THE Rockhampton Stadium Nightclub Rockets have woken a sleeping giant for this year's Queensland Basketball League.

Standing at a towering 213cm, Perth man mountain Justin Brown arrived in Rockhampton last night ahead of the Rockets' season opener against arch-rivals the Townsville Heat at Hegvold Stadium on Sunday.

The seven-foot big man, who literally had to duck when he walked out of Rockhampton Airport's doors last night, is the tallest Rockets' signing in the team's history.

Brown, 28, will also become the tallest player in this year's QBL when he suits up this weekend - giving the Rockets' legitimate size and power up front for their title defence.

Looking down from high above talking to this jockey-sized sports reporter, Brown said he could not wait to hit the court for the Rockets in Sunday's grand-final rematch.

"Absolutely, I'm very excited," Brown said.

"It's the grand-final replay and the coach has been telling me about the importance of the game - I'm pretty fired up."

Brown, fresh from a standout season with the Worcester Wolves in the England Basketball League, comes from a tall family.

"I've filled out from when I was younger, I was really skinny, but I've always been tall," Brown grinned.

"I've got tall parents. Mum's 6'2 and dad's 6'5, I've got an older brother who's six-foot-seven so we're all big."

"Hopefully I can use my size to its advantage and be a big presence inside defensively and contribute to the team for what it takes to get the win."

Brown, whose size even stunned Rockets coach Neal Tweedy, reunited with former Brisbane Bullets team-mate now Rockets point guard Rhys Martin in his first training session with his new team last night.

Brown said he could still remember the last time he played at Hegvold Stadium in a Bullets team against the touring University of Utah back in 2007.

"The atmosphere there was unbelievable when I was up here playing last, the crowd gets into it and it's something I'm really looking forward to being a part of."