On the eve of his 150th NBL match, and ideally positioned to become an Olympian, Perth star Nick Kay has eclipsed his childhood dreams - but is hungry for more success.
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Kay will notch the milestone when the second-placed Wildcats host the ladder-leading Kings on Saturday.
It will be another achievement in a celebrated career that had seemed out of reach when he was growing up in Tamworth.
The in-form forward had visualised becoming a professional basketballer. "But when you're back in Tamworth," he said, "it felt like it was just gonna be a dream; one of those things that it would be awesome to do, but it's always tough to see the path you've got to take to get there.
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"And now to actually be in those shoes, it puts a smile on your face every time you think about it."
Kay said his 150th game would be a "huge honour". "And I'm hoping there are a lot more games to come."
The 206-centimetre consistent performer has elevated his game since joining Perth from Illawarra last season, in what was a championship-winning campaign for the Wildcats.
Kay was one of the Boomers' best when he made his World Cup debut last year, and made the 2019 All-NBL First Team, while his NBL form this season has spiked as the finals approach.
In his past two appearances, he scored 20-plus points a game, and has two double-doubles in his past four contests.
He is averaging 14.2 points per game this season, making 50 per cent of his shots from the field and 42 per cent from long range - pulling the trigger from down down more this season than any other year, according to the Wildcats.
"[I'm] just feeling confident and working hard on my shot and trying to work that three ball as much as I can, make that a weapon of my game," he said.
"But I'm just enjoying playing. And I think when you enjoy it ... it makes the game a lot more easier and a lot more fun. Put all the work in, all worth it."
Along with helping propel Perth to back-to-back championships this season, Kay's other major goal in 2020 is making the Boomers' Tokyo Olympics squad.
"Obviously that's a major motivator to play the best I can, to put the extra work in, because representing your country at the Olympics is one of those things that not many people get to do."
Kay began his NBL career with the Townsville Crocodiles, and was named 2016 NBL rookie of the year. He played with the Illawarra Hawks from 2016-2018, then linked with Perth.
He won the 2019 NZNBL championship with the Wellington Saints, and was named the league's MVP that year.
In 149 NBL games, he has averaged 12.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
