Shaun Bruce was thrilled when he logged his first pre-season minutes as an NBL player against an American college team, in front of a few hundred people in Cairns.
On Saturday the 26-year-old will return from an ankle injury for the Brisbane Bullets against the NBA's Phoenix Suns, in an environment far removed from the one that greeted him about five years ago.
The Bullets are the third and final NBL team to feature in an official NBA pre-season clash in the last fortnight, following the Sydney Kings and Melbourne United.
Bruce has watched those games with interest and tried to keep a lid on things, but the former Cairns Taipans development player is aware of the unique opportunity in front of him.
"It was pretty surreal seeing our uniforms out on the floor and once we're in the facility it will be pretty crazy," Bruce said.
"You've just got to take it in and enjoy the whole thing, because it's something you don't get very often."
Bruce learnt his trade over four seasons in Cairns, before moving to the Bullets in their NBL return last season.
"My first game in Cairns was against a college team and back then I thought that was pretty cool," he said.
"I guess this is just the next step to that; I'll take it in my stride and enjoy it like I did in that first game back then."
An ankle injury cut short his preseason campaign and saw him miss the Bullets' round one loss to Perth, but the Horsham product has been given the all clear to return at the Suns' Talking Stick Resort Arena.
He will take inspiration from Melbourne back-up guard Kyle Adnam, who took it to Oklahoma City Thunder's star-studded line up when he was called upon in United's one-point loss.
"I thought he did a great job; he just came out and backed himself and it's what all of us have to do," Bruce said.
"No backward steps; that's how Australian teams have done well in the past on the international stage."
The Bullets will immediately turn their focus to the NBL following Saturday's NBA experience, with their first home game of the season against Cairns next Friday.
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