Dickey Simpkins took a little piece of Chicago Bulls aura on to the practice court in Falmer on Tuesday night as the Lithuanian giants arrived in Sussex.

Now he will planning to use that same warrior approach to help Lietuvos Rytas send Brighton Bears to their third straight ULEB Cup defeat.

Simpkins won three championships with Michael Jordan and the Bulls during a glittering eight-year NBA career.

He is now tackling a new challenge in Europe and that means taking care of business against the Bears tonight at the Brighton Centre (8pm).

Simpkins will be the star attraction, though not the only formidable talent, in a Lietuvos Rytas side aiming to make it three wins out of three in qualifying group F.

The fearsome 6ft 10in 31-year-old power forward played in the world's greatest basketball league from 1994-2002, predominantly for the Bulls, by whom he was drafted in the first round, 21st overall.

All but 20 of his 326 NBA appearances came with Chicago as he shared in some golden times with the likes of Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and the greatest himself.

As he pulled on a Nike sweatshirt, appropriately from the Jordan range, and headed towards his team's city centre hotel, Simpkins told how the influence of the famous No. 23 stays with him both for games and routine practice sessions.

He said: "Every day in practice Michael Jordan was competitive. He wanted to win every game in practice as well as every game on the court.

"I learned that competitive spirit and how to be a champion by watching him and playing him.

"Sometimes I'd guard him in practice but not a lot.

"All those days with Chicago were great. I got a chance to learn and experience a lot of things with some all-star and veteran players and they taught me a lot."

Simpkins' new chapter has taken him first to Kazan in Russia, now to Vilnius, where he routinely pulls down ten rebounds or more per game for his new team.

ULEB Cup action may seem a comedown for someone who has scaled the game's peaks but basketball is king of sports in Lithuania and Simpkins is loving his new challenge.

He said: "It's my job and it's a nice job. It's a lot of travelling but it's what I like to do."

Bears expect a big crowd for the game, including many Lithuanian ex-pats, and advise fans to arrive early or book on (01273) 697400.