A decade after Alex Starling moved to Australia to pursue an AFL career, the American has fulfilled a very different sporting dream.
The 34-year-old is the latest player to sign with the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League, after becoming an Australian citizen.
"It is a great day to be an Australian, that's for sure — [it's a] very surreal feeling," said Starling, who achieved both milestones on the same day.
"Going through the process, to actually see it all come across the finish line, it's amazing, an amazing feeling."
The journey to the NBL has been an arduous one for the Florida-born athlete.
The former college basketball player initially moved to Australia in 2011, to pursue an AFL career after being identified by former Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos.
He has spent time training with both the Sydney Swans and Port Adelaide, but his AFL dream did not go to plan.
"I never knew anything about Australian Rules football up until then," he said.
"But obviously [I was] keen to give it a go.
"Fortunately — or unfortunately — it didn't work out, but I'm here now."
Despite the setbacks in a new country, Starling didn't give up on his professional dream.
Switching his focus back to the court, he's dominated the NBL1 competition for a number of years, most recently with the South Adelaide Panthers.
The forward is a two-time Grand Final MVP and three-time Defensive Player of the Year in the competition.
Despite his form, the chance to join the NBL as an import player had remained elusive.
But now, more than a decade after arriving in the country, he is finally set to make his professional sporting debut.
His new Australian citizenship made him eligible to sign as a local player for the Adelaide 36ers.
"It just shows his passion, his love, not only for the game but for his partner, his community that nothing's going to stand in his way," 36ers coach CJ Bruton said.
"With Alex's commitment, his determination … you'll see the best version of Alex every time he steps out on the floor and that's what we plan on doing."
Starling has joined Keanu Rasmussen, Isaac Humphries and Jason Cadee in signing for the 36ers ahead of next season.
He joins current players Mitch McCarron, Antonius Cleveland, Robert Franks, Nick Marshall, Sunday Dech and Kyrin Galloway on the squad's playing roster.
It is an opportunity that Starling wants to grasp with both hands.
"Seeing what the team has been like for nearly the last decade I feel like, with me on that roster, I can help lead them to a championship," he said.
"I leave my life out there on the court … give it every last single thing that I have. Simple."
