Michael Bryson signs on as first of two Kings imports
Photo Credit: UCSB Guachos
The Sydney Kings have continued to bolster their squad for the upcoming NBL season with the announcement of their first import, 6'4 shooting guard Michael Bryson.
Bryson was most recently seen by the Kings at the 2016 NBA Summer League when he played five games for the Phoenix Suns, while also attending numerous pre-draft workouts with Philadelphia, Los Angeles (Lakers) and Sacramento.
An underrated, hot handed off-guard who has spent the last four years at University of California Santa Barbara, Bryson was a lesser known commodity entering the NBA draft for playing at a mid-major school.
According to the man himself however, he wouldn't change the decision to attend UCSB if he could go back, after averaging 18 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game en route to becoming the school's all time leader in three-point makes.
"I think that being able to have four years in college allowed me to really hone my skills," Bryson told Paul Hudrick of CSN Philly. "Be able to see what I can do, what I can't do. Being able to hide my weaknesses and really flourish with my strengths."
Bryson has made a career out of shooting the three ball, and it's the only reason he was on the radar of several NBA teams prior to this years draft.
Move forward two months and it's exactly what the Sydney have been looking for; someone to compliment the exciting Kevin Lisch in the Kings' backcourt.
The Kings are even more excited about Bryson due to his defensive side of his game, as well as his character.
Two undervalued utilities in a spot up shooter is how they can play both ends of the floor, as well as glue with the team and environment. Bryson has both according to his high school coach at Foothill High School Drew Hibbs, and strength and conditioning coach for NBA prospects Guss Armstead.
“Bryson’s a big-time shooter who has great mechanics, and he’ll get better, and he’s an underrated defender,” Armstead said.
“The older I get, and the closer I get to getting out of coaching, I appreciate Bryson that much more. He’s always had talent and work ethic," Hibbs praised.
“He’s the whole package. Not only would you want your players to be like him, but you’d want your own kids to be like him. We’re pulling for him. For our kids at Foothill to be able to look up to a guy like Bryson, in our Hall of Fame, as a guy who did it the right way and worked hard for it, it’s pretty special.”
For Sydney, it's a player who already looks as though he's ready to fit in, as Bryson is a Kings fan after all; albeit his hometown Sacramento.
The Kings have already agreed to terms with their second import, per a soruce; a much bigger bodied player than Bryson.
Sydney's roster now stands at eight, with three remaining spots to fill: Kevin Lisch, Jason Cadee, Tom Garlepp, Julian Khazzouh, Jeromie Hill, Aleks Maric, Brad Newley and Michael Bryson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzQvi_R8Nrk