Andrew Bogut and Ben Simmons are based on different US coasts and are at opposite ends of their careers, but are on the same mission.
Ahead of the new NBA season, the two Melbourne-born former No.1 draft picks are hell-bent on proving their doubters wrong.
Bogut, the 32-year-old veteran entering his 13th NBA season, and Simmons, the 21-year-old rookie yet to play a game in the elite league, appeared on Monday at their respective teams' media days.
Bogut donned one of the Los Angeles Lakers' iconic purple and gold singlets - just as great centres of the past Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal had done - at the team's new practice facility near LA international airport.
"Finances were not a huge reason why I signed," said Bogut, who accepted the Lakers' relatively bargain-basement one-year $US2.3 million ($A2.9 million) offer.
"I wanted to let people know in the league I can still play at a high level and to show everybody I'm healthy."
Bogut's last big contract was a three-year, $US36 million ($A45 million) extension in 2013 with Golden State Warriors.
The 213cm tall Bogut is one of the NBA's dominant rim protectors, but serious injuries have dogged his career including breaking his leg last season less than one minute into his debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"There's no surprises why," said Bogut, explaining why his stock had dropped.
"I've had a shocking big run with injuries so I understand it."
Lakers president Magic Johnson said Bogut turned down Eastern Conference favourites the Boston Celtics and Cavaliers to join the Lakers "for less money".
Bogut, however, said he ran out of patience waiting for other teams to commit.
"They were hanging me out to dry a little bit to wait," Bogut said of the other teams.
On the east coast, Ben Simmons is eager to get on the court after sitting out the Philadelphia 76ers' entire 2016-17 season after suffering a broken foot in a training camp scrimmage.
Simmons had an icy message for people who might have forgotten about the 208cm-tall talent, who 76ers and former Australian Olympic coach Brett Brown planned to unleash as an over-sized point guard.
"They'll remember," Simmons told reporters.
"I came to the states when I was 15.
"Nobody knew who I was.
"So I feel like I'm back at that stage and I've got to prove myself again, which is fine.
"I'm looking forward to that part."
