Just 19 days out from the biggest day in Mills's booming career, Longley urged the Canberra prodigy to lap up the NBA-draft experience.

If anyone knows about the transition from college into the world's best league, it's three-time championship winner Longley.

He forged a 10-year stint in the NBA with four clubs Minnesota, Chicago, Phoenix and New York.

But the Australian Boomers legend was not about to inundate Mills with advice.

According to Longley, trialling with different clubs and the lure of millions of dollars was the best learning curve to play against superstar opponents.

Before Longley was drafted seventh overall by Minnesota in 1991, he spent two years fielding requests for him to leave college.

And the 40-year-old said enjoyment now would lead to a successful future.

''I don't push that whole side of things [advice], it's an adventure,'' Longley said this week.

''There's no point trying to hide any excitment, it's all part of the deal and you've got to learn from everything you do from now on.

''It's like when you're a teenager and you're about to get your first pash, you don't want your parents telling you how to do it.

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