Squeezing his 1.95m frame into an airline seat before settling in for a movie binge on his iPad might not sound like the best way for Lamar Patterson to prepare for the NBL finals, but it's something the American is used to.
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Patterson and his Brisbane teammates will travel to Perth on Wednesday ahead of their best-of-three semi-final series against the Wildcats starting on Thursday.
From their both teams will fly back to the east coast where Brisbane will host the second game on Saturday.
A third match - if needed - will then be played in Perth on Monday.
For Patterson, an ex-NBA player whose used to cross-country flights and tight schedules, the excitement of being part of Brisbane's first finals campaign since 2008 is enough to overcome any fatigue the travel may bring.
"I played in the NBA and there was times we had to fly three hours after a game just to play the same day," the 27-year-old said.
"It's part of it.
"Being able to play this game, the sport that I love, at this stage, in the finals right now is amazing.
"That's all we're worried about right now. We're not worried about no plane ride, no time difference, none of that right now."
Patterson only joined the Bullets in October but has been a key part in Brisbane's surge to the finals, earning himself a spot in the All-NBL first team for his efforts.
Despite being at the Bullets for a matter of months, the presence of club legend Leroy Loggins at training in the past couple of days has brought home to Patterson just how much returning to the finals means.
"Everyone's loving it, you know?," the ex-Atlanta Hawk said.
"It's good to have people who were a part of the history still with the club so they can pretty much live through us in this moment and they can tell us their experiences.
"Building off each other is something the Brisbane Bullets has done well - especially since I've been here."
Australian Associated Press
