The 22-year-old has played on the Edgar Centre court hundreds of times.
But at last he is set to do that in the National Basketball League for the Otago Nuggets.
The team plays its first home game in seven years tonight when it hosts the Wellington Saints in the National Basketball League opener.
A 1.98m swingman, Aitcheson just missed breaking into the Nuggets prior to their demise in 2014.
But he was a key player on their return a year ago.
He is lone survivor from the starting line-up that won the Showdown title in Auckland.
Getting to play in Dunedin added an extra edge to tonight.
"It’s definitely pretty awesome; there’s a lot of locals playing in this team," Aitcheson said.
"For me, and them, we grew up watching the Nuggets hoping to make it to that stage one day.
"It’s cool for that to finally happen."
A Dunedin local, Aitcheson attended King’s High School and was part of an elite group of junior players Otago produced in the early to mid-2010s.
It was a group that also included Sam Timmins, Richie Rodger and Aaron Roydhouse — all of whom are part of this Nuggets team.
After short stints with the Southland Sharks and Canterbury Rams in previous years, he finally landed a fully fledged NBL opportunity last year
He showed his value in averaging 10.9 points per game and shooting an impressive 42.7% from beyond the arc.
In the final he nailed 16 points, hitting the final free throw to secure a 79-77 win over the Manawatu Jets.
This time around he will be more of a known-quantity to opponents.
While that brings its own challenges, it will give Aitcheson a chance to show his versatility.
"I think it probably will [change things]," he said.
"But when they try to shut down things it means other things open up.
"I’ve just got to be ready to go with that and kind of change my game accordingly."
The other four players that started alongside him in last year’s final — Jordan Ngatai, Jarrod Kenny, Jordan Hunt and Kane Keil — are all gone.
Local star Sam Timmins and imports Isaiah Moss and Geremy McKay will help fill that void.
But it will also give the likes of Aitcheson and last year’s sixth man, Rodger, a chance to step up.
He said he was excited for that opportunity, although he felt there was still a core group there and the culture was still much the same.
Despite that, the team had put last year firmly in the past.
"Last year was awesome.
"We’ve got some of those guys returning, but it’s a new team.
"We’ve got new goals and we’re pretty focused on this season."
Aitcheson was expecting a tough game from the Saints, who did not play in last year’s Showdown.
They have traditionally been the league’s top team and have put together a handy roster.
Included in that are forwards Taane Samuel and Tohi Smith Milner, while 2.18m import Romaro Gill gives them size inside.
The Nuggets will be without lively guard Matthew Bardsley, who is nursing an ankle injury.
Tip-off is at 7.30pm.
