Basketball On The Internet.

MAKE no mistake. Sydney Kings retaining NBA star Josh Childress for their 2015-16 NBL campaign is hugely significant for the man, the club and the league.

In short, it's a game-changer - and only positively.

Childress was a massive star last season, third in MVP voting despite playing just 18 of the 28 regular season games.

With a better preparation and a healthier body, Childress, 32, should improve on his 2014-15 averages of 21.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.1 blocks per game.

With Steve Markovic at the point, Jason Cadee able to play combo guard, Tom Garlepp back at power forward and Julian Khazzouh - the NBL's 2011 MVP runner up - returning to man the middle, you have to go from fretting about the future to chin-stroking satisfaction.

Remember, there's room for another import too yet, plus Angus Brandt and versatile 203cm Jeromie Hill, an AIS grad who has been plying his trade at University of Texas-San Antonio.

But Childress is the big one.

The Kings have great business contacts and Childress last season made it clear the club's connections had much to do with the allure of Australia.

He is looking at life after basketball, though he still has plenty to bring to the team and the league.

That's Childress introducing himself to Luke Schenscher last season in one of Kelly Barnes' (AllStar Photos) award-winning pics.

It is fantastic to have him back.

Online

Ben Simmons is at Lousiana State University, which has old links to Australian basketball, dating back to Eddie Palubinskas pioneering his way there in the 70s. Simmons is Aussie basketball's next big thing - maybe our biggest yet - and he is coming home to play with LSU: http://bit.ly/1R904KN http://bit.ly/1zONZ09  http://bit.ly/1HBc5Ep