“I just really wanted the opportunity to really show what kind of player I am.”

Adams has only just started to make his name known in recent weeks after injuring his ankle one game into his NBL career. That forced him to miss Sydney’s next five matches.

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But he has now found spectacular form, including a performance that saw him have 30 points, nine assists and eight rebounds against the perennial powerhouse Perth.

The display against the Wildcats saw Adams become an instant fan favourite.

The one-time St Bonaventure student-athlete in the US college system said he owes his improved performances to his relationship with Buford.

Along with playing under Buford at the Bucks, he worked under the same coach for the Wisconsin Herd in the second-tier NBA G-League.

“I have a lot of respect for him. He cares about winning, but he cares about you as a person and that’s not something you can say about every coach,” Adams said.

“So when he got the job and this opportunity presented itself, it was a no-brainer.”

Adams is set to make a major difference for the Kings as they enter the business end of the NBL season.

He is hoping his enthusiasm can help the side get over a road hoodoo that has seen them fail to win outside the confines of Qudos Bank Arena.

“Our fans give us energy and I think we do a good job of feeding off that, we’ve just got to find a way to bring that same energy at somebody else’s den,” he said.

“We are not going to have the energy behind us, but we need to find it from somewhere.”

The Kings face South East Melbourne Phoenix on Thursday night.