Mitch Creek excited about taking reins at new NBL franchise South East Melbourne Phoenix but door remains ajar for NBA contract
Australia’s Mitch Creek cannot wait to get settled with fledgling NBL South East Melbourne Phoenix outfit but says if that NBA contract phone call comes everything could change.
Mitch Creek will fly home on Tuesday to Australia from the US to focus on fledgling South East Melbourne Phoenix’s inaugural NBL season.
But the star wing, who enjoyed NBA stints with Brooklyn and Minnesota last season, said he has not given up on his dream of securing a full-time NBA contract.
“Right now we don’t have the answers we want to have right now in terms of the NBA, so we play the waiting game and we just see what happens over the course of the next few months,” Creek told the Herald Sun.
“But right now it’s about getting back to Melbourne, getting ourselves situated in a brand new franchise that is well versed and well coached.
“The Phoenix have been absolutely phenomenal in guiding me and helping me through this process and they’ve made this really easy for me.”
Creek, who still has an NBA-out clause, said as it stands he will happily lead the Phoenix into the upcoming NBL season.
“This year is going to be a very exciting one for the NBL, and I’m hoping I get to be a part of that and at the same time I hope I’m not,” he said.
“But I think any player would say the same thing.
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“If a NBA team called Kyle Adnam tomorrow and said: ‘hey mate, come and play with Spurs’, I’m sure he would be off.
“But right now, South East Melbourne have been phenomenal and it’s been hard for them because they’re kind of saying: ‘We put our eggs in your basket’.
“And I’m the one carrying the basket and right now the basket is in Minneapolis and not in South East Melbourne just yet.
“But I’ll be on a flight tomorrow afternoon, and from there hopefully I can get settled in amongst a great bunch of guys and the coaching staff.”
Creek will join a Phoenix roster that contains the likes of Adam Gibson, Tai Wesley, Ben Madgen and Adnam.
“For a first year team, I don’t know how many times you can put on a roster like that without breaking the bank,” Creek said.
Originally published as Mitch Creek excited about taking reins at new NBL franchise South East Melbourne Phoenix but door remains ajar for NBA contract