Playing the White Way

Should this season go to plan for him, Kevin White will join a select group of players to have made 300 NBL appearances across their careers.

The now 35-year-old has returned to his hometown club, Illawarra, for a second stint with the side after initially playing for the Hawks from 2015-2019.

In a career that’s seen him wear the colours of the Hawks, Kings, 36ers and Wildcats, White has formed a reputation as an unrelenting player who never backs down, and he says that reputation is reflected in his playing journey.

“It’s pretty crazy to think back about the journey I’ve taken to get to where I am. I don’t know what it is, I’ve just always found a way,” White told Hoopla.

“I think it’s just been built into me from my mum and dad. It’s the way I was raised and I’m fortunate enough now to be heading into year 12 now in the NBL.

“I’m constantly saying ‘no’ to my kids. I think it’s just how we’re built, to say ‘don’t do this, don’t do that’. I think I’m just wired differently to say ‘stuff you guys, I can do this or that’.”

White has been presented this new opportunity at NBL level due to an injury to Hawks forward Dan Grida.

Grida, who finished third in the league’s Rookie of the Year voting in 2019, recently suffered a serious hamstring injury that will see him miss the opening rounds of the season.

It’s the latest setback in a series of serious injuries for the 24-year-old, who only recently returned to full training following back to back knee reconstructions.

“It’s really unfortunate for Grida,” White said. “When he first came into the league I was his roommate and we spent a lot of time together. To see him go down again after the run he’s had is really tough.”

For the full story head to >> HOOPLA: Hawks returnee Kevin White still finding a way ahead of 12^th NBL season