Hoops

Sydney signs Chinese player Bo Liu

Mock actually posted with out any CAPS.

are there even any great collectors out there? You call yourself an NBL fan Mock and don't know the NBL's #1 memorabilia collectors and/or Australia's greatest blue light disco DJ??

Shame.... Shame.... Shame.....

Mattic here. Oh dear

I have a few pieces king podge but I would hardly call myself the #1 Collector! Are there even any great NBL collectors out there?? I used to have all the Futera cards but accidentally burned them.

hahaha solid advice Freethrows.

I don't know the exact story here although I think Bo Liu is essentially on loan (like soccer).

I believe the Tigers taking him allowed them to play in the SEABL (cost of entering the league compared to bigv).

There must also be benefits for the Kings off court in taking him on the NBL team.

I have a simple, three step process for dealing with posts by Mock (and by Mattic on ozhoops).

1. Don't read them.

Wookie gets it ;)

It's all relative... Too coherent for him, but not for a 5yr old, for example :)

your definition of coherent is generous :)

I doubt it. Post is too coherent.

Mock do you happen to be Australia's #1 collector of NBL memorabilia?

Dazz, Kings have done the Chinese alignment thing for ever (20years?) and not only that they did Mandarin commentators previously. Kings off to China again soon. Imports I believe arrived yesterday.

"Of course IT IS CORRUPT because they just want to sell advertising and corporate support in China, "

That isn't what corrupt means...

I am also a big fan of his misuse of CAPITALS because apparently his English teacher thinks it helps ACCENTUATE his POINT

This is fantastic.

You're way more fun than blowout troll ever was.

Ethnicity, sure. Nationality, it's a different story. Look at interest in the NBA go up here when Australian players are in the Finals. The NFL got quite a bit of coverage the year Sav Rocca and Ben Graham faced off for a spot in the Super Bowl.

Having Chinese players would help tremendously in doing a deal with a Chinese broadcaster.

Now, there have to be other reasons as well (in the case of the NFL and NBA, being the premier competition of their respective sports), people aren't going to tune in just for this guy, but it will help interest.

Wow, the tripe some come up with.

"Chinese People" (whoever they might be) are not suddenly going to start watching basketball, NBL, or even the Kings, just because of somebody's ethnicity, even if this guy was a gun.

That proposition is completely nonsensical.

I don't know if the NBL product is worth anything to overseas telecasters with slots to fill. Maybe we can sell it to some Chinese pay-tv mob.
In which case packaging it up with the correct language and (Mandarin?) speaking commentators would make a much bigger impact than a couple of token players.

Then some dope pipes up and says jeff van gundy knows what he is doing!!?? what? As if he would comment on the kings you absolute goober

too many SOFT COMMENTERS here who will put up with medicority! Of course IT IS CORRUPT because they just want to sell advertising and corporate support in China, it is nothing to do with THE GAME OF BASKETBALL!!

The wrong people are influencing the kings, no wonder THE NBL IS DYING need to be contenders not pretenders with a strong basketball culture and no acceptance of mediocrity from management or fans!

Then some dope pipes up and says jeff van gundy knows what he is doing!!?? what? As if he would comment on the kings you absolute goober

"scenicall" is the most amazing misspelling I have ever seen. Just terrific stuff!

Reminds me of the Tigers signing a Chinese player back in 2004 or 2005 ish... never stepped foot on court.

I trust JvG to know what he's doing

How is this signing "corrupt" and a "conflict of interest", as claimed so far in this thread?

Yeah "scenicall", you're not making a lot of sense here with the overreaction for a Dev player... You seriously think the Kings don't want to win it this season with what they've spent both on the court and off? Three players who have been to the Olympics, including last seasons defensive player of the year and a newly built training facility being some big changes from the last few seasons...

I don't expect Bo to get any decent minutes as most people are right, this is more about publicity and trying to link with a large part of the Chinese community to get sponsorships as well as bums on seats, because you know what? That's all part of running a team...

As a long time Kings fan as well, I share your frustration as Gods know, they're certainly given us more than our fair share, especially recently, but I agree with ME, you're blowing things out of proportion... If we didn't have Vikerman back here, I would be more in the vocal concern cammp, but we did, so I'm not too concerned...

More of concern in my opinion, again, is it's how many weeks into pre-season training and we STILL don't have our imports in town?! They should be in this week, but still, that's WAY too late, especially when the team is apparently going over to China for a tour as well? And what about the final two spots? Singing a dev player is all well and good, and I trust JvG to know what he's doing, but still, leaving it all a bit late!

I think 'scenicall' is getting a bit dizzy here. All of a sudden the kings don't care about winning because they signed some Chinese kid to a development spot! Blowing things out of proportion just a bit.

Thanks for that 'scenicall'

This signing highlights the Kings approach to the winning games is not a top priority but instead, its all about marketing to the Chinese community in NSW hoping some revenue can come from it.

To state that Goorjian spoke highly of Bo Liu means nothing. If he was a legitimate player he wouldn't sign with the Kings. Plus Goorjian speaks highly of most people publicly behind closed doors he would be laughing at the Kings and Gaze for signing this chump!

The real question for the team this season is..
will Lisch be the only that plays Defense!? The returning players didn't last season and neither Gaze or Copeland played defense back in their days and I can only assume it wont be a vocal point this season.

Call me scenicall if you want but I'm a long time frustrated Kings fan who isn't getting lapped up in the hype of a legend Gaze turning the Kings around particularly seeing him in RIO commentating when his focus should have been 100% on preparing the team for the season! But as Ian Stackers article mention, Gaze is all about his business interest which most are conflicting getting in the way of him truly helping the sports grow.

Playing basketball and Coaching basketball is vastly different!!

NZ's players tend to make it, other clubs' players don't.

Perhaps the lesson here is not that DP spots don't matter, but that someone should look at what the Breakers are doing and try that.

Wookie I never said "no" development players make it. The players listed are stil in the minority overall

liu is an important selection based on the Chinese connection in Sydney and the Goorj connection in China.
He is probably older than listed and some knowledgeable people suggest he wont get any better than he already is. never the less still important. Kings touring China again shortly.

Yes, but apart from all the really great examples everyone has said, no development players ever make the full roster, der!

All three of NZ's d players last season have full time roster spots.

Okay, there are exceptions to the rule but not development players get signed for a season and end up flipping burgers next season. He hasn't really robbed some Aussie kid of a shot is the point I am making.

Yes, Madgen was a DP. As was David Barlow, and I believe Tom Garlepp.

NZ turn their DPs into NBL players, at a minimum, at a good clip. Corey Webster, Alex Pledger, Leon Henry, Dion Prewster, Isaac Fotu, Reuben Te Rangi, Tai Webster...

Cam Tragadh was a dev player at the Bullets before he went to the Hawks.

Was Ben Madgen a development player for Adelaide before playing college and eventually getting a contract with the Kings?

I mean I agree with ME, most development players barely get on the court and then return to SEABL/Waratah type level competition.

I say this is a low risk/low to medium reward move by the Kings and it is pretty smart, if not earth-shaking.

Taking a leaf out of the Lakers playbook...

In a league where revenue is really bad, it's a smart move.

It is for so many ill informed idiots here. Mock is the Captain of that team.

Those would be great examples, Zodiac. But I am pretty sure the vast majority of development players go nowhere so this one spot to a Chinese kid isn't even an issue.

Greg Hire as well

For whatever reason, I can't remember too many development players actually developing into anything of note.

I am sure some do. There are probably great examples. But most go on to either become 12th men or they drop out of the league.

Kings have always had the Chinese community involved for a long time. This is the same guy who plays for Gaze in the Tigers Seabl program. Gaze has been going to China for decades. The guy is a true development player and good luck to him. Passable at Seabl level with limited prospects any higher IMO.
He certainly is on GOOGLE too

For whatever reason, I can't remember too many development players actually developing into anything of note.

I am sure some do. There are probably great examples. But most go on to either become 12th men or they drop out of the league.

And this is why I don't understand the uproar against picking this kid up. Those people who are worried that it will take a spot from an "Aussie kid" didn't seem to mind so much when the import quota raised.

He will probably wave towels and play a minute or two in blow out games. He will probably also bring in a great deal of interest from China, strengthen ties, and be a step towards making the league more lucrative. Where's the loss?

But hold on, we need another Aussie in the league making 15 K a year on the bench and not amounting to a whole lot, right?

Kings are in a win win with this signing. It should generate $$$$ and also increase crowd numbers. If he is a good player, great, if he doesnt get court time, what is lost. He brings more to the table than any other development player can!! Has been coached and recommended by "the Gooj"

I've never seen such a fuss over the signing of a development player.

Big bloody deal, not. I don't know why people are so excited either way but then I don't understand why it warranted a press release and all the media coverage either. What a yawn!

How about giving him a chance before some of you keyboard warriors go into meltdown. Not on Google, must be a terrible player. If he's not up to it he won't play just like most development players, and unlike them will give exposure to the league and maybe valuable sponsorship money that teams desperately need and will ensure the league survives unlike recycling another 34 year old that's well past it but can play garbage minutes. Seems like a brilliant idea.

The only way the Asian exemption will help a team is when a player has some Asian heritage like Holt but cannot play in a high paying league like the Chinese league as a local.

Any Chinese, Korean etc player with the ability to make any impact on the NBL would receive far more money to play in their own country than what a player of that ability would be worth here. There are some good Chinese/Korean/Filo players but the talent level falls away pretty quickly.

Just a gimmick to try and

a) get the local Chinese community involved
b) get some Chinese sponsor $$$

If it makes some money then its worth wasting a spot that wouldn't play much anyway.

OI WHERE ARE THE GOOD PLAYERS? Never heard of this guy you google him and then nothing. kings NEED NBA QUALITY PLAYERS not this guy it is CORRUPT to just sign crappy players because they will get you sponsorship in China. Is it all about the money these days? People will not support this rubbish CORRUPT signing form an incompetent management.

GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME AND GET RID OF THIS GUY! Three foreign players and three players who nobody has EVER HEARD OF! Rubbish. They used to send players back after a week if they were no good Brett Brown was at the airport so much he was always rejecting retard players now any old player can get a game here THE NBL IS DYING and this rubbish is why. WHY NOT CALL UP A GOOD QUALITY LOCAL what about Joshua Chapman best player in sydney him and cadee are mad players. IT GETS ME SO MAD when idots let this get signed.

Who cares it's not like he's going to be taking up a spot on the roster. Very shrewd signing with all the potentially good things to spin off from this.