2024 Kings Ring of Honour nominees revealed

The Sydney Kings are excited to unveil their nominees for this year’s Ring of Honour, which celebrates the club’s proud history.

The Ring of Honour award, which has already seen Tom Garlepp, Ben Knight and Brad Rosen inducted, encourages fans and members to vote for and recognise their favourite Sydney players over the last three decades.

Separate from the Sydney Kings Hall of Fame, which is the club’s most distinguished award, the Ring of Honour is an award that the entire Sydney basketball community can get around and involved in.

Fans and members are encouraged to vote for their favourite players not just for their talent on the court, but for other reasons they believe they may be worthy of recognition.

 

The most entertaining;

The courageous;

A great teammate; or

Those who gave back to our community.

This year a judging panel, consisting of Kings great and assistant coach Daniel Kickert, Kings historian Matt McQuade, television commentator and presenter Jo Healy and ESPN insider Olgun Uluc, have shortlisted seven players – which members can vote on to determine the eventual winner.

VOTE FOR THIS YEAR’S RING OF HONOUR INDUCTEE NOW

This year’s purple and gold nominees (including bios provided by Matt McQuade) are:

Ben Madgen

Seasons played with Kings: 5 (2010-2015).

Games played with Kings: 139.

Career totals with Kings: 2,011 points, 455 rebounds, 278 assists, 97 steals, 19 blocked shots, 4,048 minutes, 42.9% FG, 35.0% 3PT FG, 80.1% FT.

It’s remarkable that a young man out of Adelaide who went to Augusta State University in the United States, came to the Kings as a virtual unknown in 2010 and was nearly released before his first NBL season had ended would become one of the most celebrated Sydney Kings players.

‘Madge’, as he was universally known, was an outstanding perimeter shooter for the purple and gold, but most importantly emerged as one of this club’s greatest leaders, both on and off the court.

A former captain of the club, he won NBL Rookie of the Year in 2011 and had a brilliant season in 2012/13, winning the league scoring title, the NBL Most Improved Award and selection to the All-NBL First Team.

Such was the esteem in which he was held, Ben was also named to the Sydney Kings 25th Anniversary Team in 2013 while still playing for the club.

However, it was Ben’s work in the community that was truly extraordinary. He was a genuine ‘King of the Kids’, establishing Madgen’s Message of Hope for sick children, making countless visits to hospitals to brighten someone’s day or organising tickets for those kids and their families so they could attend Sydney Kings games.

Always with a smile on his face, ‘Madge’ made time for anyone who approached for a chat, an autograph, or just a kind word. He was a great player, but a better human.