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WATCH TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS with Megan Hustwaite weekly on Thursday from 7 pm (AEDT) through SBS Sport on Twitter, or catch up through SBS On Demand, or on the prime of this text.
The 27-year-old Chicago native has racked up a really world basketball resume in his six-year profession, enjoying for professional groups in Korea, Turkey, Italy and Greece earlier than discovering a house with the Phoenix for the 2020-21 NBL season.
Nevertheless it was Sykes’ 2019 season on the Guangzhou Loong Lions within the Chinese language Basketball Affiliation (CBA) that introduced him essentially the most recognition, because of a Forbes article evaluating him to prolific NBA guard Harden, at the moment a member of the Brooklyn Nets.
The article, titled ‘Keifer Sykes is the James Harden of China’ chronicled Sykes’ excellent performances for the Lions, wherein he was main the league in scoring with a median of 34.6 factors per recreation and had posted a 50-point outing on the time the piece was written.
Sykes instructed Megan Hustwaite the way it felt to be in comparison with the NBA All-Star and 2018 MVP.
“The James Harden of China got here from final season, round Thanksgiving time,” Sykes stated.
“They only did this large Forbes article the place they stated I used to be the James Harden of China, on account of my effectivity, my rankings in factors and assists, and rebounds.
“I used to be one of many prime gamers there. So I imply, I will take that any day, he was the MVP of the league!”
At the moment averaging 17 factors and seven assists per recreation with the Phoenix, Sykes additionally spoke about his admiration for the NBL and its’ type of basketball and the way he is loved enjoying down beneath thus far.
“It is only a lovely league,” Sykes stated of the NBL. “I have been desirous to play right here for some time, I am completely happy I made the choice.
“I just like the type right here within the NBL, it is extra free-flowing.
“There’s quite a lot of completely different scoring from quite a lot of completely different guys.
“There’s not top-heavy groups the place solely a specific amount of gamers can play at a excessive degree, all Australians can play so the league’s aggressive.
“All of the groups are robust, so each recreation is an efficient recreation.”
The interview was the newest as a part of the brand new SBS collection, TAB Courtside 1v1, hosted by Megan Hustwaite, giving followers an opportunity to get to know extra concerning the distinctive personalities from the NBA, WNBA, NBL and WNBL, which assist form basketball in Australia.
Hustwaite, who has been masking all ranges of Australian basketball for the previous 13 years as a reporter, commentator and journalist, will helm the weekly present – each Thursday at 7 pm (AEDT) – the place she interviews stars of the previous, current and future.
Sykes mentioned quite a few matters with Hustwaite, together with the next:
0:46 – Initiation to the NBL
2:04 – Seeing Australia whereas being on the highway with SEM to begin the season
2:58 – Being on the highway has allowed the crew to gel
3:36 – Why he wished to play in Australia
4:52 – Fashion of the NBL in comparison with leagues in Europe and China
5:35 – First recreation and win at residence vs Hawks
6:16 – Pleasure across the NBL Cup
7:40 – Chi-City – the documentary about him
9:15 – His upbringing in Chicago
10:45 – The affect of his late father James
12:18 – His basis and the work it does for the neighborhood
13:48 – His NBA dream
15:14 – ‘’James Harden of China tag’’ and the place it got here from
15:52 – Phoenix’s play-offs hopes
16:20 – Returning subsequent 12 months
SBS is broadcasting a number of regular-season NBA video games per week in HD on SBS VICELAND and streamed reside through SBS On Demand. Plus, each recreation of the 2020-21 NBL season is LIVE, FREE and in HD through SBS On Demand, with choose video games additionally reside on SBS VICELAND.
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