Basketball On The Internet.

VENERABLE veteran and Kings assistant coach Ben Knight will play his milestone 400th NBL game today when Sydney hosts New Zealand.

That's such exciting news for the Breakers, even Paul Henare thought about making a comeback. And Dillon Boucher. And Dean "I Schooled Lanard Copeland" Vickerman.

The Kings' plight is fairly desperate with Julian Khazzouh out for the season, Josh Childress out for a while, and Damion James out to lunch.

The only good news on the horizon is Auryn MacMillan, who made #79 famous with the Hawks before Jarrad Weeks trumped him with #97, and who also played NBL for Melbourne, popped loose from the UK scene this week.

Daryl Corletto, his teammate at Melbourne, now head coach of the Plymouth University Raiders, cut the former Tigers and United big-man, showing how ruthless the UK comp can be.

MacMillan, 28 and 204cm, is known for his energy and enthusiasm and has been a SEABL star.

"Auryn's production was a lot lower than we hoped it would be - in fact he was one of the lowest performers of all permit players in the league," Corletto said, each club allowed three permit players.

"This is not a criticism of Auryn personally, but we had to make a change to allow the team to keep getting better.

"We were offered a player that we could not pass up on, and we had to make the move now or we would have lost him.

"We as a club wish Auryn all the best in the future."

Could he be a better longer-term fit than Big Benny, who is going to be pushing it at 39? Let's face it, much more will fall now on Angus Brandt's shoulders and MacMillan would be good value in limited time. And he's healthy, fit, available and Australian!

Regardless, it shouldn't make any difference today, New Zealand with too much weaponry for the Kings.

SIMILARLY in Melbourne, Hisense Arena should be buzzing if the roof is opened as planned but with Melbourne in something of a hole at present, reversing a 30-point loss to Perth of just a few weeks ago will take some manouvering.

The fickle weather has cast a cloud over whether the roof actually will open but it's still a very big game regardless.

I can't see United winning though I can see a much-improved effort in an atmosphere of expectancy that should be something to savour.