SYDNEY – Former Chaminade University men's basketball player
Sam Daly is living his dreams of being a professional basketball player.
The 6-foot-4 guard who spent two years wearing a Silverswords uniform from 2015 to '17 signed his first pro contract a few weeks ago, returning to his native Australia to play for the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League.
"Playing in the NBL means a lot to me because there are so very few teams meaning so few (roster) spots and it's a hard league to crack especially as a young player," Daly said. "I really like playing in my home country because there are no language barriers or issues you may encounter overseas and I already know some of the players in the league."
Shortly after he inked his contract, Daly was included on the Kings' travel squad, heading to the United States to face the NBA's Utah Jazz in an exhibition game in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Oct. 2.
"I was fortunate enough to be included on the Utah tour, it was an unreal experience to play against some of the worlds' best in some amazing facilities," he said.
Daly registered some court time against the Jazz, logging four minutes and scoring three points, making 1-of-2 from 3-point distance.
"The game was fun," Daly recalled. "(I) was too excited to be nervous and playing against some idols such as Ricky Rubio was a great experience. The Jazz game was our only NBA game but the league is hoping to make it a regular thing every year."
Aside from the game itself, the trip was also a cultural experience for him and his teammates despite Daly having a chance to see different parts of the U.S. during his college travels at both Chaminade and his previous school of Grand Canyon University in Arizona.
"(Salt Lake City) was a smaller city, quite simple and laid back which reminded me of my hometown, Adalaide," Daly said. "We explored Park City and some malls downtown where we were staying."
Now back in Australia, one of the upcoming contests that Daly is looking forward to is against CQUniversity Cairns on Nov. 30, the first of four scheduled meetings. On the Taipans' roster is his former Chaminade teammate,
Kuany Kuany.
"I'm looking forward to playing against Kuany," he said. "It'll be a different environment and style of play compared to college but one we're both looking forward to.
"We had a chance to catch up at the NBL pre-season tournament and chat. We are both looking forward to playing against each other and the season ahead. I'm really happy for him and wait to play against Cairns."
For now, Daly is hoping to gain a footing with Sydney for the foreseeable future and become an established player in the NBL.
"I hope to solidify a permanent spot in this league over the next couple of years," he said. "Hopefully, once I've made some money here, then I'd like to explore the possibility of playing overseas.
Daly is the third former member of the 2016-17 Silverswords to play pro basketball. Aside from Kuany,
Rohndell Goodwin is currently with the Bristol Flyers in England.
Goodwin had a 26-point contest on Sept. 30 where he was named the Player of the Game. He is coming off a 16-point performance last Friday against Cheshire in the British Basketball League Cup.
