Kouat Noi has declared he is the most dangerous bench player in the NBL, and has Sydney Kings coach Brian Goorjian to thank for improvements to his game.
Championship-winning forward Noi has always boasted a good outside shot and the athleticism to impact the paint but feels he has taken his defence to new heights in the 2024/25 season.
Midway through round 13, Noi's numbers for blocks and steals are up on his previous two campaigns in Sydney, with personal fouls also down as the Kings begin to find their rhythm.
After Sydney's slide in Mahmoud Abdelfattah's sole season at the helm, Goorjian has resonated with Noi on return to the club where he coached three consecutive championship wins in the early 2000s.
"Being coached by Goorj this year has changed my game completely,' Noi told AAP.
"I'm more confident, I was already a confident dude but I'm more confident coming into games.
"He has the full trust that I can go out there and impact the game, whether it's hitting big shots or playing great defence on the defensive end, which I've taken a big step in this season.
"He gets at me if I do something wrong on the defensive end. I'm going to listen. I'm a coachable player so I just listen and try to implement that the next day at practice."
Those defensive improvements have left Noi confident in his chances of winning the league's sixth man of the year award.
The 27-year-old told AAP early last season he had the prize "in his pocket" but he ultimately lost out to NBA champion-turned-Melbourne United guard Ian Clark.
Aided by Goorjian's wisdom, Noi feels things could be different this year as the star-studded Kings finally start to deliver on their potential.
Sydney have won four of their past five games, with Goorjian affording Noi more minutes than both Cam Oliver and Keli Leaupepe in the side's past two victories.
"I don't think there's any other guy coming off the bench that can impact a game like I do this season," Noi said.
"I believe every other team when they're doing a scouting report, one of their main focuses is make sure you stop Kouat Noi.
"I've got the biggest impact coming off the bench. I think 'Sixth Man Of The Year' - that sounds right."
Ever the showman, Noi is eager to play the role of grinch when the ladder-leading Illawarra Hawks visit Sydney for the Kings' third annual Christmas night game this Wednesday.
Noi fouled out late in the seven-point loss to the Hawks before last month's FIBA break, revving up the Wollongong crowd as he left the court.
He has promised to pick up where he left off when the Kings host their bitter rivals.
"I hope they have that little section where the Hawks players and family members sit," he said.
"I'm going to make sure when I score the ball I look directly at them."
