Zylan Cheatham says Adelaide will let its basketball do the talking as the 36ers prepare to face a hostile Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday, where more than 18,000 fans are expected for the NBL grand final decider. The 30-year-old forward urged his teammates to ignore the noise and stick to the game plan as Adelaide chases its first championship in 24 years.
“It is going to be a hostile environment, but at the end of the day the crowd can’t play for them,” Cheatham told CODE Sports. “It’s the same thing we’ve been doing all season, believe in ourselves and go in with a big game plan. We can’t get caught up in all the outside distractions.” His comments underline how Adelaide plans to counteract Sydney’s home dominance in the series, which has left the Kings as clear favourites heading into the deciding fixture.
Cheatham has been a key figure for the 36ers down the stretch. Across the last two games he produced a near triple‑double in Game 4 and a double‑double in Game 3, performances he says have been building toward this moment. Despite the recent form, Cheatham stressed the personal gains mean little without a title. “I’ve had a little bit of success in these last few games, but it means nothing if we don’t finish it,” he added.
For Adelaide the stakes are historic: a victory would end a 24‑year championship drought for the club. That long gap has only amplified the intensity surrounding the decider, with the expected crowd at Qudos Bank Arena set to be among the biggest for the series and a major talking point in the lead‑up to tip‑off.
Sydney’s home court advantage and partisan support make them favourites on paper, but Cheatham’s message is that the outcome will be decided on the court, not in the stands. Adelaide’s approach, he said, is to execute their plan and trust their preparation — a simple blueprint against the external pressure they will face in Sydney.
The grand final will be broadcast live on ESPN and Channel 10 from 2:30pm AEST on Sunday, offering a national audience for what promises to be a charged finale to the NBL season. With the arena expected to be deafening and a long championship drought on the line, Cheatham and the 36ers will aim to silence the crowd and rewrite recent club history.