Aussie Ryan Broekhoff has wanted to play in the NBA since he was a schoolboy

VICTORIA’S latest US basketball success story, Ryan Broekhoff, has spoken of his joy and relief at finally realising his childhood dream, with the former Frankston player penning an “ambition list” as a school kid about making it to the NBA.

Matthew Dellavedova and Ryan Broekhoff at the Rio Olympics. Picture: Alex Coppel

EXCLUSIVE: Victoria’s latest US basketball success story has spoken of his joy and relief of finally realising a childhood dream.

As a primary school kid growing up in Frankston, Ryan Broekhoff penned a long term “ambition’’ list which showed him shooting for the stars from an early age.

“When I grow up I want to to play basketball in the NBA,’’ it said.

“I want to be the best.’’

If a basketball career in the most rich and famous league in the world didn’t work out, he wanted to play footy for Geelong.

RELATED CONTENT:

AUSTRALIA HAS NEW NBA PLAYER IN RYAN BROEKHOFF

Broekhoff has played basketball since he was a child.

Broekhoff has played for Australia.

Ryan Broekhoff wrote this letter when he was in Grade 6.

But after taking the long road to the top and aged 27, he finally achieved his childhood dream when he was signed by the Dallas Mavericks for $3.4 million over two years on Friday.

Speaking from the US, he told the Sunday Herald Sun he remembers writing his mission plan as a child and was still hungry to fulfil his lifelong goal.

“I remember it vividly,’’ he said.

“It’s so nice to be able to tick a few things off that great list of accomplishments and dreams.

“I think I’ve only got to play for the Cats now.’’

Broekhoff, who played his whole junior career for the Frankston Blues, said the main objective of letter he wrote while at Patterson’s Lakes Primary school, stayed with him through the years.

Ryan (third from the left in the top row) originally played for the Frankston Blues.

Broekhoff with Aussie team mate Matthew Dellavedova at the Rio Olympics. Picture: Alex Coppel

“I just want to wake up tomorrow and for this to be real,’’ he said.

“I don’t want to wake up and this was my mind playing tricks on me or wake up and it was a dream.

“It still really is sinking in.

“It’s something that I’ve worked a long, long time for and put in many hours for and sacrificed a lot but all of that is now worth it.’’

The Aussie Boomer revealed he worked out for seven different NBA teams in Philadelphia, Memphis, Washington, Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Minnesota and New Orleans in a bid to land a US contract.

But Dallas offered to sign him out of the blue and without even seeing him in the flesh.

“I was a little surprised but gees I was happy,’’ he said

Broekhoff has been aiming for the NBA since he was young.

Ryan’s mum said she kept her kids in sport to keep them out of trouble.

His proud mum Jo Toebelman, who also played basketball for Frankston, said it could not have happened to a “nicer person”.

“His story is just a really nice one — single parent family, the youngest of four,” she said.

“His birth dad passed away some 15 years ago and didn’t really know him.

“I knew that I needed to keep my kids in sport to basically keep them out of trouble.’’

Broekhoff was overlooked for Victorian representative teams until under 18s and only attracted interest from one US college after a scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport.

He spent the past five years playing in Russia and Turkey, wondering if he would ever make it to the most famous basketball league in the world.

At least nine Australians are expected to play in the NBA next season.

[e-mail]

rolfep