'We haven't seen anything like him'

The Illawarra Hawks will begin their championship defence when they host the Tasmania JackJumpers at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday, and all eyes will be one man.

While the majority of last season’s squad are back for the foundation club, the Wollongong-based side do have a new ace up their sleeve in three-time NBA champion and Olympic gold medallist, JaVale McGee, who signed on in August.

One that shares that sentiment about the 983-game NBA star is 2009 NBL champion and two-time Olympian with the Boomers, Mark Worthington.

“Losing Sam Froling is obviously a massive blow for the Hawks, but to pick up someone like JaVale McGee is massive,” Worthington said during Friday’s episode of NBL Now.

“The league has not seen an import like this before, with this level of athleticism.

“I’m excited to see how he, who can block shots with their elbow at the rim and [throwdown] posters, fits into our league and what he can do.”

McGee and his Hawks, who have just returned home from finishing fifth at Singapore’s FIBA Intercontinental Cup, tip off their match with the JackJumpers at 8pm AEST, live on ESPN.