Simon Brookhouse's initial involvement in the game was from a distinct advantage.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He was the tallest kid on the court in the schoolyard.
But after standing close to 6'2" (188cms) in basketball speak, things changed in the midst of puberty.
"I was never good enough, but what happened was I was a tall kid until about 15 - and then everyone around shot up past me," he said.
"I started my career as a forward and I had to try and finish as a guard - and when you can't shoot, well, that's not very practical."
But Brookhouse found his range and rose on the floor to a national badge referee.
The 49-year-old had a hand in most things in basketball up to SEABL standard.
Club president, team manager, even assistant coach.
"It's always been a passion of mine in every aspect of the game," he said, "so, I've never been too far away from it."
But now Brookhouse is set for the big league, appointed the head of Tasmania's yet-to-be-named NBL team.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
After serving as president of the Hobart Chargers two decades ago for four seasons, the Victorian has a good feel for what Tasmanians want.
He observed the aftermath following the extinction of the Hobart Tassie Devils, the NBL starting to crumble and had feared the worse.
But Brookhouse can now boldly declare this time is different in a new dawn for his adopted state.
"When you do talk about those other failed franchises, Tasmania is now in a much better place," he said.
"From my own personal point of view, I have noticed it from my visits down and I am looking forward to get back and living there."
Brookhouse has predicted Tasmania will have a point of difference to nearly every other NBL franchise that will be the talk of the town.
"The biggest advantage it just has is there is not a lot of competition from other sports and codes," he said.
"So, the NBL have actually delivered what Tasmania has wanted unlike some of the other sporting codes.
"They now have a team that plays in the national competition that can be measured.
"That is the first point that it is going to be the biggest sporting team in Tasmania and some other [NBL] teams have more competition from AFL or NRL or sometimes A-League, so that helps us.
"We're building something from new - we are going to build a brand that people, potential members and fans love so all Tasmanian people can grow with it.
"We're committed to make this work."
Subscriptions are available here.
Sign up to our Sport email here.