Cigar-smoking Tasmanian JackJumpers coach Scott Roth guarded Magic Johnson at The Forum in his NBA debut.
But he says guiding the debutant NBL franchise to a finals series is "at the very top" of his basketball achievements.
The passionate mentor enjoys a cigar before every game to de-stress, a guilty pleasure he surely savoured after a manic conclusion to the regular season on Sunday.
First his men crushed minor premiers Melbourne United (20-8) to move into fourth and ahead of Perth with a 17-11 record.
Then they watched as the Wildcats squandered a final-quarter lead to lose in overtime to South East Melbourne Phoenix, sealing the Wildcats' first finals absence since 1986.
"It's been a heck of a 24 hours," Roth, a former Perth assistant coach, said on Monday after training.
"We finished the season the right way then waited ... that (Perth) game was absolutely crazy.
"I sat there on my couch and watched by myself ... South East did a heck of a job and it (35-straight finals appearances) was a special achievement by Perth and had to end at some point or other."
The JackJumpers won their season opener but had slumped to 2-6 before surging home and will enter a three-game finals series from Thursday with wins over United in their last two encounters.
In the other semi-final, Brian Goorjian's Illawarra will meet the Sydney Kings after they bested their NSW rivals on the final day of the season to secure home court advantage.
"It's going to be a very difficult series for us but I can tell you our guys expect to win ... not just make up the numbers," Roth said.
"We've never put a ceiling on anything; just keep doing the work and see where it leaves you.
"The expectation keeps growing, they keep getting better and we haven't backed down."
Roth played for Utah, San Antonio and Minnesota in between stints in Europe, before coaching in the NBA, Spain, Australia and the Turkish national team.
"I've had two or three things (I rate) as far as basketball goes," he said when asked to rank his latest achievement.
"Playing in my first NBA game and guarding Magic Johnson at The Forum was as high as I could be.
"Coaching Turkey to the (2001) World Championships, having the entire country rallying around that group for six weeks.
"But this is at the very top."
NBL Semi-Finals:
*Thursday April 28: (1) Melbourne United v (4) Tasmania JackJumpers (7.30pm AEST) John Cain Arena.
*Friday April 29 : (2) Illawarra Hawks v (3) Sydney Kings (7.30pm AEST) WIN Entertainment Centre.
*Saturday 30 April: Tasmania JackJumpers v Melbourne United (8.00pm AEST) MyState Bank Arena.
*Sunday May 1: Sydney Kings v Illawarra Hawks (3.00pm AEST) Qudos Bank Arena.
*(If required) Monday May 2: Melbourne United v Tasmania JackJumpers (7.30pm AEST) John Cain Arena.
*(If required) Tuesday May 3: Illawarra Hawks v Sydney Kings (7.30pm AEST) WIN Entertainment Centre.
