Sydney Swans defender Aliir Aliir may be cousins with new NBA sensation Thon Maker but it was a former champion he had the honour of meeting on Tuesday.

Three-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs (2003, 2005, 2007) and a five-time NBA All-Defensive team member, Bruce Bowen, achieved it all during his decorated NBA career.

The former NBA star was in Sydney on Tuesday for the launch of Charity Bounce, a newly created charity for disadvantaged youth, which saw kids from Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and culturally diverse communities take part in a Jr. NBA Clinic with Aliir and players from the Sydney Kings and Sydney Uni Flames.

For Aliir, who’s an avid basketball fan, it was a great opportunity to shoot hoops with the kids and to meet the Spurs champion.

Click on the video player above to see Aliir’s interview with Bowen.