Despite only joining National Basketball League Division One side, Nottingham Hoods, a little over a year ago, veteran guard, Kayne King has big dreams for the side he now captains.

King, who began as a junior with the Derby Trailblazers, where spent over a decade in what was the first of two spells, can also add donning jerseys for Worthing Thunder, Leicester Warriors and, prior to his arrival at the Hoods, the City of Birmingham Rockets.

The lure of Nottingham however was too much for him to ignore and, although there’s been changes aplenty, and injury upheavals at the Hoods, King is adamant that he can help lead them to bigger and better things.

“I left Birmingham halfway through last season and was actually going to take some time out, re-charge a little, before going again next season,” began the Division One veteran.

“However, Dan Watts, who was here at the time, and Lee English, who I know well, we chatted and I was talked into coming to Nottingham.

“There’s actually been a bit of a rivalry between me and Lee (English) after my spells at Derby and Leicester, but that’s helped with my transition with the Hoods.”

Among the ongoing changes the Hoods have seen recently has been in that Head Coaches position and, the current, 2024-25 season, has sees Vladan Dragosavac at the prowling courtside, with King directing on-court in his #13 jersey.

It has been a season they really didn’t want either, collecting just five wins as they head into the final weeks, a season hampered by injuries which have stalled any kind of progression, progression which, in King’s eyes also hampers hopes of the success he wants to bring to the club, and the city as a whole.

“I want Nottingham to win, and to play on the bigger stages,” insists King.

“This season we’ve had injuries, and family issues aplenty, and, although you have to expect them, there has been a few that have hampered us more than we’d have liked.

“There’s been no continuity and that’s made things more difficult; we’ve picked up some good results, and have been getting better, so getting that win against Bristol (Hoods defeated the visiting Hurricanes 93-81 at the weekend) that was important, especially after they’d done us earlier in the season.

“But yes, I want Nottingham to become a big, basketball city, to keep progressing as a team, to keep players here, have full venues, and put big wins on the board.

“I’ll welcome any and every fan, that’s something I like to give back, because that’s what it’s about, those wins and entertaining the fans.”

Speaking of wins, that success in their last outing, against thew Hurricanes, halted a three-match losing streak, and hopefully afforded some momentum going into this weekend’s

double-header, a pair of games that are huge for the club, but for two, very different reasons.

Sitting joint-second bottom of NBL Division One, level with Bradford Dragons, the Hoods are just a couple of points off Newcastle Knights, who are the next placed side above them in the league table.

It is the Knights, in Newcastle, who the Hoods face next, this coming Saturday (8 March), before closing off Nottingham’s big day in the basketball sun on Sunday (9 March); hosting fourth-place (at time of writing) Milton Keynes Breakers, the Hoods will close a day of basketball at the Motorpoint Arena which sees the Super League Cup finals day taking place, the Hoods game tipping-off at 18:15.

Of their six remaining league outing, the Hoods will hope to enjoy all, but more so the four of which are at home, the others coming at their Wildcats Arena home.

Continuing, King said: “The Knights game is important due to our respective, league positions.

“We’ve beaten them before, and we usually have some good battles, so we know we can win this one; we need the momentum to carry over from last week’s win and hopefully push into three wins on the spin with this weekend’s games.

“We really though, have to take things one game at a time; I’m always prepped myself, both mentally, and physically.

“I watch, and have watched, a lot of games, having been in the league for over a decade now, so I’m always analysing things.

“To play at the Arena though, on Sunday evening, that is a huge opportunity for us to play in front of a large crowd.

“There’ll be a special energy there, and I hope that can focus us, push us to not only play our best, but to also put on a show, for everyone, but especially Nottingham.”

Nottingham Hoods travel to Newcastle on Saturday to face the Newcastle Knights at the Newcastle University Fitness Centre (14:00), before hosting MK Breakers, on Sunday, at the Motorpoint Arena (18:15).

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*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @hoodsbasketball Kayne King in action for Nottingham Hoods.