And they were treated to an unbelievable game, with Chicago Bulls ultimately overcoming the home-town Suns by six points in overtime.
For the majority of the players, including reigning Club Champion Joel Patfull, it was the first chance they had seen a live NBA game.
“I’m a big fan (of basketball) and had a good night,” Patfull told lions.com.au.
“It took a while for us to get down (to Phoenix) because the boys were pretty cooked, but it was a great game and went into overtime.”
“It was pretty exciting. I had never been to a game before, so was pretty happy with it.”
Excursions, such as the one to the US Airways Center in Phoenix, help provide the team some much-needed down-time away from a training camp that demands so much of them - both physically and mentally.
One of the more recent programs included a strongman contest - an activity that Patfull said he would rather leave to the ‘big boys’.
“Strongman’s probably not my go - I’m more of a runner, not a big lifter,” he said.
“The big boys - Matty Maguire and Daniel Merrett - smashed that one. There was a bit of tractor tyre lifting, so those boys went really well. It’s not really my go.”
“But I’m loving it over here, it’s a good change-up from running around at Coorparoo. I couldn’t be happier.”
