Shane Heal's seven-year NBL itch may finally be scratched at Perth's Challenge Stadium.

Since moving from Brisbane to the NBL's most grossly underachieving club in 1996 the cocky blond has been haunted by the Sydney Kings' constant failings.

But he and his teammates can wrench one of the biggest monkeys in Australian sport off their backs by winning game two of the grand final against the Wildcats.

Such a victory would ease the ridicule basketball fans in Australia's largest city have endured since the NBL's inception in 1979.

The championships have been spread across the nation in 24 seasons with even tiny Launceston in Tasmania claiming the title in 1981.

But franchises from the unforgiving harbour city have been cursed from the City of Sydney Astronauts to the newest venture, the West Sydney Razorbacks, which fell 2-1 to Adelaide in last year's grand final.

Now Sydney is looking to a Victorian to lead the Kings to an NBL crown just nine months after the franchise looked like folding.

Heal himself pumped much-needed funds in to resurrect the club.

This is the deadly three-point shooter's fifth season at the Kings in seven years because of playing stints in Europe and the NBA.

However he knocked back lucrative European contracts for the start of the 2001 season to return and pull off what NBL administrators have been dreaming about - a Sydney championship.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP