Jaylen Adams has returned to send a reminder why he was the NBL MVP two seasons ago as Sydney made a statement to begin their championship defence by beating Illawarra 96-81 in Wollongong.
The Kings began their quest for a third straight title in style on Saturday night at the WIN Entertainment Centre, taking charge over their local rivals after quarter time with Adams leading the way.
He finished with 20 points in his first game for Sydney since the opening game of the 2022 grand final series to show he'll pick up right where he left off.
The Kings were without another star import in DJ Hogg, but Kouat Noi stepped up with 23 points from 6-of-8 shooting from downtown.
Jaylin Galloway contributed 18 points and five steals, Denzel Valentine eight points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, and Next Star Alex Toohey eight points, five boards and three steals.
First year Kings coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah wasn't worried and was pleased for his players to start the season well.
"It was great and I'm happy for the guys," Abdelfattah said.
"They've been putting in the work for the last two months and obviously coming out of the Blitz 0-3, everyone's already questioning and doubting.
"It's just one day and we move on, but I'm happy for the guys."
Daniel Grida provided a spark for the Hawks with 14 points and seven rebounds in 14 minutes with co-captain Sam Froling adding 12 points and 11 boards.
If they are to beat a team like Sydney, they need more from import trio Tyler Harvey (19 points, three steals), Justin Robinson (12 points, four assists) and Gary Clark (seven points, seven rebounds).
Hawks coach Jacob Jackomas was frustrated over his team not playing to their potential.
"We're better than that," Jackomas said. "It's more a disappointing side of them letting themselves down.
"Obviously we had a great crowd tonight and we sort of let them down a little bit. I wouldn't say I was angry or frustrated in a bad way towards the team, I just think we're better than that."
Despite the Kings making a flying 8-2 start when Adams hit a triple, it remained a tight contest until the visitors began to pull away late in the first half.
A pair of three balls to Noi on his way to 14 first-half points, and then another to Jonah Bolden, lifted Sydney to a 51-39 lead with the Kings continuing to have the answers every time Illawarra mounted a challenge.
Sydney answered an 8-0 Hawks run with 10 straight points of their own, and when Valentine hit a second three-pointer in quick succession the lead was out to 18.
Illawarra did stay in touch and it was an important seven quick points from Grida before three-quarter time, but Sydney kept responding to open the season with the 15-point win.
