Back with a Bullet: Ducas’ HoopsFest homecoming

It may be just in its second season, but HoopsFest, Australasia’s biggest basketball, culture and lifestyle festival, is already making a lasting impact on the next generation of stars.

One player who can vouch for that is former Western Australian junior turned Brisbane Bullets young gun Alex Ducas, who can remember watching Wildcats games as a kid at RAC Arena.

"It's awesome [to come back] to Perth and see so many familiar sights and faces," Ducas said during Wednesday's HoopsFest launch press conference.

"I'm really looking forward to [playing at HoopsFest], it's an incredible chance for fans, [both young and old] to come watch the best men's and women's players in the country. It's awesome.

"I mean, just from arriving here in Perth and kind of seeing familiar sights and faces, it's been great and I'm really looking forward to it. It's an incredible chance for the fans to come see us play and see the women's play and so I'm really excited.

"I was sitting here [before the press conference], just remembering being a kid at the top of the stands in this arena, watching the Wildcats play.

"To be able to play here now in front of friends and family and an ever-growing fan base in Australia will be awesome. I'm super excited."

Ducas and his Bullets are part of the opening day slate at the 2026 event, taking on the Sydney Kings following the conclusion of the WNBL fixture with Perth and Bendigo.

Despite their recent tough run - Brisbane has lost 12 of its past 13 games - the 2025 NBA champion believes his team are heading in the right direction.

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"Every team goes through ups and downs during a season and it's never smooth sailing, whoever you are," Ducas said.

"Obviously, we've been the brunt of a few bad things that have gone on, but we've got a great group and a coaching staff that breeds confidence within us. We're super-excited about getting better each day and that's what we're focusing on, the next game and how we're going to figure it out moving forward.

"We have a great group, that's eager to learn and get better. That's all you can ask for in a group kind of going through [tough] situations, is that confidence and the ability to play hard [never wanes].

"We trust one another, each and every game and while it's not a smooth process, but it's a fun environment to be in and I'm happy to be here."

Brisbane's Round 17 fixture with Sydney tips off at 9.30pm AEDT (6.30pm AWST) on Thursday, live on ESPN.