The Sydney Kings have appointed ex-NBA assistant Mahmoud Abdelfattah their new head coach as they push for a third consecutive NBL championship this season.
Abdelfattah was an assistant to Stephen Silas at the Houston Rockets last NBA season and previously served as head coach of the Rockets' G-League affiliate the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
In his third season in charge, Abdelfattah took the Vipers to the 2021/22 G-League championship with a 33-13 record and was named G-League coach of the year.
During that time, he coached ex-Kings players Matur Maker and Jarell Martin as well as current New Zealand Breakers guard Will McDowell-White.
Abdelfattah has signed a two-year deal to replace Kings coach Chase Buford, who left the club following the most reason season to pursue opportunities in the NBA.
Abdelfattah will arrive in Sydney after the NBA Summer League concludes in mid-July and consulted Buford and fellow ex-Kings coach Will Weaver before taking the job.
"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," he said.
"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 fulfil their potential, be that in Australia or taking to next step to the NBA."
Now that the Kings have a coach confirmed, they are better placed to begin filling out their roster for the 2023/24 campaign set to begin in September.
After signing American DJ Hogg late last month, Sydney has two remaining spots for imports on the roster, at least one of which is likely to be filled by an international guard.
The Kings announced earlier this week they had signed ex-NBA power forward Jonah Bolden, while Shaun Bruce, Angus Glover, Dejan Vasiljevic and Kouat Noi are among the members of the most recent championship-winning team to have recommitted.
