Neto instantly fitting in as perfect team man

From the moment Raul Neto arrived, he felt right at home with the Brisbane Bullets and the character within the group that Will Weaver promised has eventuated, and the triple Olympian couldn’t be happier with where he's landed.

Neto's career achievements speak for themselves, having represented Brazil at three Olympic Games already and having played 464 games in the NBA, so the 34-year-old is at a point in his journey where he is cautious about the opportunities he throws himself into.

But from the moment he spoke with Weaver about the chance to join the Bullets immediately, he liked what he was hearing, was quick to be on board and couldn’t be happier now with the decisions as he continues to settle in tremendously.

Neto has now played four games with the Bullets with him averaging 10.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds, but his impact has been much more significant than just numbers suggest.

He's brought great leadership and experience, he's playing with great energy on defence, and what he can do with the ball in his hands is unlike what anyone else in the NBL can do.

He was again instrumental in Sunday's win in Adelaide for the Bullets against the 36ers with 14 points, four rebounds and four assists, but it's how he's been able to so quickly fit into a culture that Weaver told him about has been the best part for him so far.

"I've said how easy it has been to adapt to not just on the court, but when Will first called me, one of the things he said was what a great group of guys this is, and he wasn't lying about it," Neto said.

"I got to Brisbane and we travelled the next day on a road trip, and you're sharing a room with somebody that you've never been with and like everybody on that team has really helped me adapt to on and off the court.

"That has shown in the games and I feel really comfortable playing with those guys, and it feels like I've played with them before and that's also the job of Will adapting and just making sure, I'm comfortable and that everybody's comfortable with what we're doing on the court.

"I'm really, really happy and I'm having fun on the court."

Neto's intention was never to come in and worry about the numbers he would put up in this stint with the Bullets, all he was worried about was coming in and providing his playmaking abilities and helping the team with his leadership and experience.

He's certainly doing that with the way he can create and run the offence, his passing is elite, but he's also setting the tone by getting up and in defensively, he's rebounding, he's scoring and has been everything the Bullets hoped – and more.

From Neto's point of view, he's getting everything he hoped from his time with the Bullets too.

"I'm just trying to control the game a little bit and I've said it from the beginning, I'm not out there to score points, make numbers or anything like that," Neto said.

"I'm here to help the team however is needed, and I think not only in offence, but also in defence, and understanding our way to play with different coverages, staying focused, and making sure everybody's focused.

"If we have a little moment where one guy is not locked in, all of those things are important and I think it's something with my experience I can bring for the team.

"I think that was the biggest part of my game tonight."

Neto has developed chemistry quickly with all his new Bullets teammates, but no one more so than imposing centre Tyrell Harrison.

Harrison had another 24 points and 10 rebounds on Sunday in Adelaide with the way Neto could find him and get him the ball exactly where he wanted it making his job all that much easier.

Neto is certainly enjoying that developing chemistry with the Bullets big man.

"It's really fun to play with him and in the past team I was on, our bigs were a little different than that, and it's just somebody that it's easy to throw him the ball," Neto said.

"You just throw it high and and he'll get it. I think it's been it's been really fun not only with him but the whole team who have been really fun to play with."

Neto always knew that his time with the Bullets was only going to last as long as Lithuanian point guard Arnas Velička is sidelined through injury, and he has no idea what's next for him.

At this point of his career, he has one eye on going to a fourth Olympic Games with Brazil at Los Angeles 2028, and beyond that will be selective on what club opportunities he takes on wherever that might be in the world.

But already in this stint at Brisbane in the NBL, he could easily see it being a league he would like to spend more time in if things could all align at some point again.

"I haven't really make any future plans on my career lately, me being in Brisbane was something that happened out of nowhere," Neto said.

"Everything just fit well together but I've been really open about my focus in life now. It's been my family and if my family support me and my family is with me on the decision of coming back to the NBL, I'll be really happy playing basketball for sure.

"It's been a good surprise on how organised and how well everything is with the NBL. Not just Brisbane, which is amazing, but the whole league.

"I think it's somewhere I can see me playing more if the stars align and I can be with my family."