How to watch & talking points: Illawarra v Tasmania (Round 2, NBL26)

Saturday, September 27, 2025

JaVale McGee makes his highly anticipated NBL debut as the Illawarra Hawks host Tasmania.

Illawarra Hawks v Tasmania JackJumpers
Saturday, September 27, 8pmEST
WIN Entertainment Centre

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Talking points

Welcome to the NBL, JaVale
‍It’s the first look at JaVale McGee who gets a fun matchup to debut in, as he battles against one of the strongest defenders in the league in Will Magnay.

The NBL hasn’t seen a player with a resume that McGee brings for a very long time and if he continues to play at the level he did in Puerto Rico recently, he could be the piece that gets the Hawks back to the mountain top.

Bryce’s next challenge
‍Bryce Hamilton became just the fourth player in the last 15 years to score 24-plus points in the opening two games of their NBL career.

None of the other three managed to eclipse that mark in their third game, but Hamilton will be hoping he can continue his strong play and lift the JackJumpers to their second straight win.

New faces

Illawarra
Biwali Bayles, Harry Froling, Jackson Ball, JaQuori McLaughlin, JaVale McGee, Johny Narkle, Jonah Bolden

Tasmania
Ben Ayre, Bryce Hamilton, David Johnson, Josh Bannan, Nick Marshall, Kobe Williamson, Tyger Campbell

Depth charts

Illawarra
‍Projected depth chart:
PG: Hickey / Bayles / McDowell-White (DP)
SG: Harvey (IP) / McLaughlin (IP) / Ball (DP)
SF: Swaka Lo Buluk / Blanchfield / Grida / Narkle (DP)
PF: Bolden / Peatling
C: McGee (IP) / H.Froling (NRP) / Yates (DP)

Injured: S.Froling

Tasmania
‍Projected depth chart:
PG: Campbell (IP) / Ayre / Nunn (DP)
SG: Hamilton (IP) / Drmic / Stoddart
SF: Johnson (IP) / Marshall
PF: Bannan / Deng
C: Magnay / Williamson / Woodhill (DP)

Injured: Macdonald