at University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB), Conner was drafted by the Houston Rockets in 1986 before joining the famed Boston Celtics that same year. Announced to join the Kings on the eve of yet another NBA Finals series between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, Conner knows that rivalry and tradition all too well having played in the classic 1987 NBA Finals series between Boston and LA where the Celtics lost the NBA Championship to the Lakers.
“Putting on that Boston singlet was one of the most special honours in my entire playing career. That tradition and culture the Celtics built has been a major motivating factor for me to join the Kings with Coach Robilliard laying out his plans on how we will build a similar culture in the Kings organisation,” said Henry.
The 6’7″ former point guard joined Scott Fisher at the Perth Wildcats after ten seasons playing professionally in Europe and replaced Fisher as the Head Coach of Perth in the 2008/09 season.
