SINGAPORE (Singapore) - The word Illawarra derives from the Aboriginal word meaning "pleasant place near the sea."
The whole region is located south of Sydney, with most of the population living in the city of Wollongong. Aside from the location, weather and the pleasant place, they get to enjoy having the best basketball team in all of Australia.
The Illawarra Hawks were founded in 1979, and they are the only team which took part in every single NBL season from that year to today.
They won it twice, in 2001 and 2025, and they have had a solid connection to the NBA over the recent years. In 2019-20, a global superstar LaMelo Ball was a member of the Hawks, winning the Rookie of the Year award in the NBL, and solidifying his case for the 2020 NBA Draft, which saw him becoming the third pick.
Former Houston Rockets guard Aaron Brooks also wore Illawarra's colors, as will JaVale McGee, the 37-year-old three-time NBA champion and an Olympic gold medalist with the United States in 2021.
McGee signed with the Hawks for the season just ahead of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup. The connections don’t end there. The head coach who orchestrated the championship win in 2025 is none other than Justin Tatum, Jayson’s father, who was also named the NBL Coach of the Year.
The Tasmania JackJumpers finished third last season, setting the bar for the Australian clubs in this competition.
The Hawks, fittingly, are keen on flying over it.
The Roster
Last name | First name | Position | Height | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Blanchfield | Todd | SG | 6'6'' (198 cm) | AUS |
Bolden | Jonah | F | 6'9'' (204 cm) | AUS |
Froling | Sam | C | 6'11'' (212 cm) | AUS |
Froling | Harry | C | 6'10'' (210 cm) | AUS |
Grida | Daniel | SG | 6'6'' (197 cm) | AUS |
Harvey | Tyler | SG | 6'4'' (193 cm) | USA |
Hickey | William | SG | 6'4'' (194 cm) | AUS |
McDowell-White | Kobe | G | 6'6'' (198 cm) | AUS |
McGee | JaVale | C | 7'00'' (213 cm) | USA |
McLaughlin | JaQuori | PG | 6'3'' (192 cm) | USA |
Narkle | Johny | G | 6'6'' (199 cm) | AUS |
Peatling | Mason | SF | 6'8'' (203 cm) | AUS |
Swaka Lo Buluk | Wani Lodu | F | 6'6'' (197 cm) | SUD |
Yates | Luca | C | 6'10'' (208 cm) | AUS |
Head coach: Justin Tatum (USA)