The 71-year-old led Australia to bronze at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and although the Boomers bombed out in the quarter-finals in Paris, Goorjian enters his latest stint in the NBL motivated and ready to add to his coaching dynasty.

The Kings, boasting talent such as former league MVPs Jaylen Adams and Xavier Cooks, ex-NBA forward Cam Oliver, rising star Alex Toohey, former Cairns guard Bul Kuol, NZ international Izayah Le'afa, forward Kouat Noi, small forward Jaylin Galloway as well as some promising development players, are the out-and-out favourites to win the title.

But with almost all players in that squad deserving of significant minutes, Goorjian faces a delicate balancing act to keep everyone satisfied.

"It's great to have Brian back in the league. He's world renowned," NBL legend Andrew Gaze said.

"He's put together an incredibly deep roster. He's going to have some challenges trying to keep them all happy.

"It's going to be very competitive for playing time.

"Trying to juggle all that is always a challenge. But if the players buy into it, they have the prospect of being a very competitive team that will challenge for a title."

Tasmania, Melbourne United and the Perth Wildcats are set to be among the main challengers to Sydney's title bid.

The JackJumpers' run to the title was the feel-good story of last season, with Scott Roth's men beating Melbourne United 83-81 in the deciding game five of the grand final series on enemy territory to secure a fairytale championship.

But their chances of going back-to-back suffered a huge blow when star forward Jack McVeigh signed an NBA deal with the Houston Rockets. 

Melbourne United, under proven coach Dean Vickerman, are hungry to atone for their grand final defeat and enter the season with a stable squad.  

The Wildcats, led by scoring machine Bryce Cotton, are aiming for an unprecedented 11th title.

Although Next Stars phenomenon Alex Sarr is gone after being snapped up by the Washington Wizards with pick No.2 in the NBA draft, there are plenty of big raps on his replacement, Spanish teenager Izan Almansa.

New Wildcats sharpshooter import Dylan Windler, a former first-round NBA draft pick who set a G-League rebound record with 33 boards this year, will also give the side some extra firepower.

The Breakers are being tipped to give the top four a nudge, despite being overhauled from top to bottom.

Coach Mody Maor left the club in May to take up a job at Japanese B League outfit Nagasaki Velca, with 36-year-old former Finnish international Petteri Koponen named as his replacement.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Dane Pineau and Max Darling are the only main-squad members from last season who are returning, with the fresh faces including Sam Mennenga, Jonah Bolden, Grant Anticevich, Mojave King, Mitch McCarron, Frederick Gillespie, Sean Bairstow, Matt Mooney and Mexican Next Stars teenager Karim Lopez.

Gaze is tipping last season's wooden spooners South East Melbourne Phoenix to be the big improvers this season after adding a host of scoring weapons.

Adelaide endured arguably the most tumultuous pre-season given coach Scott Ninnis was fired in August, just two months into his two-year deal.

His assistant, Mike Wells, was parachuted into the top job, and the 36ers pulled off a huge coup on the eve of the season when they signed 2019/20 NBA sixth man of the year Montrezl Harrell as an injury replacement for Jarrell Martin.

The Bullets starred during the NBL Blitz, but are being tipped to miss the finals, along with the Taipans and Hawks.

The Wildcats will be aiming to capitalise on home-court advantage when they host the Phoenix at RAC Arena on Friday night.

Saturday's double-header in Perth will see NZ face Brisbane and Cairns lock horns with Illawarra, with HoopsFest to conclude on Sunday with Sydney's match against Adelaide. 

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