Commonality key for surging Phoenix

Being a part of it is rare, but winning a championship is rarer.

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For the South East Melbourne Phoenix, they’re not just here to be a part of it. Instead, they’ve got their eyes firmly set on the franchise’s maiden NBL Championship Trophy.

Phoenix forward DJ Mitchell, who was lucky enough to win an NBL1 championship at Gold Coast, alongside finals experience from his time in Poland, understands this rarity well and truly.

“A championship in any sport is one of a kind. You can’t replicate that feeling anywhere else. To contribute to something like that… it’s a feeling very few get to experience,” he said.

“It's tough because it's everybody's last chance. Everybody’s playing like it’s their last, and whoever makes the playoffs deserves to be there, so it's very hard to beat anybody on any given night.”

Mitchell, who will enjoy his first NBL postseason after being a part of a struggling Brisbane Bullets team for his first two years in the NBL, is bullish on his squad’s championship aspirations. Hailing his side’s depth, as well as the consistency displayed across the regular season, the Phoenix have given Mitchell plenty to be pleased with.

“You can’t win with five guys. It takes a village to win. So, coming off the bench with guys like Angus (Glover) and IC (Ian Clark), we come in, try to make an impact, because every second counts… There are times when you see postseason runs fail, and they only lose because a guy might not have high-fived somebody. It can literally come down to little things like that.”

“We’ve been very consistent all year. We haven’t been too high, haven’t had real lows. We’ve got great structure and great players - I don’t see why anyone wouldn’t be excited about us right now.”

Ian Clark, who has brought NBL and NBA championship experience to the side in his offseason switch from United, has seen similarities in the Phoenix’s identity to his time in Sydney, as well as the famous 2017 Golden State Warriors.

“I don't think we do anything too differently. I think it's something that we have in common. You know, on winning teams, guys get along on and off the court, guys are unselfish, and guys don't care who gets the credit,” he said.

“I think we have that championship DNA.”

The 34-year-old guard is one of the veterans of this Phoenix squad, whose experience will be key in the team’s success alongside other experienced stars like Nathan Sobey (35) and John Brown III (34), in pursuit of his second NBL ring.

“I’ve been trying to lead by example as much as possible… It’s something you take pride in. Everybody knows in this league it’s not easy to win. It's not easy to guarantee you’re going to make it back to the playoffs or have a chance. So, I take pride in these moments.”

“I'm my own worst critic. I want to be the best version of myself… but at the same time, we as a collective need everyone on board, everyone on the same page to accomplish the same goal.”

>>>GET YOUR TICKETS TO PHOENIX FIRST FINAL ON WEDNESDAY!

With the Phoenix finishing a franchise record high of third place in the Hungry Jack’s NBL26 season, Josh King’s squad will look to capitalise, starting Wednesday night vs the Perth Wildcats.

Akech Aliir, who played alongside Clark for United in NBL25, knows exactly where to start as the Phoenix begin their postseason campaign.

“It’s a completely different situation once you’re in. It’s intense all around – more physical, refs let a few more things go,” he mentioned.

“You really have to grind it out. This Wednesday may be just one game, but you play teams three, four, five times… You really get into the chess match of basketball.”

Perth, who have won 4 of their last 5, have gathered momentum at just the right time of the Hungry Jack’s NBL26 season, and now stand in the way of the Phoenix once again.

Aliir and Mitchell, who stand at 204cm and 203cm respectively, will play a part in slowing down frontcourt powerhouses Kristian Doolittle and Jo Lual-Acuil, whilst Clark may see some time guarding star guard Elijah Pepper.

“We’ve been in a dog fight with them, and they get their edge from somebody making a big shot, or big offensive rebounds here and there,” Clark stated.

“We have to make them feel uncomfortable. We’ve earned this home court advantage, and our fans always use their voice and give us that extra energy. We have to come out and perform for them.”

In the event of a win, either the Phoenix or the Wildcats will advance to play Adelaide 36ers in the next round.

The team that falls short will face a tough next bout against the winner of Melbourne United and Tasmania JackJumpers – before taking on number-one seed Sydney in a semi-final series.

It’s Our Time. Support your Phoenix as they kick off their finals campaign,Wednesday night, 7:30 pm from John Cain Arena, GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!