Teams use the mini-camps to look at players for their summer league sides or to be invited to training camp to contend for a roster position. Both players caught the eye of NBA scouts tracking 36ers import Terrance Ferguson last season, Ferguson is tipped to be picked in the NBA draft on June 23 after he chose to play professionally in Australia instead of attend a US college. Sobey spent last winter fulfilling a promise to his family to play a season for the Warrnambool Seahawks, who he helped lead to the 2016 Big V division one championship. He rose from being a bench player to become one of the stars of the NBL season, averaging 15 points per game and winning the league's most improved player award. While he has signed with the 36ers for two more seasons, all NBL contracts have various out-clauses for NBA or overseas offers, and Sobey spent recent months with Greek club PAOK Thessaloniki, who he helped to the second round of the Greek play-offs.

"I wouldn't have thought about having this chance a couple of years ago or even at the start of this last season," Sobey said. "Now this opportunity is in front of me and I'm not looking back, just looking forward to it, and I've been working hard on my game to be ready." Sobey said he never thought he would even earn an NBL place until he finished his stint in the US college system at Wyoming, which led to him signing as a development player with Cairns Taipans and then with the 36ers. "I had never really looked at the overseas opportunities and I don't like to look that far ahead," Sobey said. "But the short stint in Greece let me play my game and adjust to a more physical style of play. "This year has been huge for me and I don't think these opportunities would have been there without that chance to play more minutes in the NBL." Creek captained the 36ers this season and, despite a foot injury in the first half of the season, showed his athleticism, defensive toughness and offensive skills, and there was the potential for a late-season NBA tryout once the NBL season finished.

But he suffered a broken hand, which forced him to stay in Australia. Now he is ready to show what he can do. "I'm super nervous, excited and everything all in one," Creek said. "This is a stepping stone in the right direction for my career. "I don't know how I square up at that level, if I'm tall enough, strong enough, quick enough or can shoot well enough, but I won't know that until I get out there." Creek said he intended to follow the lead of another Victorian country export, Milwaukee Bucks guard Matthew Dellavedova. "If I just do what I'm capable of, not play outside my boundaries or try to be a hero and be a tough-nosed Aussie, then I think I should be OK," Creek said.

"It's something you want to model yourself on. I think I can be a little bit taller version of Delly in the way he goes about his game."