Melbourne United are keen to celebrate Dean Vickerman's coaching milestone in style, but they'll have to do it on enemy territory against an Adelaide 36ers outfit desperate for revenge.
Vickerman will notch his 350th game as an NBL coach in Saturday night's clash with the 36ers in Adelaide.
The 53-year-old's career as a player never hit any great heights - averaging just 2.5 points per match in 16 games across three seasons for the Melbourne Tigers in the early 1990s.
But Vickerman has come into his own as a coach, leading the NZ Breakers to the 2015 NBL title before guiding Melbourne United to championship success in 2018 and 2021.
Second-placed United (13-8) are well placed to challenge again this season, and star guard Matthew Dellavedova wants Vickerman's milestone moment to be celebrated in style.
"He's one of the most successful coaches in NBL history," Dellavedova said of the three-time NBL coach of the season.
"His intensity day to day and attention to detail and competitiveness really drives the team.
"He's defensively focused, so he's always pushing hard on that end. Hopefully we can get the win in his 350th."
Vickerman wasn't even aware his milestone match was coming up.
"One of the goals is to always be a consistent championship contender, and for the most part we've been able to achieve that," Vickerman said.
"We've put ourselves in a position this year where we're right there.
"We're in the mix to try to capture one of those top two positions if we're good enough."
United have defeated Adelaide by 20 and 27 points in their two meetings this season, and the 36ers (8-11) will be hungry to turn the tables on their home court.
Melbourne snapped a four-game losing streak with a 76-66 win over Cairns on Boxing Day.
