Playing NBL the “biggest goal” for dual citizen Michaels

Written by Julia Montesano

Many basketball players around the world had to sit on the sidelines for the 2020 season, but for West Adelaide recruit Bryan Michaels, that heartache extended back to 2019.

While living out his dream and training with the likes of Damian Martin and Bryce Cotton at the Perth Wildcats, a season-ending injury halted his hopes of making a big impact in the big league.

The injury and the COVID-19 situation also meant that Michaels missed out on the opportunity to hit the court for the Mackay Meteors in the NBL1 North last season, following stints with the Lakeside Lightning and Auckland Huskies in previous years.

With the inaugural NBL1 Central season tipping off on Saturday night, hitting the court for the first time in two years is now an exciting reality for the dual citizen.

“I’m so excited to be playing again,” Michaels says while in hotel quarantine preparing to hit the season ahead.

“Being in Perth and getting to be around legends like Damian Martin and Bryce Cotton, and then getting hurt and not being able to play the next season, then the following season going to Mackay and having COVID-19 take the season away has been really hard.

“All I want to do is play and it’s a big relief that I finally get to.

“I’ve got some huge goals for the season, so I’m just looking forward to getting out on the court and showing what I can do.”

By far the biggest of his goals for the upcoming season is to earn his way back onto an NBL roster.

Michaels says once he gets there, he hopes to take his career even further on the international stage.

“Playing NBL is my biggest goal right now,” he says.

“I’m gunning for an Aussie guard spot and I think I’m capable of that.

“I’m going to try and prove that this season.”

Growing up in a small town called Kalispell in Montana, playing basketball was always Michaels’ goal.

He had none other than 1999-2000 Wildcats championship winner Dewey Michaels to look up to in his own household.

The older Michaels had a successful stint in the NBL, playing three seasons with Perth and four with the Cairns Taipans.

Bryan is hoping to emulate his father’s career, beginning with a dominant NBL1 Central campaign with the West Adelaide Bearcats.

“I grew up idolising him and wanting to base my work ethic on his,” he says.

“I grew up with a basketball in my hand, so basketball was always something I did, and I fell in love with it at a very young age.

“I had this great role model in my Dad.”

Michaels’ basketball talents soon took him to the now-closed Concordia University in Portland, Oregon before heading over to New Zealand to play with the Auckland Huskies in the New Zealand National Basketball League.

The 25-year-old says his abroad experiences opened his eyes up to a new world of hoops.

“You get to see a new part of the world and new cultures,” he says.

“I’ve got to experience things that not a lot of other people would have experienced at my age.

“It’s a good feeling to get out of what you know.

“I was just growing up in a small town in Montana, so it was nice to get out and explore the world a little bit.”

The next part of the world Michaels is exploring is Australia’s famous ‘City of Churches’ in Adelaide.

The 6’3 guard hopes to make an impact for the West Adelaide Bearcats alongside fellow American recruit, Earnest Ross.

The Bearcats commence their inaugural NBL1 Central campaign on Saturday night with a big clash at home against the Central Districts Lions.