Happy Place Calling For Baynes

After a tumultuous 12 months, Brisbane Bullets signing Aron Baynes is relieved to be returning to his "happy place" – the basketball court.

Baynes’ career was in jeopardy after he suffered a freak spinal cord injury at the Tokyo Olympics, which resulted in him losing his ability to walk for a period of time.

The 35-year-old has diligently attacked his rehabilitation since that point and is set to revive his basketball journey with the Bullets, a prospect he couldn't be more excited about. 

“Basketball is my happy place and I'm just excited that I can continue that here,” Baynes said.

“Over the last few years with COVID and myself going through an injury, I know that my happy place is being on the basketball court, and I can lose myself within the routine that I have going about doing my business daily out there. It's exciting for me that I get to do that.”

Along with getting back on the court, Baynes is looking forward to settling down with his family in Brisbane, where he hopes to set up his life after basketball.

“Foreseeable future for me, my family's here in Brisbane,” he said.

“Trying to build a community that my family is part of is definitely something big for me everywhere I go, let alone when it's the long-term future for my family where we're going to be.

“I’m trying to make an impact both on and off the court as much as I can while I'm here and trying to be better for the community, myself and my family all at once.”

Baynes added having his family close helped his recovery and he is going to lean on their support as his comeback story continues.

“It's great because my family is around,” he said.

“They kind of alleviate any stress I do have about anything else, they could care less, they're just worried about what the next game is going be or are we going to go to the ice cream store? I get a different perspective on my biggest worries at that point.”

The three-time Olympian is excited for the challenge the NBL presents, but also has his sights set on returning to the NBA.

Baynes has played 522 NBA games across nine years with the San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors. He won an NBA Championship with the Spurs in 2014.

He won’t be reinventing the wheel to get back to the NBA, as he looks to impact the game in the same way he always has.

“I'm just going out and doing what I'm known to do. How I play basketball, that's what got me to the NBA to begin with,” Baynes said.

I didn't go out there and try and do something that I'm not capable of, it's about going out there and playing the right way every single every time I do hit the floor and showing that I can still do what I was able to do before.

“I'm excited to be able to go out and work with (coach James Duncan) on the court and try and get there and take steps in the right direction for myself and for the team. If we're doing that daily, then we're going to be in a good spot come the end of it.”

Baynes and the Bullets begin their campaign on October 2 against the Perth Wildcats.