Sam Short's NBL season may have come to an end, but he is confident he's done enough to earn himself a full-time contract this off-season.
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The Ballarat-born guard is in the final year of a development contract with Melbourne United, set to expire at season's end.
He will remain with the club throughout the NBL playoffs, but will not take part after suffering a rib injury a fortnight ago.
While he will stay in street clothes for now, the 21-year-old was hopeful to be back in black and white in 2021 - and with a bigger role.
"It can be a waiting game being a development player, but every time I've got my opportunity I've taken it with both hands," he said.
"The feedback I've got from the coaching staff is really positive and I feel like I've made some big strides to getting on the roster."
Short saw increased opportunities this season, in what was an up-and-down year for the club.
Injuries and inconsistent performances prompted a number of on-court changes from coaching staff, but Short made the most of the playing time he got.
He scored his first regular-season points in a December clash against the Sydney Kings, dropping a field goal and a three-pointer.
It followed an impressive preseason performance during an exhibition game in Ballarat where he scored 13 points against the LaMelo Ball-led Illawarra Hawks.
"It's taken its time, that's for sure, but everything just fell into place for me a bit this season," he said.
"I remember coming into my first year, I'd just finished high school and I was playing alongside Olympians and players who had won championships in Europe, and I was really in awe and felt like I wasn't really supposed to be there.
"But now I really feel part of the group and someone who can help this team move forward."
Short will get to showcase his value to NBL clubs in the upcoming NBL1 season with the Ballarat Miners.
While his contract situation will be at the back of his mind, he said he will keep his focus on doing what the Miners need him to.
"Some players can fall into a trap of trying to put up personal numbers to move forward, but for me I think it's about team success, he said.
"So I'd love to try and get something signed early so I don't have to be thinking about it."
Now I really feel part of the group and someone who can help this team move forward.
- Sam Short
Short will cheer on his United teammates when they take the court in Saturday's blockbuster playoff encounter with the Sydney Kings.
The top-placed Kings are heavily favored to win the series against United, who scraped into the playoffs as the four-seed after winning its last three fixtures.
Short was adamant anything could happen.
"We obviously knew that the way we were playing a month ago wasn't to our standard at all," he said.
"In that sense, it was no surprise to us to see us come together over the last three games."
