Bul Kuol signed a three-year contract with Sydney Kings.
Bul Kuol, a South Sudanese-Australian winger, has signed a three-year contract with the Sydney Kings, according to reports.
The third year of the contract is a mutual option, according to sources, with the Kings launching NBL Free Agency on Monday by signing one of the best available players on the market.
Kuol allegedly signed a three-year contract with the Kings, who have already parted ways with Angus Glover, DJ Hogg, and Jackson Makoi as they develop a new roster under Goorjian.
The former Rookie of the Year averaged a career-high 12.7 points per game in NBL24 and shot more than 40% from three-point range.
“The reason this one was able to get done so quickly was Bul Kuol told the Taipans very early in the piece he would not be returning, so other teams were able to seek permission to speak with him, and they did that,” Uluc said in an interview with The Marketplace.
“The Kings were involved, the South East Melbourne Phoenix were a team that was involved, the Illawarra Hawks and New Zealand Breakers were teams that asked the question, but it’s the Sydney Kings who get Bul Kuol – someone who they chased last season.”
Derek Rucker believes Kuol’s offensive ability has been understated due to his reputation as a defensive stopper.
“Offensively you’re getting a guy who can shoot the ball. He’s one of the best shooters in the NBL,” Derek Rucker said. “Now, if you put him in an infrastructure offensively where his offensive role is more defined I think that’s going to be even better for him.
“He is three-and-d in a championship winning team,” Peter Hooley added. “He’s not going to be your biggest offensive weapon, but he’s going to be your best three-and-d guy on a championship calibre team.”
One of the most exciting Australian talents in collegiate basketball will be heading to the Sydney Kings. Keli Leaupepe will join Brian Goorjian’s side on a three-year deal, with the final season possessing a club option.
Leaupepe will arrive at the Kings from NCAA program Loyola Marymount, and Uluc has not only compared him to an NBL legend, but says there was surprise around the league that it took this long for the prospect to turn professional.
“The Kings have locked in one of the best college returnees on the market,” Uluc said. “Leaupepe, following him on Instagram. He is absolutely a monster, he is in the gym 24/7 and from a physical standpoint his frame is huge,” Uluc said.
“When you speak around the league, who does Keli Leaupepe remind you of? People are saying a Mika Vukona mould if Mika Vukona played in 2024. That’s what the Sydney Kings are getting, a really high-level, young, local big.
“There were rotation spots in the NBL last season for Keli Leaupepe and people were surprised he returned to Loyola Marymount. He was one of the most sought-after college guys this cycle.
Peter Hooley saw Leaupepe’s qualities firsthand before the highly touted talent headed Stateside, and says the big almost looked ready for the NBL five years ago.
“He was training with us at Melbourne United five years ago before he went to Loyola, around then he was almost body-ready to play in the NBL,” Hooley said.
“He’s a gym junkie and loves to get in there and lift weights, he’s scrappy and rips things down, that is a recipe for success.
“To come in and have the body to translate to a professional league as physical as the NBL, and he had the season where he shot 44 per cent from three and he’s averaged double figures in division one since he was a freshman.
“He’s continued every year to get better and he’s going to have a lot of success in this league from day one because he’s going to be able to throw his weight around.”
The signing has been confirmed by the Kings.
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