{"id":55059,"date":"2025-08-09T09:24:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T09:24:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/55059\/"},"modified":"2025-08-09T09:24:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T09:24:08","slug":"hawks-tower-up-for-title-defence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/55059\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawks tower up for title defence"},"content":{"rendered":"

With Sam Froling sidelined by a serious injury and Lachlan Olbrich heading to the NBA, the Illawarra Hawks\u2019 frontcourt depth was suddenly looking stretched.<\/p>\n

In the space of a week, the reigning Hungry Jack\u2019s NBL Champions landed a former NBA star boasting three titles and nearly 1000 games\u2019 experience, alongside a homegrown talent with impressive size and skill \u2013 JaVale McGee and Jonah Bolden.<\/p>\n

Already one of the League\u2019s more settled rosters, the group has now gained even more maturity. Only one import spot remains to round out an already formidable lineup.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re going out there willing to spend money on this import point guard and JaVale McGee. If he comes in and has the impact we expect, he\u2019s going to contend for Defensive Player of the Year, be a rim protector, finish on the other end,\u201d Pete Hooley said on The Marketplace.<\/p>\n

\u201cJaVale McGee is huge \u2026 in the NBL, he\u2019s an anomaly. But he has mobility. That\u2019s the difference between him and other bigs,\u201d ESPN\u2019s Olgun Uluc continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis guy here is going to average three blocks a game. At least. When people say he\u2019s seven foot, that\u2019s underselling it.\u201d<\/p>\n

McGee brings three NBA Championships to his name, while Bolden has consistently shown he can be a threat both in the paint and from the perimeter.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s (Bolden) a really, really good signing \u2026 you think of the way they like to play under Justin Tatum, they\u2019re going to shoot a lot of threes … this is going to make them more potent offensively,\u201d Hooley said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJonah Bolden, just in a vacuum, is a big man who has NBA experience, can shoot the three ball, and can pass the ball. Now you put that next to JaVale McGee, you have so much size in that front court,\u201d Uluc added.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot being able to pay up for Jack McVeigh meant they got someone like Jonah Bolden at half the price, and they can now spend more on a high-level import point guard.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Fresh off ending a 24-year title drought last season, the Hawks have positioned themselves perfectly for another Championship push.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe talk about chips on shoulders, they know the target\u2019s on their back. And you just feel under Justin Tatum we keep talking about the vibe. The Illawarra Hawks, they want it that way. And they\u2019re going to say, \u2018We\u2019ve got what everybody wants. Come and get it\u2019,\u201d Hooley said.<\/p>\n

Illawarra has kept nine players from its title-winning roster, while bringing in ideal additions to strengthen the squad even further.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll those other pieces start to answer the questions. And then we ask, what are the reasons they can\u2019t win a title? If there aren\u2019t many, they\u2019re right in the mix,\u201d Hooley added.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reigning champs have more than enough \u2026 it\u2019s all there for Justin Tatum to sit back and say, \u2018Let\u2019s go get it again.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

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