After years of disappointment, Sydney Kings shooting guard Michael Bryson says the Kings are ready to take back the National Basketball League crown.
"If you're not aiming for the best, then you're not in the right game. You know, obviously, we want to aim for a championship. We want to aim for, you know, bringing the city what they deserve, which, like I said, is a championship."
After losing 22 of their 28 games last season, Sydney has recruited a number of new players.
That includes last season's Most Valuable Player, Australian Olympian Kevin Lisch.
"Yeah, it's been a whirlwind, I guess. To be honest, 12 months ago, I did not see myself here, but I couldn't be happier now."
Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze - the Most Valuable Player trophy is named after him - is another new addition, taking over as head coach.
Gaze says the Kings are openly aiming for the NBL championship.
"We absolutely make no qualms about the fact that our goal is to win the NBL title."
But the team roster is not the only thing that has been revamped.
The Kings have a new castle, at Sydney Olympic Park.
The newly renovated Qudos Bank Arena features the biggest scoreboard in the southern hemisphere.
Michael Bryson, a recruit from the United States, says he is impressed by the Kings' new home.
"This is huge. They don't have a whole lot of this in America as well. It's very refined, the TV looks incredible. There's a lot of good energy in here. So I'm very excited to see what happens Saturday."
All NBL games will be broadcast live in China this season.
And the Sydney Kings recently signed the NBL's first Chinese-born player, Bo Liu.
Kings centre Aleks Maric says he hopes the NBL will draw significant attention from Chinese audiences.
"The Chinese love basketball, and, particularly, the style of basketball that the Australians play, with all the NBA athletes we have playing in the NBA. The Chinese love it. And if we can tap into that market, and bring even 10 per cent of that into Australia, it would mean so much for our league."
The Kings will take on the Brisbane Bullets in front of a home crowd for their first match of the season.
Andrew Gaze admits he is nervous for his side's season debut.
"I'm considerably nervous, I would say. So much work has gone in, and I'm more nervous to try and provide a reward for the staff and what they've done, the owner and what he's done. The amount of work that they have put in to get to this point has been enormous."
Aleks Maric says competition for this year's championship is tighter than ever.
"Every game, all 14 games in Sydney, are going to be blockbusters, because the league is so tight and so talented this year, so every game's going to come down to a nailbiter."
But Kevin Lisch, the team captain, says the Kings are up to the challenge.
"The main thing is just playing together as a unit and really enjoying the process, and each other, out there on the court. And then, I think, we have a talented team, so the rest will take care of itself."
