Andrew Gaze believes the Sydney Kings' current form should give his players the confidence to mix with the elite in the 2018/19 season.
In their last six games the Kings have won five times, equalling the tally they managed in the previous 21 games.
The Kings have spent the majority of the season at the foot of the NBL ladder, a run ended by Thursday's victory over Brisbane.
Although thoroughly disappointed with the campaign as a whole, head coach Gaze believes the current make-up of the side is a match for anyone.
"We make no excuses for our season, it's not good enough; we need to learn from it and get better," Gaze said.
"But it certainly helps to have Kevin Lisch and Jerome Randle and Jason Cadee as a three-guard rotation. That is as good as you see in the NBL, I believe.
"It gives us a lot of promise and hope for what the future might look like."
As important as being able to field the right personnel, with returning skipper Lisch particularly key in this regard, Gaze feels the style of play his team are showcasing is one that will bring people out to watch the Kings.
"The priority is winning but what I'm about and what I try to get the guys to (realise) is we are in the entertainment business," Gaze said.
"Hopefully (fans) have seen over the last couple of months a team that's playing hard, a team that's playing with passion, playing with some fun, putting points on the board, playing with an energy and an entertaining brand of basketball.
"We hopefully play a brand of basketball that's attractive to make people want to come to the game - and we're winning on top of that."
The Kings host the New Zealand Breakers in their final game of the season on Sunday.
Australian Associated Press
