Phoenix -- With just hours to go until game-time, Brisbane guard Adam Gibson stood at half-court of the team's shootaround at Talking Stick Resort Arena, marvelling at how far the NBL had come.
Gibson, a veteran of the league since 2005, says the magnitude of the occasion had not yet fully sunk in.
"I don't think it has - it hasn't for me, I think tonight once we get out here and everyone's here, it probably will sink right in, but it just kind of feels like we're just on the road," he told ESPN.
The Bullets will look to build on impressive showings by the Sydney Kings and Melbourne United in the previous two games of the historic series between NBL and NBA teams by slowing the game up against Phoenix - a team that likes to run-and-gun - and by playing a hard-nosed style of game. Gibson says Brisbane has to come out aggressive.
"We just know we have to be on the front foot [tonight]," he said. "If we're nervous and on the back foot then they can obviously get a jump on us and the game will be over, so we're gonna come out hard and aggressive and play our style of game - which obviously they won't be used to.
"If you're hesitant they smell blood and they'll go for you. Just playing aggressive and smart and safe. I think that's a good thing with Australian teams we play so well as a team, and we help each other. There'll be a lot of that. Getting guys open and helping each other out. It's on each other to help each other out, but keep it simple and play hard."
Gibson has been a valuable addition to any team he's played on party due to his dogged defensive skills - he was named the NBL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 - but he understands that defending players like Devin Booker, who erupted for 70 points in a game last season, is a different assignment all together.
"They've got some unbelievable athletes - like every NBA team - so just keeping the ball in front and not letting them get easy layups will be key to winning the game," said Gibson.
Having represented Australia at the 2012 Olympics, and multiple international tournaments over the past seven years, Gibson is no stranger to facing elite competition, but for someone who never really had the NBA route as an option, being on this stage at this point of his career is a little more special for the Bullets' guard.
"I think I appreciate it more [now]," he said. "The Olympics [are] definitely number one, and the two World Champs, but this is definitely top three or four for sure. The chance to play an NBA team is huge. To be here and play against these guys and see where you're at - I'm a lot older now, but to see where you're at against the best players in the world is something pretty cool.
"When you're older and you look back on your career you definitely appreciate moments like this. I'm going to be soaking it in and having fun with it."
Still, there's a game to be played, and Melbourne's narrow defeat to Oklahoma City, a team featuring three NBA All-Stars, has buoyed the Bullets' core. Not only have they come to compete, but they believe they can win against the Suns' best.
"This is their [Suns] last game before the season so they told our coaches last night that they'll play their full team," said Gibson. "They'll be going hard and I reckon they would have watched that [Melbourne] game and been like, 'these Aussies are for real, we better step up our gears!'
"I think we're comfortable, and we believe we've got a real chance at winning."
