Andrew Bogut isn't ruling out a stint in the NBL - or even buying a team in the local league - once his time in the NBA is up.
The Australian big man still has two years left on his contract with the championship-winning Golden State Warriors, but is open to finishing his career back home.
"Definitely a pipe dream, fairytale story, would be to play a season in Australia before I retire," Bogut told AAP ahead of the Boomers' 2016 Olympic qualifying series against New Zealand.
"But it all depends on the body and how that feels, and at what age and mindset I'm in.
"I definitely wouldn't see anything wrong with coming back here and trying to help the game that brought a lot to me and my life."
But he says those possible plans are still a long way off.
"My main goal right now is play out the two years on my Golden State deal, get to Rio and see what we can do there. Then I'll re-evaluate whether I push on for a couple more years in the NBA, or whatever."
The 30-year-old came close to playing for the Sydney Kings during the 2011 NBA lock-out, but couldn't secure an insurance policy to cover his three-year $39 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
He sees the NBL as an important stepping stone for young Australian players wanting to go abroad, and hopes businessman Larry Kestelman can rejuvenate the struggling league.
"I think Kestelman is going to really ruffle some feathers in trying to push this thing and give it one final crack," he said.
"It might be the Frank Lowy of basketball. There's an opportunity there.
"Basketball on the weekend, junior-wise, is full in every stadium in every suburb.
"We just need to transition 1% of those kids to NBL games and I think we'll be ok."
Asked if he'd be interested in buying a franchise, the superstar centre said: "Maybe down the track, who knows?"
"I don't invest or buy into companies I can't put my hands on and I wouldn't be able to manage an NBL team while in the States. It's too hard."
Bogut didn't know if such a move would even help, pointing to the experience of three-time NBA champion - now Boomers assistant - Luc Longley, who part-owned the Perth Wildcats in the early 2000s.
"It helped a little bit, it got extra media attention for a couple weeks and then the same ol' same ol'," he said.
