Tigers nab Mackinnon from Bullets

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The Melbourne Tigers will feature two of the National Basketball League's (NBL) top players next season.

Former Brisbane Bullets captain and 2007 League MVP Sam Mackinnon will line up alongside last year's MVP Chris Anstey.

Mackinnon has signed a three-year contract with Melbourne and says he is excited about playing in his home town.

"It's a great opportunity in light of what's happened up in Brisbane," he said.

"To go to a championship winning team and just try to fill a spot there, I think, for me, its a great opportunity.

"To go back to Melbourne and play in front of your family and friends that's just an extra bonus. That's something I'm really looking forward to."

Mackinnon says he is confident he has recovered from the knee injury that cut short his final NBL season with the Bullets.

The 31-year-old was unavailable for the Beijing Olympics because of the injury and he also needed treatment for blood clots in his lungs.

But Mackinnon's condition could be seen as a blessing in disguise.

"In hindsight the blood clots have probably allowed me to have total rest," he said.

"Now it's just a matter of strengthening it all back up and really letting it settle down so you can get rid of that inflammation, so you can work through range and do things that you need to do.

"That's where I'm at right now so all signs for me are really good."