The 198-centimetre power forward grew up in Cinncinnatti, Ohio, idolising Michael Jordan and following the giant footsteps of Lebron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry.

But Billups believes the success of Aussies like Ben Simmons, Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Andrew Bogut and Matt Dellavedova will signal a seismic shift in their nation's sporting landscape.

"Basketball is definitely going to be big here," Billups said. "It is going to be competing with footy I believe.

"Having so many Australian players in the NBA means people want to follow them and can see a pathway and there is a real momentum in the sport here."

Billups is the standout performer in the first Tasmanian team to take part in a New Zealand national sporting league.

In the NZNBL he has the most two-pointers (44) and sits third in total points (113), fourth in rebounds (47) and points per game (24.0) and fifth in average rebounds (9.4).

With two wins from five games, the sixth-placed Huskies will make the first of five appearances at the Silverdome on Sunday against a fourth-placed Southland Sharks featuring four NBL regulars and 215cm Olympian Alex Pledger.

Billups, who played Division 1 college basketball in the States before stints with Coburn Cougars and Joondelup Wolves in Western Australia and Glasgow Rocks in the UK BBL, said he is relishing his latest recruitment under Tasmanian basketball great Anthony Stewart.

"I played against Tre Nichols and he sold me to Stewy," he said. "Tre said he enjoyed it here, I looked into it and got recruited."

"All I knew was that Tasmania was in Australia but I really like it here. It's real laid back, there's not too much going on but nice scenery and people and I'm enjoying myself.

"The standard of the competition is definitely up there with what I've played before. There are a lot of NBL players and Olympians involved so it is definitely competitive.

"I like the competition - they let you play. It's a very physical league, you get to bump people a lot. The other players don't realise it but I actually enjoy that.

"My shot has not really dropped yet but I'm figuring it out as the weeks go by."

Inspecting the versatile Prospect venue that will host the Huskies having also staged international netball, boxing and cycling as well as concerts for the likes of Meatloaf, Billups hoped hoops fans would flock to the Silverdome like a bat out of hell.

"If we can get this place packed it will be a great atmosphere."

Huskies assistant coach Brett Smith said Billups has made an invaluable contribution this season.

"He brings an intensity and athleticism and 20 points per game so gives us a lot of flexibility by having him on court," he said.

"He's a really strong inside presence.

"Sunday is going to be a massive game for us."