The Sydney Kings have found their new head coach, signing Mahmoud Abdelfattah to a two-year deal, the team announced today.
Abdelfattah joins the Kings after serving as an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets on Stephen Silas' staff for the 2022-23 NBA season.
There's a new King in town 👑
— NBL (@NBL) June 21, 2023
The @SydneyKings have announced Houston Rockets assistant Mahmoud Abdelfattah as their head coach for #NBL24 📋
Read more: https://t.co/2rNLNWSmNy pic.twitter.com/yPiMLVeFSC
“To get the opportunity to coach the Kings, on the back of their amazing track record over the past few seasons, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, is amazing,” Abdelfattah said.
“After speaking with both Chase [Buford] and Will [Weaver], both loved their experience in Sydney and raved about how phenomenal the organization is, it felt like the perfect next step in my career.
“Honestly, outside of the US, the NBL is the league that most resembles the NBA, in terms of style and developmental systems – which is important to me, as I want all players to fulfill their potential, be that Australia or taking to next step to the NBA.”
MORE: Abdelfattah's coaching journey goes beyond basketball
The Kings are in search of a third-straight championship, and while they've lost 2023 league MVP Xavier Cooks, who signed with the Washington Wizards, they've brought in reinforcements in the shape of import D.J. Hogg, former NBA big man Jonah Bolden and Makuach Maluach.
“I’ll be letting our guys play with a lot of freedom on the offensive end, allowing them to use their talents while putting them in positions to succeed,” said Abdelfattah, who plans to arrive in Sydney after the 2023 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
“We will be playing with a high tempo, that pushes the ball up the floor.
“We’ve got some great, versatile players already on the roster and I can’t wait to start working with them on the court.”
The 34-year-old was the first-ever Palestinian and first-ever Muslim to be named head coach of an NBA or NBA G-League franchise.
The Kings' connections with the Rockets run deep with former head coach Will Weaver serving as an assistant coach in Houston between 2020-22, while current power forward Jae'Sean Tate spent the 2019-20 season with the Kings before signing with the Rockets.
MORE: Kings sign former NBA big man Jonah Bolden in free agency
Mahmoud Abdelfattah G League coaching record
Prior to being an assistant with the Rockets, the 34-year-old spent three seasons as the head coach of their G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, winning the G League championship in 2022, and earning coach of the Year honors that same season.
| Team | Season | Games | Wins | Losses | Win % |
| Rio Grande Valley Vipers | 2021-22 | 35 | 25 | 10 | .714 |
| Rio Grande Valley Vipers | 2020-21 | 15 | 9 | 6 | .600 |
| Rio Grande Valley Vipers | 2019-20 | 42 | 15 | 27 | .357 |
| Total | 92 | 49 | 43 | .533 |
Sydney Kings current roster
| COACH | Mahmoud Abdelfattah |
| NEW SIGNINGS | Makuach Maluach, Klairus Amir (DP), D.J. Hogg (IM), Jonah Bolden |
| DEPARTURES | Xavier Cooks, Chase Buford (coach) |
| RE-SIGNINGS | Jackson Makoi, Kouat Noi, Angus Glover, Jaylin Galloway |
| CURRENT ROSTER | Shaun Bruce, Jaylin Galloway, Angus Glover, Jordan Hunter, Kouat Noi, Dejan Vasiljevic, Jackson Makoi (DP), Makuach Maluach, Klairus Amir (DP), D.J. Hogg (IM), Jonah Bolden |
