Sydney Swans ruckman Kurt Tippett, standing 2.03 metres (6 ft 6”) tall should be a shoe-in at the NBA Around The World Challenge. And the Sydney Swans star admits basketball has always been a big part of his life, perhaps because he had a strong childhood connection with some big names.
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“I played a lot of hoops growing up,” Tippett told NBA.com. “In fact I was fortunate enough to play against a couple of Aussie guys who are now playing in the NBA. Joe Ingles (Jazz) and Patty Mills (Spurs) were part of a national carnival I played in when I was 18. It was pretty clear to see even then, despite my height, why they went on to become stars of the NBA and I didn’t!
“They’re doing a great job and I’m really pleased they went on to do what they have.”
So having been an avid basketball fan since an early age, who would the Swans star pick for a game of 3-on-3 at his local court?
“It’d have to be LeBron… you’d have the best seat in the house to watch him do his thing, and I guess the other would be Steph Curry, if only so I could say I was part of his record-breaking season!”
Check out how Kurt goes in the NBA Around The World Challenge in the video above.
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