DJ turns the tables as South East Melbourne surges

DJ Mitchell is living his dream with the South East Melbourne Phoenix. The team is a genuine contender, and he loves being part of it. Whether he is scoring 32 points like he has across the past two games, or sitting as the 11th man, he embraces his role.

After two NBL seasons with the Brisbane Bullets and a stint in the United Kingdom, Mitchell returned to Australia to join the Phoenix. His minutes have varied throughout the season, but he has stayed locked in, prepared and waiting for opportunities.

That preparation has paid off in back-to-back high-scoring wins over the Sydney Kings and Illawarra Hawks. Across those two games, Mitchell produced 32 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, while shooting 6 from 9 from deep, proving he can impact games whenever he is out there.

Crucially, he feels he has been doing his job all season regardless of court time, and his only goal is to make sure coach Josh King has no reason to take him off the floor.

"Personally I think I've been this the whole season and it's just obviously not anybody's night every night, so it's about staying ready and just not getting too down on myself," Mitchell said.

"I stay ready, am always getting up shots and putting in work so that if I get in there, I don't give him a reason to pull me out.

"I just take what he gives me, man, and he's a really good coach who holds everybody very accountable and to a very high standard, and it takes a village at the end of the day so if I'm the 11th man on the bench, I'll take me over anybody in the league."

What makes Mitchell so comfortable with his place on this South East Melbourne team is simple. He is part of a winning group. Whether he plays two minutes like he did against Cairns, or 14 against Sydney, or 16 against Illawarra, the result is the same. He is happy to contribute in any way that helps the Phoenix succeed.

It also takes him back to winning environments earlier in his career. He thinks of the 2022 NBL1 North championship he won with the Gold Coast Rollers. He remembers the championship series he reached in Poland in 2023. Those moments stay with him.

Now he feels like he is living out a dream.

"Like anyone would say, winning never gets old, man, and in my career I think I've been part of two winning teams before this," Mitchell said.

"But this is a feeling where I'm a little bit older now and, man, the feeling of winning is something I don't know how to explain, but it's what you play for as a kid and what you grow up wanting to do.

"You want to play in front of sold out crowds and come in and play, and give energy. It's a kid's dream out there right now for me."