Preparations for NBL23 are in full swing, with the South East Melbourne Phoenix gym starting to fill up with returning players.

Mitch Creek joined Kyle Adnam, Owen Foxwell, Dane Pineau, and Reuben Te Rangi back in the Heartland last week. Ryan Broekhoff was also back at training today.

Creek spent his off-season overseas playing in Puerto Rico and the US.

"A few months away got some sunshine and enjoyed a bit of time playing in different countries, different teams, different coaches, different systems, but it's always great to come home," Creek said.

The first stop for Creek was playing for Guaynabo Mets in Puerto Rico. Across the four games he played for the side, he averaged 19 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

"Puerto Rico was awesome living on the beach in San Juan was very hard to be upset with. The team there at Guaynabo Mets were amazing, I only got to play four games there over the course of two weeks, but the fans, the city, the culture, the food, the experience was incredible," he said.

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfSx5yIuDx3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfSx5yIuDx3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; 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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfSx5yIuDx3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Mitchell Creek (@mitchellcreek55)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

Next on Creek's off-season trip was a visit to the US and a roster spot on playing Floyd Mayweather's, The Money Team, in the TBT tournament.

The tournament has a winner takes all million dollar prize.

Creek averaged 17 points, one assist, and six rebounds over the three games that TMT lasted until being eliminated.

"Going over with Floyd Mayweather's TMT for the TBT, it was something I wasn't sure if I was going to do or not, but with the team, he put together, the coaching staff, the players, it was an opportunity I didn't want to turn down," he said.

"It was a good incentive (the prized money), but at the same time, it's good exposure as well, not just for me but the NBL showing that Australian players can go into these international and US rich environments and do well."

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CggD8INLNkJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CggD8INLNkJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; 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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CggD8INLNkJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Mitchell Creek (@mitchellcreek55)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

With the NBL23 roster coming together nicely for the Phoenix, Creek was excited to reunite with former teammate Alan "Big Sauce' Williams and see what the other two imports will bring to the team.

"All three imports I know a little bit about. Trey Kell not as much, but I have seen his highlights, and I've heard great things about him. Gary Browne was obviously the Puerto Rican national team captain; I watched him play against Xavier Munford for team USA versus Puerto Rico; that was a cool experience to see him first-hand there and get to meet him. I've been in touch with him, so I love what he's about as well.

"What 'Big Sauce' brings, and the other guys bring something we need this year, knowing first-hand how good Sauce is and what he does at both ends, the leader, the quality of a guy off the court as well, it's going to be a really easy transition for him in the NBL and he is going to be an absolute beast," he said.

Creek has his eyes set on the NBL23 championship and believes that the roster the Phoenix is building is giving the club the best chance to hold the trophy aloft at the end of the season.

"Look, every year it's always championship or bust. I don't come here to lose games or to not be successful, we want to try and keep building a culture that's rich in a deep roster, well coached, well maintained, great staff, great fans and everyone is well looked after" he said.

"I think winning and being successful is always the number one thing, but for us, this roster has got the ability to, I say it every year because I believe it, but this year it's the strongest roster we have put together. Guys in areas that will suit them a little more this year. We've got some guys out, some guys in but the faces we have in this year is going to be very special," Creek said.

A44i4581 (Creek is impressed with the roster build for Phoenix for NBL23.)

Creek has a little injury setback at the start of pre-season with an ankle injury but is looking to get back out on the court in the coming weeks.

"Just came down on it, just a regular ankle but being very cautious with it. Pre-season it's early on; we've got plenty of time ahead of us, so I'll be back on track in a few weeks," Creek commented.

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Phoenix Media (8/8/22)

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