By RUSSELL BENNETT
BERWICK big man and Melbourne United’s inaugural marquee signing Daniel Kickert isn’t getting carried away, but he has high hopes for the NBL side in the coming seasons.
The 31-year-old, versatile 6’10″ (208-centimetre) local is thrilled to be back home – signing on with United – formerly the Melbourne Tigers – after an eight-year stint playing professionally in Europe.
“Then this year all the cards fell into place, it (the chance to sign) opened up and I had a chat to them and my wife and I decided it was a great opportunity and a great time to come back home and be part of a new club and a new brand,” he told the News.
Now, in the lead-in to his first NBL season, the former Australian Boomer is thrilled about the prospect of playing such a key role in a roster including Mark Worthington, Daryl Corletto and American import Stephen Dennis, who Kickert described as “probably one of the most athletic guys the NBL has ever seen”.
“I think our roster is strong from top to bottom and I think we’ve got the right types of guys as well – guys who are going to sacrifice minutes or points or whatever it is,” Kickert said.
“Guys are on the same page – we all want to get this first championship and then try and pile them on for the brand.
“We want the brand to be successful, and we want basketball and the NBL to be successful here.
“It is really exciting.”
