Sydney Kings gun Jaylin Galloway believes he's playing better than when he earned a maiden NBA deal with Milwaukee.
But while confident he will make it back to the NBA, the forward insists he is in no rush after a "tough" first foray onto basketball's biggest stage.
It's been a rollercoaster 18 months for Galloway, who was cut by the Bucks last August without playing an NBA game and then suffered a season-ending shoulder injury on return to the Kings.
Galloway had moved to Milwaukee on two days' notice after signing his breakthrough deal, and was then left to pick up the pieces of the whirlwind chapter from the casualty ward.
"It was definitely a tough time for me," he told AAP.
"I was out with that shoulder, I think that was the first time I mentally had to deal with stuff so I think that was good for me. That mental side also built my confidence."
That confidence has fuelled Galloway since returning to the court this season with Sydney, who are currently on a four-game winning streak - their longest since Brian Goorjian returned as coach last season.
Galloway focused on his shooting during his NBA stint and has shown off his defensive capabilities in recent weeks, coming up with nine steals across the ongoing winning streak.
"I think I'm better than that form (that earned the NBA deal), I think I've learned a lot so far," Galloway said.
"I think I'm way better than when I was at the Kings (the first time), it's just a matter of staying healthy now for me."
Galloway, 22, feels time is on his side when it comes to returning to the NBA; there are only three Australians currently on NBA rosters who are both younger than Galloway and have played this season.
"I'm confident in myself that I will get back there. I'm not really too worried about when or where, I think I know I will get back there, it's just whenever that opportunity comes," he said.
For now, Galloway is content in a Sydney side that he feels is more connected than in an underwhelming 2024/25 campaign.
"I definitely feel that within the group we're more towards culture this season than last season," Galloway said ahead of Sunday's clash with Tasmania.
"Just holding each other accountable and knowing your role within the team, just the little things, being professional."
Second-unit guard Shaun Bruce (calf) is expected to remain sidelined this weekend, with Matthew Dellavedova also no certainty to recover from an elbow infection in time, either.
The NBA champion missed the Kings' last-start win over the Illawarra Hawks and is a day-by-day proposition.
