Adelaide 36ers supporters can expect an entertaining Distinctive Homes Dome debut from recruit Julius Hodge when he and his team mates tackle the Sydney Kings this Saturday.
Hodge has recorded some respectable statistics in his opening two games but is looking forward to turning it on against the Hummer Championship NBL frontrunners.
"I like up and down playing, fast break, I like to get out into the open court and dribble pass, my pull-up game is pretty good," he said.
"I'm just a guy that loves to play the game; you'll see me out there smiling a lot, talking to the crowd."
"It's definitely a blessing to play basketball …I just like to have fun out there."
While his knowledge of the Hummer Championship NBL is limited, the 24-year-old is aware that the Sixers/Kings clash is a David and Goliath battle.
But with a fresh set of eyes comes a fresh sense of optimism.
"We are going to have to play tough and physical with them, if we play the game smart I think we should not only fair well but we should get a big victory," he said.
"I've been playing out there with new guys so I've been trying to get my team mates involved a lot but I know we have a tough game coming up and I need to be more assertive."
"I'm still getting my feet wet but I'm getting into the groove, I now know my team mates and the coach has told me he wants me to be more aggressive in offence."
Hodge still holds a dream to play in the NBA but admits Adelaide - both the team and the city - have impressed him.
The 201-cm guard said he's enjoying the hot weather, the beaches and the friendly people. He said it was in stark contrast to New York where 'everyone is grumpy and in a rush'.
"Adelaide is a great place, I wouldn't mind playing here again," he said.
"Coach Phil (Smyth) is a great guy, there is a great staff, I really like my team mates, it definitely brings me back to my college days …there are no egos."
"I have to say my heart wants to recapture my dream of playing NBA but just in case that doesn't happen, Adelaide is a place I wouldn't mind playing the rest of my career."
He also said his Australian experience had been an improvement on his time playing with Serie A team Cimberio Varese in Italy.
"The workload wasn't too much it was just in terms of the living conditions," he said.
"My house was freezing all the time, I had no means to contact my family at home, if you don't win you don't get paid - it's not professional."