In case you didn't hear about it a week back, Gary Ervin was named the NBL MVP for 2011, as he edged out the Sydney Kings' Julian Khazzouh by only one vote to take out the award. It was a truly remarkable season for the pocket rocket New York City native, as Ervin averaged 20.1ppg, 4.5apg and 3.4rpg, despite standing at only 5'11" in his first season for the Wollongong Hawks.

Thanks to the Hawks and their amazing multimedia output, we have this video where Ervin thanks the fans.

NBL MVP candidate Julian Khazzouh was good enough to provide us with an interview, to discuss his NBA and Australian Boomers aspirations, as well as his thoughts on the Sydney Kings in 2011/12.

I hear there is a D-League gig lined up for you?

No, not D-League. No I'm just going over there -- my agent has some things lined up with a couple of (NBA) teams over there. Just going to go and work out, see what it's like. I've never been over there before, so I don't know. If I go there and work out, other teams can come and watch me. It's just an eye-opening experience to go over there.

Is that just something that your agent hooked up for you?

Yeah, it's just something that he hooked up. I've never spoken about that much, I've never really had that many goals to go to America. I never really thought before this season that it was plausible. After having a good year, obviously teams are looking at you, so it's good.

Do you see yourself as a Nathan Hindmarsh of the Kings down the track -- a long-term cornerstone of the franchise? [Khazzouh is a long-time fan of the Parramatta Eels rugby league team and wanted to play in the NRL when he was a youngster -- Hindmarsh has played his entire career since 1998 with the club] 

I'd love to be. I'd love to be a King forever. I think we've got the best market in Australia by far. Other teams are jealous of the publicity we're getting. We're on the TV all the time. I know at the start of the season all of the guys would go out and shave and get haircuts before the game, but because we're on TV so much now, guys are getting used to it and I think it's a lot of fun playing in Sydney. People get to know us.

What do you think about the calls for you to be MVP, particularly with relation to you playing for a losing team?

I don't really think about the MVP stuff too much until other people bring it up to tell you the truth. It wasn't a goal of mine at the start of the season -- it didn't even seem plausible for me at the start of the season. I just went into the season wanting to average double-digit rebounds and be a decent shot-blocker. I never thought that I'd be in that calibre of players. It wasn't until I started stringing a few good games together and people started talking would I be able to keep it up and I think the most important thing for me is to be as consistent as possible and I've been able to do that.

Obviously having been away from the NBL for a while before you came back, where did you see yourself falling back into the league in the hierarchy, did you see yourself being anywhere near as good as you are?

I figured that if I could do what I learnt over in Europe -- that if I could bring that back over here, and try and bring that style of play back over here, where I wasn't the biggest body, that I was able to use my body a lot more than other people; I think that I was able to incorporate that well. I was able to come back here and it's been working for me so far.

What was it you found in Europe that were the big things that you learnt?

I think, just being a little bit quicker, just the way I can shoot the ball around the rim without getting blocked. Especially getting double-teamed -- I mean, I got double-teamed quite a bit. Coming over here and having to deal with the double teams. And just dealing with that responsibility. 

The way you get position right down low...

Exactly, and it has to be nice and quick and you can't have people pushing, you have to hold your line. And if they are putting two hands in your back then you have to sell it to the refs and get the foul and flip it up and in. 

During that whole losing streak did you get really down in the dumps phsychologically or did you just think that there was always light at the end of the tunnel?

No, no, I knew we were always going to turn the corner, and that we were always going to win some games. I didn't think it was going to be 14 games in a row that we'd lose, but I always knew that with the kind of players we have, that once we got to know each other that we'd always turn the corner and I think we've been better off for it. 

Did you see anything in particular that turned it around? Was there any key moment?

There was no key moment, I think it was just... we didn't know what to do, we didn't know what to do... and then of course Moose got that call from (rugby league legendary coach) Wayne Bennett and he came in one day with a fresh face and we turned that corner. I think that might've been the week that we turned things around, or maybe a couple of weeks after. But we came in with a new lease on things that we were doing in practice, all of sudden it was like we came from down in the dumps to up-beat again and things haven't changed since.

Do you have a best mate on the Kings?

No, I'm good mates with everyone I think. I spend a little bit more time with Ben Madgen because our girlfriends get along pretty well, so we're hanging out a fair bit, but Graeme Dann whom I've played with before, I'm good mates with him. That's the funny thing though, usually on teams I've played on there're little cliques within in the team, where you wouldn't do things with the whole team but would go and hang out with your mates. But here we do things as a team, we hang out together as a team, 12-deep even with the development players which is great.

Do you room with anyone in particular on the road? 

We do a good job, we change roommates every road trip. So you get to know everyone. I think that's when you get to know people the most when you get to spend a little bit more time with them away from basketball. 

Who is the biggest clown on the Kings?

(Mark) Dickel by far. [laughs] Him, closely followed by Graeme (Dann). Those two just talk so much crap sometimes it's not funny. Sometimes you just have to put headphones on and listen to music or it gets too much. 

In terms of the Boomers, have you got thoughts to what might happen there?

Yeah, I have. Obviously it's all about time commitments now and how long I'm in America. I might only be in America for a month and then I come back and do the Boomers stuff, but foremost I just have to concentrate on going over to America for a month, working out over there with all of the different teams there. And like I said, it's going to be a great experience learning from there. And there are things that I can bring back to the NBL. 

I know it's hard to visualise, but do you see yourself fitting into the Boomers as a key component?

I think that there's obviously a backlog of bigs in that position there, so if I'm able to go there and just have a run with them... I don't know, it's just all about learning. I'm still young, still got plenty of time to go there and do all of that stuff. But you never know what's going to happen. 

Do you see any key things in 2011/12 that the Kings really need to change on the court?

No, I think just keep the core group together. As long as players know what other players are going to do, you'll be successful. I think that's what Wollongong did in the first half of the season and they're starting to find some form now. It's because they've got that core group of players together and they know where they're going to be. It makes it a lot easier when you know your teammates. 

What is the type of big man that you like alongside you? Is it a banger to help you get rebounds and block shots, or is it a jump shooter to clear out and give you space to operate?

Either, or. It doesn't really bother me. I'll just fit around them, whatever they come and do. If they want to bang, then I'll just step out and shoot, but if they want to stand out and shoot then I'll just go inside. It doesn't particularly bother me what they want. 

Who has been your toughest opponent this year as an individual player?

[Thinks...] That's pretty tough. As a team, Perth. Because every time I touch the ball I have three guys on me before I could even think. Melbourne with their three bigs are pretty tough. And then Townsville with (Luke) Schenscher, he's pretty good -- he doesn't get as much credit as he deserves but he's a big body and good shot-blocker.

Many thanks to Julian Khazzouh for sharing his thoughts. The Kings play league-leaders the New Zealand Breakers on Thursday night at the North Shore Events Centre in Auckland, however Khazzouh will not take part after straining his groin in the recent clash with the Adelaide 36ers in Sydney. He joins Graeme Dann in street clothes, after he injured his knee against the Melbourne Tigers the previous week. Both are expected to return to action for the Kings' final two games against the Wollongong Hawks (away) and against the Gold Coast Blaze (home).

The Sydney Kings have today announced at a CBD press conference that head coach Ian "Moose" Robilliard has been re-signed for the 2011/12 season. After enduring a season that has seen the team survive a 14 game losing streak, Moose has been retained due to his ability to build a strong team culture, with the team in fine form leading into next season.

Sydney Kings' Team Committee Chairman, Max Schroder, said that the Board had unanimously (13-0) decided to renew Robilliard's contract for a second season to continue his success in what he described as a building year for the team.

"Moose had a very short time-frame to engage and train the Sydney Kings roster for the 2010/11 season. The Board is of the opinion that he deserved an opportunity to build on the success he and the rest of the team fostered in the latter part of the current season," Schroder said.

"It is only because of the belief and commitment of our ownership group, a dedicated support team, and predominantly Ian Robilliard and the players -- sometimes in very trying circumstances -- that we have finished our first season back in the NBL with our pride intact and the respect of the fans and wider basketball community", Turner said.

"A lesser coach, more focused on a trophy than having the determination to rebuild a club from scratch, and implement culture that is vital to the long-term success of the Sydney Kings, I doubt would have made the distance," he added.

Robilliard expressed his enthusiasm at building the team in a second season. Given that star Julian Khazzouh is the only player currently signed for 2011/12, the process can now begin in building the roster for next season, given that the coach is now on board. Robilliard described it as a "chicken and egg situation" in signing the coach and negotiating with players in contract renewals and approaching free agents.

The coach admits that the point guard position has been a weakness for the team this season -- primarily due to injuries -- but dismisses the idea that signing an import floor general is the only way in the NBL, preferring to steer clear of some of the swagger-laden import point guards who have made names for themselves in the league. In fact, with Robilliard having been an Australian point guard himself, he believes that there are plenty of homegrown options around the traps.

All current members of the Kings roster (and their agents) will be talked to by the management team regarding contract renewals for next season and their future aspirations. There are likely to be some changes to the roster, but Robilliard and Turner stop short of signalling wholesale changes. Moose is a big fan of NSW players, with a view to continuing the local flavour of the roster, which already includes Sydney-area products Khazzouh, Graeme Dann, Luke Martin, Ben Knight and numerous others. 

Robilliard's emphasis on the concept of "mutuality" has been embraced by the team as the course of the season has worn on. His philosophy revolves around watching each others' backs and looking out for the best interests of the team above those of the individual. The play of the team in their past 10 games would indicate that the team has taken on their head coach's mentality, forming a positive bond for their second season together.

The Kings have an on-court goal of making the playoffs in their second season. Given their play in the second half of the season, there is little doubt that they can achieve that with some tweaks to the roster. Off the court, the ownership group is pleased with the financial stability in place. Their goal is to become profitable by the end of their third season. On that track, the team expects to secure a naming rights sponsor by the beginning of the 2011/12 season, with an advertising agency currently on that project.

Khazzouh is a fine cornerstone for this team and will no doubt assist in attracting free agents to the Kings this off-season, as will the culture that the coach has fostered. Look out for an exclusive interview with Khazzouh here at A Stern Warning tomorrow. 

A questionable ruling by the National Basketball League means that Ben Madgen will be out of the running for an award he greatly deserves: 2010-11 NBL Rookie of the Year. And it's all got to do with the Adelaide 36ers.

Madgen has averaged 9.6ppg and 2.8rpg whilst shooting 39.6% from three-point range in 24 games this season. He has scored 17 points or more on 5 occasions, including a 25 point, four rebound, four assist performance on 4 February against the Adelaide 36ers. They sound like the numbers of a key rotation player and certainly above average for an NBL rookie, don't they? 

By NBL standards, they certainly are the numbers of a potential Rookie of the Year. But Madgen has been ruled out of winning that award. Why? Well, that brings us back to the 36ers...

Madgen, a South Australian native, started out his "NBL career" as a development player with the 36ers in the 2005-06 season. He did not play a game for Adelaide, yet inexplicably that counts as NBL experience in the eyes of the awards committee.

Let's see how the Oxford Dictionary defines rookie: n. a member of a sports team in their first full season. 

And that is how the NBA and most sensible sports leagues around the world define the term too. If not for such a definition, we would not be discussing clear NBA ROY candidate Blake Griffin as the award winner this season, after he missed his first season through injury. Nor would we have considered the ultimately unfortunate Greg Oden for the same award last season.

Michael Cowley of the Sydney Morning Herald describes the situation here well:

A ''farcical'' ruling is set to not only rob Sydney Kings' guard Ben Madgen of the NBL's rookie of the year award, but a financial bonus from the club, too. Madgen was signed as the Kings 11th man before the season, and while that effectively meant his court time would be minimal, his management still asked the club to write into the contract a bonus if he was to win the league's rookie award. It agreed, and as the season went on the move appeared to be a master stroke for the 26-year-old. He elevated himself up the bench, at times into a starting role with the Kings, and has played 23 games. While not a certainty for the rookie award, Madgen and Melbourne's Luke Nevill were set to fight it out, until the NBL informed the Kings yesterday he is ineligible because he was a development player with Adelaide in the 2005-06 season. According to the NBL, a rookie is classified as a non-restricted player registered for the first time in the NBL. ''It's farcical - it's just not right,'' said Kings coach Ian Robilliard. ''We got an email this morning about it, and I wrote back saying … it's clearly his first season, it's the first time he's walked onto an NBL court. They are saying, 'no it's against the rules' … My response was 'well, change the rules because they are stupid.''' NBL general manager of operations Chuck Harmison said the rules could not be changed mid-season. ''We are sympathetic to Ben's case as it is unusual but the wording of the rules is crystal clear so this isn't a matter of interpretation,'' he said.

Obviously it is difficult and unwise to change the definition of an award after the season has started. But it begs the question as to why the definition was changed in the first place? Who decided that it was better to restrict the award to players that had never been "registered" with a team before?

Somewhere along the way, the restriction was changed from the previous definition, which read:

A Rookie player is classified as:
a. A player who has not received court-time in any NBL game; or
b. A player who has received court-time in no more than seven (7) NBL games.
Note: A player loses his Rookie status in his third season if he has received court-time in any number of games in his two previous NBL seasons.

Much more sensible, don't you think? This is one change which has happened since the restructure process of the NBL/BA that makes no sense the average spectator. 

Now the ROY award looks likely to be awarded to Luke Nevill (formerly of the Melbourne Tigers), a player who no longer plays in the league and who had experience playing in the NBA Development League (as well as the NCAA) before coming to the NBL. Does that seem more logical?

Instead, Madgen will miss out on the opportunity to join the likes of Andrew Gaze, Andrew Vlahov, Sam Mackinnon, John Rillie, Matthew Nielsen, Brad Newley and Joe Ingles to win the NBL Rookie of the Year Award. Does this instead make Madgen a lock for the 2010-11 Most Improved Player Award? After all, he has improved his scoring by 9.6ppg, his rebounds by 2.8rpg and his three point percentage to the tune of 39.6% with comparison to last season...

NBL, change that award definition, quicksmart.

Ordinarily, when the two teams that have spent the majority of the season on the bottom of the ladder match up, it's no big deal. However, tonight was a different scenario when the Melbourne Tigers visited the Sydney Kings at the Kingdome.
A Stern Warning