It's one thing to put your hand up and say you want to play in the NBA.
It's quite another to be able to muscle up against the best and toughest players in the world and justify a place.
Canberra's Patrick Mills confirmed yesterday his intention to enter the 2009 draft, ending months of speculation since his starring performance for Australia at the Beijing Olympics.
The 20-year-old said he was on the cusp of realising a childhood dream.
''The dream started when I was a little kid, watching NBA games on TV, watching Michael Jordan,'' Mills said. ''You understand that the NBA is the height of basketball in the world and if you're a competitive person, that's what you want to be. You want to be the best in the world or compete in the best league.
''Now it's kind of scary that it's around the corner, but kind of exciting at the same time.''
For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times
Email a friend