You’ve just played your 450th NBL game. Is that a mark you ever though you would pass when you first started out in the NBL?

Not at all. After being cut by West Sydney back about 2000, I never thought I would reach 100 games. I feel very lucky but also very proud that I have been able to play that many.

Do you still remember your first NBL game, and what was it like stepping on the floor as a rookie?

Definitely. It was in Adelaide against the 36ers back in 1995. I was training with the North Melbourne Giants while playing with their feeder team in the ABA. Luckily for me they had a few injuries and was given the call up. I went 0-for-1 but the team had a good win.

Where did you first start to play basketball and who was the biggest influence on your game in those early years?

I started playing when I was eight years old for my primary school. Games were played on Saturday mornings on outdoor courts at the various schools in the area. I didn't start playing on indoor courts until my third year. My parents were definitely my biggest influence back then and have been for most of my career.

What has been the standout memory of your NBL career thus far?

That’s easy. Winning the Championships back in 2006 and 2008 with Melbourne Tigers.

Which teammates, past or present, have you most enjoyed playing with and why?

I have been very lucky to play with and learn from some of the biggest names in Australian basketball such as Andrew Gaze, Lanard Copeland, Mark Bradtke, Dave Thomas, Bruce Bolden, Pat Reidy, Marcus Timmons, Larry Senstock and Sam Mackinnon just to name a few. However my favourite teammate of all time is Daryl Macdonald. Champion bloke and a champion player and have a huge amount of respect and admiration for the way he played the game. I also think current teammates Mark Worthington and Adam Gibson will be considered as two of Australia's all time great by the time they finish their careers.

You’re the only player ever to win Best Sixth Man more than once. What does it take to be a ‘super sub’ off the bench?

My focus was always that once I came into the game I wanted to make an impact. That could be scoring, rebounding, passing or playing D. I knew I wasn't going to play big minutes so I just tried to work as hard as I could and contest every possession. Good things tend to happen when you play your hardest.

As you’ve gotten older and become a veteran, what are the most valuable things you’ve learnt as a player?

Respect the game and don't take things for granted. It’s the combination of hard work and self belief that makes the difference between the good players and the great players and also the good teams and the great teams. Lastly, teams will never be successful unless all players are on the same page and are working towards the same goals.

How many more years do you think you have left in your career and do you see yourself coaching after you’ve retired?

I think this will probably be my last year and I will make that decision fairly soon I think. Would love to get into coaching on some level as I love the game and think I have plenty to offer. Definitely want to stay involved though. We'll see what happens.

You know what it takes to win a title as you’ve done that before on a number of occasions. What do the Blaze need to do to win it all this season?

I think we have been getting ourselves on the right track in the past few weeks. Our focus has been on the defensive end and trying to make life difficult for our opponents and that has been evident in our last few games. I think we are also playing much better as a team and making the extra pass to get a teammate a better shot. We definitely have the individual talent and we are starting to put it together as a team as well. We still have a long way to go but I like the direction we are heading and the momentum we are building.