'My only route': Without Thunder, Bragg may have never hit the pro court

"If it wasn't for the North West Thunder, I probably never would have played professionally."

That's the view of Burnie product Mason Bragg, as the club continues to fight to maintain their existence in NBL1 South.

The 31-year-old, who won an NBL championship with the Perth Wildcats during the 2016/17 season, detailed how the Thunder played a critical role in his progression to the country's highest level.

"It was massive for me because I was never part of any national training programs or representative teams. The only way I was able to reach the NBL was through the Thunder - that was my pathway," Bragg said.  "Getting minutes at semi-professional level was my only route to be able to play professionally and pass out a decent basketball career.  But not only that, I grew up watching guys like Ben Armstrong, Nick Haywood, Sam Armstrong, the McGaffin brothers and all the imports that came through, they were my idols. I looked at those guys like NBA players.  To be able to go to the Thunder games and be a floor sweeper and sit behind the bench was massive. They gave me the motivation to become a great basketball player."