'I had the dream to play NBA or NBL': Naitanui's hoop dreams

But the former West Coast superstar revealed to the Perth Wildcast podcast that he once dreamt of becoming a professional basketballer in the NBA or NBL.

Naitanui recalled his basketball days playing for juniors Perry Lakes Hawks, while his twin brother played for rival club Eastern Suns.

The legendary former AFL ruckman said while he has no regrets over pursuing footy over basketball, which turned out to be an excellent choice, he at times wondered what might have been.

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"I used to just sit there and watch that stuff and have the dreams and aspirations to play in the big league," Naitanui said.

"I played in my local comp with a few other footballers who went onto play AFL, and we had a pretty good side.'

"Then I went and played at the Perry Lakes Hawks for a couple of years and my twin brother played for the Eastern Suns.

"Then you get to that age where you need to make that decision which sport you want to take serious and what you want to do and football was the one that made the most sense in this State.

"It was hard because I saw a lot of those guys go on to play college basketball for St Mary's and things that like and I followed a few of their careers and thought 'that would've been pretty good to play college basketball in America'.

"I look back and I got to play in front of big crowd in the AFL and it sort of makes up for it.

"I had the dream to play NBA or NBL but I never got there."

While he was known for his ruck prowess and freakish athletic ability on the footy field, the three-time All-Australian and two-time John Worsfold medallist also produced an iconic moment in Wildcats history when he dunked over the top of the on-court announcer during the Challenge Stadium days.

The video is still one of the most-watched on the Wildcats’ YouTube page.