NBA v NBL: Sydney Kings star Dane Pineau excited to be taking on LA Clippers
WHEN it comes to pre-season NBA experiences, Sydney Kings centre Dane Pineau has had a good run.
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WHEN it comes to pre-season NBA experiences, Sydney Kings centre Dane Pineau has had a good run.
Pineau, a Melbourne-born product from Saint Mary’s College in California, came up against his lifelong friend Dante Exum in the Kings’ clash against Utah last year.
Sydney didn’t get the win but the Sydney big man was able to claim some bragging rights as he scored on Exum.
He also received the Jazz star’s singlet as a special souvenir post-game.
Twelve months on, Pineau will team up with one of Australia’s greatest basketballers in Andrew Bogut as the Kings look to take down the LA Clippers in Hawaii on Monday morning.
It is two straight years of fortune on the NBA stage that hasn’t been lost on the rising Sydney centre.
“It is pretty awesome to play against NBA guys like that who are so big and strong,” Pineau told The Saturday Telegraph.
“The Clippers have got Marcin Gortat and Boban Marjanović, so they have really loaded up to try and stop Bogut and myself in this pre-season game.
“It should be fun to play against them, but those guys are physical freaks so it will be a whole new experience.
“It is going to be unbelievable.”
Pineau will give away plenty of size and experience when he takes on the Clippers but thankfully he has Bogut’s proven resume to lean on.
The Boomers veteran spent 13 seasons in the NBA, including a championship with Golden State in 2015.
Pineau says he has been like a sponge soaking up information in Bogut’s presence so far this pre-season.
“Wow, he has taught me a lot,” he said.
“He is great because he is so vocal, so he is never going to shy away from telling you the truth.
“It is like having an extra coach out there. He also gives me little tips all the time when I’m playing.
“There have been a couple of times when he has scored on me and he has been running down the court yelling at me.
“It is like he is trying to rub it in a bit, but he is also trying to help me.
“He has been big on me talking a lot more in defence and not worrying what anyone else is doing.
“I also try and watch him at training to see how he reads plays, plus he is also such a good passer.
“He is an awesome leader.”
Pineau is entering his second full season in the NBL but he still has aspirations to play at the highest level.
“Yeah down the track if I can keep getting a bit better,” he said.
“You see a lot of guys make the jump from the NBL to the NBA or to Europe.
“I just think it shows the quality of the NBL and how it is a stepping stone to any other league in the world.”
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