WATCH TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS with Megan Hustwaite weekly on Thursday from 7pm (AEDT) via, or catch up via , or at the top of this article.
The 27-year-old Victorian fulfilled a childhood dream when she made the shock switch to Aussie Rules football after the WNBL hub season.
However, Lavey doesn’t believe her endeavours on the footy field should force an end to her basketball career and is determined to make the most of being a dual-sport athlete.
A member of the Australian team at the Rio Olympics in 2016, Lavey hasn’t given up her push for a ticket to Tokyo and her second Olympic experience.
Lavey told host Megan Hustwaite that taking time away from playing professional basketball has given her an opportunity to take a different approach in her training.
“100%, the Olympics is the ultimate goal for me and if Tokyo goes ahead I’ll be doing everything I can to be there,” Lavey said.
“I’ve been working with Belinda Snell out at the Frankston Blues and she has been helping me with skills that are really different from what I’ve done before.
“I’m not tapering back my basketball training at all. Richmond has been really great and understands how important my basketball career is to me so they’ve been very supportive.
“There’s an Opals camp soon and I’m really excited to get back out on the court and play some games.”
The interview was the latest as part of the new SBS series, TAB Courtside 1v1, hosted by Megan Hustwaite, giving fans a chance to get to know more about the unique personalities from the NBA, WNBA, NBL and WNBL, which help shape basketball in Australia.
Hustwaite, who has been covering all levels of Australian basketball for the past 13 years as a reporter, commentator and journalist, will helm the weekly show - every Thursday at 7pm (AEDT) - where she interviews stars of the past, present and future.
Lavey discussed numerous topics with Hustwaite, including the following:
0:30 - Making AFLW debut was surreal
1:15 - Playing in front of no crowd during snap lockdown and support of family and friends
2:16 - How playing footy came about last year
2:38 - ‘’If the Tigers ever get a team in the AFLW, that’s where I’ll go’’
3:25 - Brother’s sudden passing last year led to self-reflection
4:25 - ‘’Tim was my biggest supporter’’
5:15 - Why not juggle two sports
6:15 - Playing alongside fellow basketballer Monique Conti for Richmond
7:24 - Fellow Olympian Erin Phillips paving the way in AFLW
8:28 - The WNBL hub was a unique experience
9:30 - Playing alongside Carley Ernst for 3 clubs over the past 6 years
10:12 - Ambition is to still play for the Opals
11:27 - Signing with Frankston for upcoming NBL1 season
13:05 - Love being busy and juggling sports. Challenging but have a great support team
SBS is broadcasting multiple regular-season NBA games per week in HD on SBS VICELAND and streamed live via SBS On Demand. Plus, every game of the 2020-21 NBL season is LIVE, FREE and in HD via SBS On Demand, with select games also live on SBS VICELAND.
