Creek "Can't Wait" to Team Up with Fellow Boomer

If you thought Mitch Creek and Keifer Sykes were forming a lethal combination in NBL21, wait for the arrival of Phoenix recruit Ryan Broekhoff in the coming month.

After being waived by Philadelphia in the early stages of the current NBA season, Broekhoff has decided to head home and represent South East Melbourne for the remainder of the season.

It’s an opportunity to play in front of his family and friends for the first time in years and also give him the best chance to play at the Olympics in Tokyo.

(Boomers coach Brian Goorjian said this week he expects Broekhoff to make the Olympic team for Tokyo)

For the Phoenix, it presents a golden opportunity to take it up to the best teams in the league with a deep and highly talented squad.

Phoenix star Mitch Creek has already enjoyed the spread of contributors on both ends of the floor this year, which is about to step up another notch with the arrival of Broekhoff.

“To get the call a couple of weeks ago from the coaches to say, ‘hey, this is who we’re looking at, what do you reckon?’, I didn’t even say anything, I just smirked and walked off,” Creek said.

“He’s obviously an elite calibre player not just in Australia but worldwide. He’s been in the NBA for a reason and he’s been a great Olympian for a reason.

“He brings a tenacity and intensity on the defensive end as well which people kind of overlook. He’s a big, long six-foot-eight guard who can play defence, works his absolute ass off - comes in early, stays late. He shoots it from the opposite side of the universe and makes it pretty effortlessly.

“To have his services is going to be absolutely amazing. I’ve never personally played with him but I’ve seen a lot of him and he’s been very nice to me, especially in my time in America, he reached out to me and offered his help if I ever needed anything.

“I’m really looking forward to playing with him.”

Broekhoff’s 201cm frame is considered shooting guard or small forward size at NBA level but can mix it with frontcourt athletes in the NBL, making him an incredibly unique addition to the team.

Phoenix Coach Simon Mitchell pointed this out earlier in the week, noting his rebounding and defensive ability as underrated assets on top of his obvious shooting brilliance.

Throwing the Boomers guard in the Phoenix dessert makes for an appetising look on paper.

“I think the roster is really strong,” Broekhoff said.

“I think my outside shooting will open things up for guys like Sykes and Creeky who really attack the rim. I’m just here to help the team compete and win some games, hopefully we’re able to do that.”

Creek agrees.

“I think he’s just going to be a guy who’s not going to be selfish, not going to do it all himself, he wants to play the team game,” Creek said.

“He’s a Frankston boy and this is his home. This is the Heartland for him. This is where his feet feel comfortable when his shoes are off.

“For us, we just have to incorporate him in and let him understand yes he can be the man but he’s not going to want to be the go-to guy every possession.

“I just think he’s going to make everything for us a little bit easier. He brings us more space, brings us more defensive ability to get stops and then run in transition with his length and ability to get on the rim and shoot that three-ball.

“The world’s his oyster and I can’t wait to have him on our team.”

Broekhoff is hoping to fly out from the U.S.A to Australia in the next week to start his quarantine period before joining the team in the latter stages of the NBL Cup.

The Phoenix’s first NBL Cup game is on Sunday against Brisbane at John Cain Arena.

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Sam Bunn for Phoenix Media (17/02/2021)