WATCH every week via the as SBS journalist and budding basketball enthusiast, Joel Spreadborough chats with players that have made their way to Australia’s pre-eminent league from every corner of the country, and the world.
Our next package - Playing from the heart Episode 12 premiering on Wednesday March 31 - will be on South East Melbourne Phoenix's Reuben Te Rangi.
Spreadborough uncovers the history that shapes the passion, while gleaning some truly fascinating cultural insights.
Episode 1: Alex Mudronja (Adelaide 36ers) - Playing from the heart
'Dance to the ball' - Unorthodox advice has representing a powerful link between culture and the basketball court for the Adelaide 36ers' rising star Alex Mudronja.
It was a piece of guidance frequently issued by the 21-year-old's father during his junior career, referring to the Mudronja family passion for traditional Ukrainian dancing, a pursuit that connected Alex to his heritage and Adelaide’s Ukrainian community throughout his youth.
A connection with his roots, which according to Alex, helped him learn how to drive, step and jink his way to the basket on a regular basis.
"My first type of introduction to any kind of sport was Ukrainian dancing. That was the first thing that really taught me footwork, and how to move my body in different positions," Mudronja said.
"My dad always says - still to this day - dance like you were dancing when you were young!"
Honouring the family heritage was a significant part of growing up in the Mudronja household, according to Alex, who also learned about the resilient spirit of a storied group of Ukrainian freedom fighters.
"When we were young we learnt a lot about the Cossacks, who were Ukrainian soldiers and freedom fighters. And they were known for just giving every fight their all. When I was growing up and going to games, my parents used to always tell me, 'just bring that Cossack spirit'," he said.
It’s this type of cultural connection that gives SBS Sport’s new series ‘Playing from the heart' its beat.
The NBL brings together players from all over the world, and a quick chat about a specific player's background can provide tremendous insight into what drives them, who they are, and what they play for.
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Episode 2: Jordan Ngatai (Cairns Taipans) - Playing from the heart
Jordan Ngatai is a 6’5” small forward, now with the Cairns Taipans after six seasons with the New Zealand Breakers.
The proud Maori Has represented the New Zealand Tall Blacks on 52 occasions, and now leads their unique version of the legendary war dance ‘the haka'.
"Each line has a significant meaning," Ngatai said.
"To what our hurdles have been throughout, and what the team has been created from. It’s something I’m really proud of. I feel like it really brings out my passion."
Ngatai’s comprehension of the true meaning behind the haka runs deep, mainly because he boasts a rare connection to the world-famous pre-game challenge.
"Kamate - our haka - is what my ancestor, the chief of our tribe, our Iwi. He created it. It makes me unique to basically the rest of the world," he said.
The honour of having a blood tie to the origins of the haka has led to close encounters with another iconic New Zealand sporting brand.
"When they had the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the All Blacks came to visit our tribal village," Ngatai said.
"They wanted to pay their respects, and ask for permission to use it" (for the record, the All Blacks - inspired by a rousing rendition of the haka - went on to win the World Cup on home soil).
Born in Australia, before relocating to New Zealand, Ngatai’s upbringing in Porirua, Wellington, was all about family.
"Growing up in Porirua, I had all my family within a ten-minute walking radius. I couldn’t do anything when I was younger. I would get in trouble if I missed school or anything," he said.
It has inspired a passion to succeed not just for himself, but for those he loves most.
"I play for my mum, my sister, my nieces and nephews," Ngatai said.
"When I put that singlet on, that’s who I’m representing. The success, the opportunities the game has given me - I want to share with them."
There is a twinkle in Jordan’s eyes as he shares his love for country and culture, and his desire to forge an even closer connection to his heritage.
"Growing up in Australia originally, I missed the opportunity to learn the Maori language as a child. And I never really caught up. So now, my nieces and nephews can mostly speak it better than I can. They actually are helping me to catch up, which is really special," he said.
Episode 3: Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (Melbourne United) - Playing from the heart
Melbourne United star Jo Lual-Acuil didn't remember much of his birthplace - Wau in South Sudan - having fled with his family amid a violent civil war at just three years of age.
Now 26, he fondly recollects a life experience which serves as an enduring reminder of the magnitude of his journey to the NBL.
"Going back to the place I was born," Lual-Acuil Jr said.
"Because I was so young when I left, I didn’t remember much about South Sudan. But getting a chance to go back when I was about 15 and see the village where my parents were from, where we used to have a house. That was really valuable to me."
His connection to his nation and ancestry was forged on that visit, and he wants to maintain it with his own family.
"We speak a different language," he said.
"I have a daughter now, so I’m trying to pass it down to her. That’s my biggest goal, honestly. If she can speak it fluently, I’ll be a very proud dad."
Lual-Acuil points to the courage of his own parents as the single greatest motivation for his own journey.
After fleeing South Sudan and spending three years in a Ugandan refugee camp, his father Joseph Snr returned to South Sudan, where he remains a high ranking civil servant.
His mother, Ayen Mayor, migrated to Australia with Jo, his brothers and sister - raising them as a single parent.
Jo now rightly sees himself as a mentor for the rapidly expanding band of compatriots making names for themselves in the NBL.
"I’m inspired by the resilience of people from South Sudan, I feel like we’ve all been through a lot," Lual-Acuil Jr said.
"Just seeing the group of young, talented South Sudanese guys starting to make their way through the league now is inspiring. I try to make myself as accessible as possible, if they want to talk they just need to reach out.
"I want to be the best basketball player I can be. And I want to make an impact in my community."
Alex, Jordan, Jo and other NBL players set to tell their unique stories in our ‘Playing from the heart’ series prove they’re not just a name and a line on the stat sheets. Tune in to discover what they truly play for.
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