Wani Swaka Lo Buluk is still pinching himself after becoming the youngest person to play for the Perth Wildcats.

The 17-year-old joined the Wildcats as a development player last week and was quickly thrust on to the big stage in the dying stages of Sunday’s thumping win over Cairns at RAC Arena.

Captain Damian Martin guaranteed he would have a debut to remember by calling the final play of the game to finish with a Swaka Lo Buluk basket, and both the crowd and Perth’s bench erupted in delight.

“It was pretty exciting,” Swaka Lo Buluk said.

“I realised as soon as he brought us into the huddle that it was the same play that we’d run before and it was for me.

“I was nervous because of the amount of people that were in the arena, but I loved it.

“The team got around me, the crowd got around it and it felt so good.

“I’ve always dreamt of being a professional basketballer.

“Being out there and getting the chance to do something like that was crazy.”

Swaka Lo Buluk was born in Sudan and moved to Perth as a four-year-old.

He attended La Salle College and then spent two years at the Australian Institute of Sport’s NBA Global Academy.

WA’s Kyle Bowen, 18, was also part of that program and joined Swaka Lo Buluk as a Wildcats development player.

The pair have represented Australia at under-age level and played for the Wildcats during the pre-season when a large portion of the squad was on international duties.

Swaka Lo Buluk said all of those experiences had been crucial.

“The pre-season was good,” he said.

“They were bigger bodies and a lot faster because we were playing against grown men.

“I’ve grown up a lot off the court. You have to be pro-active and on time.

“It’s the same expectations they have here. You have to be a professional.”