NATHAN Sobey's first game for the Brisbane Bullets will have blockbuster billing.
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The Warrnambool export, who crossed from Adelaide 36ers in the NBL off-season, will meet boom Illawarra Hawks recruit LaMelo Ball in the Bullets' away season-opener on Saturday, October 6.
Teenage point guard Ball, the brother of New Orleans Pelicans' Lonzo and son of American personality LaVar, joined the NBL under its Next Stars program.
He is touted as a future NBA draft selection and signed with the Hawks to much fanfare in June.
Combo guard Sobey, who is in the Australian Boomers' squad, is a chance to line-up on the teenager in round one.
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Warrnambool Seahawks coach and long-time friend Tim Gainey said all eyes would be on Ball's debut.
He said the Bullets had depth in the point guard position.
"I don't know what Brisbane will do because they've got three players who can play the point - Nathan, Cam Gliddon and Jason Cadee," he said.
"Of course I think Nathan will be their defensive specialist out of the group so I can see him guarding LaMelo.
"LaMelo will be a hard guy to guard. He's a tall point guard and pretty fast for his size.
"But physicality will come into play and Nathan is more experienced from that stand point."
Gainey said the NBL was "different to basketball in the States".
"On the internet, the videos I've seen of him (Ball) getting through the lane to do a lay-up will not happen here," he said.
"Australia is a lot more prideful in its defence than anywhere else in the world."
Gainey expects Sobey to thrive at Brisbane under Australian Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis.
"He's played Boomers under him for a bit so he knows the type of tempo and how Andrej plays and it suits him," he said.
"It'll be up and down (the court) a bit more with the roster they have."
Ball joined first-round NBA draft contender RJ Hampton in Australia for the 2019-20 NBL season.
Hampton signed with the New Zealand Breakers in a coup for the competition.
Sobey's first appearance against his former side Adelaide will come in round three on the 36ers' home floor.
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