Back-to-back? Hawks think big

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.

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.

>> Three-time NBA champ NBL-bound

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.

“This seems like a really good piece for them to go and have a really good crack at running back-to-back,” Hooley said on The Marketplace. 

“They 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?

“The fact that his NBA career is behind him now, he comes in with a different mentality to all of what he’s trying to achieve. But he’s going to come in to a place that is really going to suit him, he’s gonna have a whole lot of fun.”

ESPN’s Olgun Uluc echoed Hooley’s sentiment, noting that McGee’s 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.

“This 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,” Uluc said.

“You think of some of those long-term NBA guys we’ve had, Montrezl Harrell, Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, JaVale McGee is the next one in the long line.

“I think he’s gonna surprise some people. Yes, he’s 37, but I think there’s still a lot of arsenal there.”

McGee’s arrival may signal a longer recovery timeline for Froling, according to Uluc.

“This 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,” he added.

Hooley said Froling’s eventual return could bolster a squad already firing by January.

“This really allows him to come off the bench for the rest of the season if he has to and still have a big impact,” Hooley added.

“But 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.”