Jack White is a man on a mission, with the Melbourne United forward unwilling to let thoughts of a possible return to the NBA distract from his NBL title plans.
United can book a place in the trophy series with victory over Perth Wildcats in a best of three Playoff series, starting at John Cain Arena on Thursday night.
Melbourne have won all three clashes with Perth this season but recognise that any side with league MVP Bryce Cotton on their roster has the ability to go all the way.
As well as team glory White has his own personal motivation for success, with the 27-year-old short-changed in his bid to lift the trophy with Melbourne.
When United last won the NBL title, in 2021, White missed the playoffs after he suffered season-ending achilles injury.
A year later they topped the regular season but were shock losers to Tasmania in the semi-finals, and then last year the JackJumpers again had their measure in the best-of-five title series.
He missed Melbourne's last home-and-away game with back tightness, which also ruled him out of Sunday's Boomers match in his home town of Traralgon, so is determined not to let any more opportunities slip away.
"Yeah, feeling super motivated, driven, excited," said White, who has overcome the back issue.
"I'm definitely not taking it for granted, especially because I've missed this moment before - both three seasons ago when we lost in the semis against Tassie and my first year when I was hurt - so I'm just looking forward to getting out there and competing.
"I feel ready for this moment, especially having that time off to get healthy and I know I can speak on behalf of the rest of the boys that we're feeling really good and just excited to get out there on John Cain (Arena) on Thursday and get it started."
White spent two years in the NBA, part of Denver's first-ever championship winning roster before time in the G-League and a brief stint with Memphis.
This week's signing of young Cairns guard Taran Armstrong has prompted talk of other NBA prospects in the NBL but White said it wasn't currently on his radar.
"All that stuff can be handled like when we get to that bridge, but as far as I'm concerned, it's just to take care of business now," he said.
"I really believe that we have the group to win, and honestly, I'm pretty consumed with it, so I'm just looking forward, looking forward to getting out there and yeah, getting cracking."
