Hawks add NBL champion for front court depth

The Illawarra Hawks have added to their front court depth by signing Hungry Jack's NBL22 champion Makur Maker for the 2026-27 season, pending League approval.

Maker, who helped the Sydney Kings win the 2021-22 crown as an NBL Next Star, bolsters the big-man stocks following the departure of Darius Days and injuries to Mason Peatling and Todd Blanchfield.

Across those 21 games in Sydney, Maker averaged 7.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Following his lone season in the NBL, the Kenyan-born centre has spent time in the NBA G League with the Capital City Go-Go (2022-23) and Raptors 905 (2023-24), as well as enjoying stints in China, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Taiwan.

The 25-year-old, who represented Australia at a junior level, also recently featured for South Sudan in the 2027 FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers.

Illawarra GM Mat Campbell is confident the Maker can give the 0-3 Hawks a boost.

“Makur is a signing we're really excited about,” Campbell said.

“He's still only 25, but he's already experienced a lot in basketball: from being one of the highest-rated young prospects in the world entering college, winning an NBL championship with Sydney and spending time in the NBA G League.

“At 6'11", his combination of length, mobility and skill gives us something different, and we think our environment is a great place for him to take another step.

“Makur comes to us hungry, with something to prove, and that fits exactly with who we are as a club.”

The NBL25 champions are still on the lookout for a third import, saying "because he [Maker] is Australian, he doesn't take up an import spot, so the club's search for its next import continues".

Illawarra hosts Adelaide on Friday from 7.30pm AEST, live on ESPN.