Hometown Hero Sobey Eyes Title, Bullets Clash

And with the Phoenix, he hopes to finally be able to tick that off.

“It’s all I’m trying to do at the moment, I think what the Phoenix have and are putting together as a team is going to give us our best chance,” Sobey told Phoenix Media.

The 33-year-old was officially announced as the Phoenix’s first off-season signing on Monday after leaving the Brisbane Bullets as the club’s most recent MVP, and while he says he won’t be circling the Bullets fixture on the fixture, Sobey will certainly be looking forward to facing off against his former side and coach.

“I spent a lot of time here and got to know a lot of people, I’m sure it’ll be a good game to watch,” Sobey said.

Sobey publicly declared he was disappointed in his former coach’s comments about his exit, but now has both eyes solely focused on the future in the Heartland.

“It's all happened pretty quick.

“I’m super keen to get to work and obviously be back in my home state and be around family and friends.”

Sobey’s two days as a Phoenix player doesn’t feel that way to the Warnarmbool product, having played with club captain Mitch Creek in Adelaide, working with former Bullets coach and now South East Melbourne assistant Sam MacKinnon - and also going as far back as his college days where he first met Phoenix head coach Mike Kelly.

And it’s that opportunity to relink up with Mitch Creek that has him – and the wider NBL community – salivating at the chance to see the two most potent Australian players on the same roster.

“I’m just keen to get back on the same team as him and help in any way I can, we have unfinished business together.”

That unfinished business stems from the 36ers defeat in the 2018 Grand Final series where both Sobey and Creek were a game away from being champions, that result still fuelling the fire of the ageless Sobey.

“The body is feeling good, it’s time to get back to work and get ready for a good season.”

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