The Sydney Kings have celebrated the unfurling of their latest NBL championship banner by storming to a 109-100 win over the Adelaide 36ers.
Some 14,029 fans, the biggest crowd for a stand-alone home opener in NBL history, turned out to celebrate last season's triumph.
But if the ensuing game was any guide, the new-look Kings have some way to go to recapture their all-conquering form and surge to a three-peat.
"I honestly don't worry about what we've done the last couple of years," said new coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah.
"It's just about the team that we've got right now and being the best team we can be today.
"We're not going to be the champs today, we're not going to be the best team in the league today.
"We just have to be better than our opponent and today we just made a few more plays."
The end scoreline served no justice to an Adelaide side that was superior in a hotly-contested third quarter but fell off the pace in the fourth.
"Where we're at is we have a dog in us, we have a toughness in us, and we're still finding that gel," said Sixers coach CJ Bruton.
"We've had our moments throughout our first four games so far but we couldn't sustain it."
Starting centre Jordan Hunter was the Kings' most prolific scorer with 22 points and eight rebounds.
The pre-season wooden spoon fancies erased the Kings' nine-point half-time lead in the third term, with imports Trey Kell III (28 points, five rebounds) and Jacob Wiley (17 points, five assists) starring.
The Sixers were able to slow the game onto their terms by working hard under the rim in the third quarter and frustrating the Kings into missing shots.
But after the final change, Kings guard and renowned clutch player Jaylen Adams (16 points, eight assists) hit back-to-back three-pointers and restored the Kings' nine-point lead.
"That separated us and we just got it going," said Abdelfattah.
From there, the Kings were able to play the quick basketball that has won them the past two titles, while the Sixers ran out of steam.
Adelaide have now slumped to a 0-4 record and are the only team yet to win a game this season.
"We all saw it coming into the season. No one really expected much from us but at the same time I think we've proven we're not that far," Kell said.
"We've been in every game."
New Kings import Denzel Valentine is easing into the NBL but had his best game yet with 15 points and five assists.
A lighting malfunction midway through the third quarter brought play to a halt. Adams shot a three in the dark just as play stopped, but the points did not count.
"I was kind of mad when the lights went out. I was hoping he'd just hesitate on the whistle so they could count, but things happen," Adams said.
