Phoenix Recruit: NBL "Another Level"

By Dan Woods - NBL Media

Grant Anticevich is one of a number of exciting former collegiate players who will be gracing the NBL this season. He joins the likes of Cairns' Sam Waardenburg and Perth's Brady Manek in taking his first steps in the professional game.

After playing 32 games for the California Golden Bears last season, Anticevich has arrived in Melbourne to link up with Simon Mitchell and the Phoenix.

The star recruit says he can already see the increase in quality, despite being just a week into his NBL journey.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">? “???’? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ???????!” ? <br><br>What we love to hear as <a href="https://twitter.com/GAnticevich?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GAnticevich</a> spoke to Phoenix Media after his first few days since arriving at the club.<br><br>Memberships ?? <a href="https://t.co/783pVKLKP3">https://t.co/783pVKLKP3</a> <a href="https://t.co/tduI04z2hA">pic.twitter.com/tduI04z2hA</a></p>&mdash; South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1559459068787707904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“Everything is a step above at the professional level. Better players – faster, more skilled. It’s just another level." Anticevich told the South East Melbourne website.

We have some really great players at the club. It’s really fun getting to practice with them [and] I feel like it’s going really well.

“Getting on the court with the boys has been great so far.”

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While obviously enjoying his short time with the side so far, Anticevich, much like most players around the league, already has his eyes firmly set on lifting the championship trophy come season’s end.

He left the Golden Bears’ program with a degree in psychology and a record for the most games played for the college’s men’s side with 139 appearances.

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“[My pre-season goals are] the same as my goals for the season. individually, just getting as good as I can and as a team just prepare and make practice as hard as possible so the games are easy,” Anticevich said.

“We [want to] put ourselves in the best position to win an NBL championship. That’s everyone’s goal.

“So [we] push ourselves in practice, push each other - and the coaches are doing a great job. [We’re] just getting ourselves as ready as possible for the season.”