Taylor King says that he and his Cheshire Phoenix team-mates haven’t thrown in the towel in the BBL Championship title race just yet.
King, 26, has been in superb form for John Coffino’s Nix side this season having arrived in September and has been one of the shining lights in the BBL this season.
He turned in another excellent performance on Sunday, registering 36 points and 12 rebounds in the loss Sheffield Sharks.
That defeat leaves the Nix trailing league leaders Newcastle Eagles by six points, with Fab Flournoy’s men having a game in hand on Cheshire.
“We are still very much in the hunt for the BBL Championship and if we just focus on getting better as a team on the defensive and offensive end then we will be in the mix for top spot,” said former Duke University standout King.
“We are just focusing on one game at a time and just keeping progressing in practice and that will translate into the game.”
“It’s tough with all the additions we have had throughout the year because then that one guy or two guys have to learn the plays as well as learn how to play with us and vise versa.
“But for the most part coach has done a great job of keeping us on the same page and helping us adapt.”
King hasn’t ruled out extending his stay at the Nix for another season but is keeping his eyes on the prize for the time being.
“He added: “It’s been a great experience here in England but my main focus is to finish this season and help the team get some silverware and see what happens after that.
“I just want to keep progressing as a player and keep getting better so I can help the team get to where we want and to get to where I want to be myself.”
With King’s former head coach at Duke, Mike Krzyzewski this week becoming the first coach in NCAA history to reach 1,000 career wins, the 6ft 8ins small forward reserving praise for his former mentor, who has become a college basketball legend in his 34 years at the helm of the Blue Devils.
King played under hall of famer ‘Coach K’ between 2007 and 2008 when the talented California native was on the national radar as a junior and was signed up to Duke’s illustrious basketball programme where he was in the same squad as current NBA star and Detroit Piston, Kyle Singler.
He said: “It is a tremendous feat to get to 1,000 wins. He left his mark on me when I played for him between 2007 and 2008.
“He is an incredible coach and it was quite an experience playing for him. I have been extremely lucky.
“I have been extremely lucky to play for two coaches now who have earned 1,000-plus wins in their career.
“My high school coach, Gary McKnight, from Mater Dei High School just recently got his 1,000th win so I am just lucky to have been apart of those as well as Coach K’s."
