It's been a tough few years for the Sydney Kings.
They last reached the National Basketball League Grand Final back in 2008, but haven't won the national title since 2005.
However, signing players of Josh Powell's calibre is raising hopes those lean years could be coming to an end.
Powell won the NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers twice, alongside such luminaries as Kobe Bryant.
And the warm welcome he received when he arrived in Australia earlier this week has given him a boost as he looks ahead to the season.
"I'm excited, you know. It's been a lot of love, you know, a lot of smiling faces, when I was in the airport."
The Kings need a big man to help them win rebounds and score points.
And standing at over two metres tall Powell's well set to do just that.
Sydney Kings Coach Andrew Gaze believes Powell's NBA experience - allied with spells in Europe, Asia and South America - will help him settle in with the club.
"He's travelled the world and had incredible experiences and I think that's one of the things that attracted us to him is that coming in the seasons already starting his ability to adjust and also the fact that there's no great ego there."
But Powell's time in Australia won't just be devoted to basketball.
After earning big money in his six year stint in the NBA he started his own foundation to reach out to communities in need.
His move to Sydney will see the work for "21 Reasons to Give" continue.
Powell doesn't just enjoy playing around the world but also taking his foundation wherever he goes.
"I'm big into philanthropy. I'm big into the community and giving back and I'm also big into supporting and just being a part of good causes. So I'm always looking to do great things for the community so hopefully while I'm here I'll be able to have the opportunity to do some things for the community out here and give back as well."
Wherever his career has taken him Powell has always managed to fit in.
It's a testimony not only to his easy going nature, but also to how he takes on the challenges thrown up by the various leagues he's played in.
And it's something he says he wants to continue in Sydney.
"When I was in Puerto Rico and China you know I had more of a scoring demand as well as rebounding and defending. But I've been in other places like when I went to Argentina you know not so much it was a little bit different and I had to adjust to that. So the game is all about adjustments and you know I'm here to be a part of something special and not cause problems and be a headache so that's my thing."
Powell is set to make his home debut for the Sydney Kings when they take on the Cairns Taipans on Saturday.
