Even Todd MacCulloch admits, this is more than what he had in mind.

Leaving the Philadelphia 76ers in the off-season after wallowing for two years in the shadows of front-court veterans like Dikembe Mutombo and Matt Geiger, the Winnipeg native left for a fresh start and a chance to make a bigger contribution with the New Jersey Nets.

The rest is a hardcourt dream come true.

``Things are going pretty well,'' said MacCulloch, in predictably humble fashion. ``I'm enjoying the bigger role. I enjoy being a bigger part of things, and I'm very glad I'm helping the team be successful.''

The Nets don't play in Toronto until Jan. 18, but he's looking forward to the trip. If all goes well, it will be his first start here, and perhaps, he says, he'll receive the same warm welcome afforded Victoria's Steve Nash when the Mavericks played at the Air Canada Centre a few weeks ago.