{"id":40269,"date":"2025-08-02T15:29:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-02T15:29:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/40269\/"},"modified":"2025-08-02T15:29:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-02T15:29:11","slug":"back-to-back-hawks-think-big","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/40269\/","title":{"rendered":"Back-to-back? Hawks think big"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Illawarra Hawks have added serious firepower to their title defence with the signing of 16-year NBA veteran JaVale McGee, boosting their hopes of going back-to-back in NBL26.<\/p>\n

After putting up impressive numbers in Puerto Rico, McGee is proving age is just a number as the 37-year-old continues to perform at a high level.<\/p>\n

>> Three-time NBA champ NBL-bound<\/a><\/p>\n

With his signature now locked in for the NBL25 champions, Pete Hooley believes Illawarra has a legitimate shot at winning it all again with the three-time NBA champ in the mix.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis seems like a really good piece for them to go and have a really good crack at running back-to-back,\u201d Hooley said on The Marketplace.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThey still have to nail this import point guard, but I see him (McGee) seamlessly fitting into the NBL style, and if he can understand that FIBA style and continue to grow that game, who knows what he could achieve here?<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that his NBA career is behind him now, he comes in with a different mentality to all of what he\u2019s trying to achieve. But he\u2019s going to come in to a place that is really going to suit him, he\u2019s gonna have a whole lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

ESPN\u2019s Olgun Uluc echoed Hooley\u2019s sentiment, noting that McGee\u2019s addition to the Hawks roster addresses a critical gap left by big-man Sam Froling, who is still recovering from an Achilles injury suffered during the Championship Series.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is someone that is going to come in and fill the absolute need in that five spot with Sam Froling still out … he brings a two-way threat to a team that needed that depth in the front court,\u201d Uluc said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think of some of those long-term NBA guys we\u2019ve had, Montrezl Harrell, Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, JaVale McGee is the next one in the long line.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s gonna surprise some people. Yes, he\u2019s 37, but I think there\u2019s still a lot of arsenal there.\u201d<\/p>\n

McGee\u2019s arrival may signal a longer recovery timeline for Froling, according to Uluc.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is probably an indication that Sam Froling might be out for a little longer than we think. Or, at the very least they will ease him back in. But with McGee there they can ease Froling back into the mix,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Hooley said Froling\u2019s eventual return could bolster a squad already firing by January.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis really allows him to come off the bench for the rest of the season if he has to and still have a big impact,\u201d Hooley added.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut slowly build it up rather than having to rely on him to throw him in there for major minutes, fresh off getting back onto the court.\u201d<\/p>\n

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