When Mat Campbell played his first SEABL game with the Bendigo Braves in the 1990s, about 800 people packed into the cold, old stadium basketball fans knew as the Wigwam.
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The best part of 25 years later, Campbell was back in the old Braves changerooms on Thursday in his role as general manager of NBL club the Illawarra Hawks.
The Hawks were in Bendigo for the NBL Blitz pre-season tournament and they gave their general manager plenty to smile about when they defeated the Brisbane Bullets 91-69.
Campbell, who graduated from Bendigo basketball to play 524 NBL games for the Hawks, couldn't help but be impressed by Bendigo's new multi-million dollar stadium.
"It's amazing what Bendigo has done,'' Campbell said.
"The participation rates in Bendigo basketball are through the roof and what they've been able to do from an infrastructure point of view is unbelievable.
"They're so professional from the board through to the junior coaching levels.
"Talent levels are really good. The only thing missing now is a pathway for the men.
"SEABL is going through its troubles and the level between SEABL and the NBL is massive.
"Trying to forge a good pathway for the local kids coming though is very important for the next step in Bendigo basketball."
Campbell took over as the Hawks' general manager in April.
"As a player, and then behind the scenes, I had a good overview of the business, but I hadn't been heavily involved with the day-to-day running of the business,'' he said.
"To really unpick it and work out how to improve it was quite an exercise from my end."
Campbell's first challenge was putting together a playing roster. The Hawks had 11 players out of contract and lost key duo Mitch Norton and Nick Kay to rival club the Perth Wildcats.
Based on Thursday's performance at the NBL Blitz, Campbell has done a good job. The Hawks were one of the more impressive teams.
"What was encouraging from my end is that you could see the group coming together,'' Campbell said.
"As long as they play hard and, they're respectful in the way they go about it, that's a key for me."
Campbell said Andrew Bogut's return to the NBL was exciting for basketball in Australia.
"It's as good a standard as I've seen from the playing point of view,'' he said of the NBL.
"It's a really good opportunity for basketball to pick off the success of (NBA star) Ben Simmons.
"His continued growth in the NBA will help us as a sport. The next three to five years is the best opportunity for basketball in Australia to get back to the level it was in the 1990s and be knocking on the doors of the AFL and NRL."
The NBL Blitz in Bendigo gave Campbell the opportunity to return home to see his parents and family friends.
"We've had a great time,'' he said.
"Tony Southcombe is a lifelong friend of my Dad and we took the team to The Bridge Hotel for a meal on Wednesday night when we got in. It was good for me because Mum and Dad were there. The Bridge looked after the team really well and we had breakfast there this morning as well."