Bold thinking powers Hawks’ frontcourt duo

Dubbed the “longest team in the league”, the Illawarra Hawks boast serious size with Jonah Bolden (6’10”) and JaVale McGee (7’0”) anchoring their lineup.

Bolden joins his third NBL club full of optimism and says he’s eager to partner with McGee, a three-time NBA champion whose calibre speaks for itself.

"It's definitely exciting, you know, he's (McGee) a specimen himself," Bolden said of his new teammate, speaking to the Illawarra Mercury. "I think it allows us to stretch the floor and be a real stopper on the defensive end.”

McGee’s arrival in Australia was pushed back after a bout of pneumonia, but the two big men will still have plenty of time to build chemistry before the Hungry Jack’s NBL26 Season tips off.

For Bolden, joining the Hawks was an easy decision.

After a challenging stint in New Zealand where he couldn’t replicate his Sydney form, he now gets a fresh opportunity with the reigning champions.

"I've been watching the Hawks since JT took over the realm as head coach, and I've liked what I've seen," Bolden said. "These games at the Blitz are great for me to adapt to my new teammates.”

The 29-year-old logged 51 NBA games before briefly retiring to explore a career in cryptocurrency, only to make his NBL return in 2023.

Fans can catch Bolden in action when Illawarra faces Perth on Friday night at the CODE Sports NBL Blitz, live on Disney+ and Kayo from 8pm AEST.

Read the full story here >> 'Like what I see': the Illawarra Hawks recruit to keep an eye out for at the Blitz