Crosscourt: Latest NBL news ahead of game four of Illawarra Hawks vs. Melbourne United grand final series
Justin Tatum’s “Diddy list” comment at the NBL awards ceremony raised eyebrows. More than a month on, CROSSCOURT can reveal it’s caught the attention of Basketball Australia’s integrity unit.
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As he fights to save Illawarra’s season, under-fire Hawks’ coach Justin Tatum has come under further scrutiny amid news his awkward “Diddy list” comment at last month’s NBL Awards has been brought to the attention of Basketball Australia’s integrity unit.
The American was crowned Coach of the Year at the February 10 award ceremony but raised eyebrows when he revealed on air the grand finalist Hawks had something called a “Diddy list”.
“We do have a list in our locker room that I’m on top of … right now, unfortunately,” Tatum, the father of Boston Celtics NBA champion Jayson Tatum, said.
“It’s the Diddy list.”
Awkward laughs among the crowd followed before Tatum quickly moved on with “They’re a little different over there but it’s a good group.”
It’s not clear what the Hawks’ Diddy list entails. Multiple sources told Code Sports BA’s integrity unit had made contact with the club in a bid to establish the list’s context but it was yet to decide on a course of action, if any.
Crosscourt asked the Hawks what the Diddy list was and if it was still in use but the club declined to answer questions.
US rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been charged with sex trafficking and racketeering and is the subject of several law suits accusing him of sexual assault and rape. He denies the claims.
The ‘Diddy list’ in the US refers to the purported existence of a compilation of public figures and celebrities who have allegedly attended Combs’ parties.
In other Hawks news, Crosscourt has been told BA’s integrity unit scrutinised Tatum’s comments following Sunday’s game three loss but determined he has no case to answer.
Tatum took aim at the referees and the NBL, claiming there was a “difference of respect between Melbourne and the Hawks” and “The NBL did a good job of making sure they put the right people on there to take care of who they need to take care of.”
Down 2-1 in the best-of-five grand final series, the Hawks must defeat Melbourne United on Wednesday to keep their title hopes alive.
WILL THEY OR WON’T THEY?
Both NBL grand finalists enter Wednesday night’s crucial game four clash with mystery surrounding injured star guards.
There remains a real possibility Illawarra’s All-NBL First Teamer Trey Kell and Melbourne United’s back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year Shea Ili could both miss Wednesday night’s clash.
On Tuesday afternoon, both clubs said a decision on the availability of their respective men would be made close to game-time.
Ili missed United’s game three victory in Wollongong after he copped a knock to the head in game two and exhibited delayed concussion symptoms.
United inserted import Ian Clark into the starting line-up in his absence and opted for the more defensive-minded Marcus Lee at centre over Rob Loe.
Kell fell hard on his knee late in the fourth quarter of game three and, should he be ruled out of game four, the Hawks will likely lean on energiser Will Hickey or could look to one of Todd Blanchfield or Hyun-jung Lee to provide more spacing from the tip for big man Sam Froling.
NBA BOOMER’S BIG TICK FOR VICKERMAN’S NATIONAL TEAM GIG
The Chicago Bulls star told Crosscourt he’d “always been a huge fan” of Vickerman, who will be new coach Adam Caporn’s man on ground in Australia on the road to the 2028 LA Olympics.
“His track record in the NBL speaks for itself,” Giddey said of the three-time championship coach.
“I think having a coach that isn’t just going to be around the national team that goes to the Olympics and World Cup, but be around the guys that play the qualification games and constantly around the Boomers is going to be big as we move towards those important tournaments.
“I’ve loved Dean for a long time and I’m very glad he is on board.”
Vickerman has historic links with the Giddey family, as a former teammate of Josh’s father Warrick having played alongside Josh’s dad Warrick at the Tigers from 1990-92.
The 53-year-old has long dreamt of coaching the Boomers at World Cup and Olympic level and is excited at the prospect of helping Australia’s emergent back-court of Giddey (22) and Dyson Daniels (21) thrive on the international stage.
“Those two are so elite right now that they have to be pieces that you build around,” Vickerman said.
“Dyson’s arguably the best defender in the NBA and Josh, I’ve just loved his progress you see, season-on-season, how his shot’s just continued to grow and that’s not even his superpower.
“His superpower is being able to hook everybody else up and pass the ball, so I’m looking forward to how Capes can put them in a structure to get the best out of them.
“You look at the talent level that the country has right now and the goals are extremely high. It’s not just about going to compete, it’s about challenging for major medals.”
Vickerman’s appointment adds certainty to FIBA windows for Basketball Australia, which has often been forced to scramble for coaches and players during qualification windows when NBA players are typically unavailable.
HAWKS’ SOLE CHAMPIONSHIP COACH KEEN FOR NBL RETURN
Illawarra’s sole championship-winning coach Brendan Joyce jokes he is known as the ‘Gregg Popovich’ of Asia, but he is back home and keen to take on an NBL opportunity.
Joyce — who led the Hawks to the franchise’s only title in 2001 — is one of Australia’s most accomplished basketball coaches.
The Melbourne-born mentor has coached at all levels, including the international stage as a Boomers assistant and Opals head coach.
In more recent times, Joyce has made Taiwan home, steering the Kaohsiung Aquas to a championship in 2022.
The 64-year-old is back home for family and personal reasons and is open to any coaching opportunities that may present.
“I love coaching and I’d definitely be interested in being involved in the NBL in some capacity,” said Joyce, who has coached over 400 NBL games.
“The league is in a really strong position and I feel like I could contribute with my knowledge and experience.”
Joyce has travelled the world coaching, but his heart will always lie with the Hawks.
He hopes the men from Wollongong can beat Melbourne United in Game 4 to keep the championship series alive.
Joyce said he expected the travelling Illawarra faithful to make plenty of noise in enemy territory to help motivate their beloved Hawks.
UNITED TURN TO EX-JACKJUMPER LEE
Melbourne United’s senior players turned to the man who helped Tasmania beat them in last year’s grand final in a bid to make amends in NBL25.
Marcus Lee, who helped the JackJumpers beat Melbourne in last season’s championship series, is now a key piece for United.
Lee told Crosscourt Melbourne players leant on him to help them understand what Tasmania did to beat them.
“I think one of the best things about being part of the older leadership group is that they allow me to speak up,” Lee said.
“Right before the playoffs started they said they wanted me to speak. I know I was on the opposite side, but this is how we prepared.
“This is how I went about it and it was good to be able to bounce things back and forth.”
Melbourne is on a high after Sunday’s game three win over Illawarra, but Lee insists his side isn’t getting carried away.
He believes United must find another gear to close out the championship series on their home floor on Wednesday night.
“We have a lot to fix and a lot to learn,” he said.
“It isn’t like that was the perfect game. It’s a chess match. They (Illawarra) are going to change things up, just like we are, and we’re just going to try and be ready as much as possible.”
WHITE URGED TO MAINTAIN RAGE
With a championship within reach, Melbourne United players want a resurgent Jack White to maintain his shooting spark in Wednesday’s decisive game four.
White showcased impressive resilience in Sunday’s win in Illawarra to overcome his offensive struggles after a forgettable scoreless game.
The former Denver Nugget responded in style, dropping 20 points on 8-9 from the field and 3-4 from range.
United veteran Matthew Dellavedova wasn’t surprised to see White hit back and expects the Duke University product’s hot form to continue in Game 4.
“It just shows Jack’s resilience and what he is about,” Dellavedova said.
“We were all backing him in and wanting him to be aggressive.
“That is what we want from him and it is what we are going to get for the rest of the series.”
DELLY ON HIS WAY TO MVP
Matthew Dellavedova is the overwhelming mid-series favourite to win grand final MVP as he prepares to end two seasons of heartache and lead Melbourne United back to title glory.
Basketball’s biggest names, including the NBL’s coaching GOAT Brian Goorjian, believe Dellavedova is destined to finish the championship series as MVP if United can seal the deal and win Game 4 on Wednesday night.
The NBA champion and Boomers veteran has been brilliant for United, pushing himself to his physical limit in a bid to win an elusive NBL title.
Two-time NBL champion and grand final MVP Chris Anstey says Dellavedova is the clear pick as the best player throughout the grand final series.
“Delly is impacting both ends of floor and getting others involved,” Anstey said.
Phil Smyth – who has won a combined six NBL championships as a player and a coach – also rates Dellavedova as the championship series MVP.
“Delly is controlling the tempo of the game,” Smyth said.
“He goes fast when he thinks they are rolling and slows when they are not.”
Six-time championship-winner Goorjian understands why Dellavedova is the hot tip for grand final MVP, but he can also see merit in selecting fellow United back-court star Ian Clark.
The title-winning Sydney Kings guard has been elite for United, dropping double figures in the opening three grand final games.
Clark was particularly potent in United’s two-point loss in Game 2, scoring 31 points, including 10 of 16 from the field (62.5%).
Illawarra may be 40 minutes away from championship series elimination, but they can’t be discounted just yet.
The Hawks have led for large chunks of the series – and while they’ve failed down the stretch – they’ve proved they are more than capable of winning.
If Illawarra find a way to beat United in Game 4 to send the series to a deciding game in Wollongong on Sunday, expect guard Tyler Harvey to emerge as a leading grand final MVP candidate.
Harvey had ice in his veins to nail the matchwinning three-pointer in Game 2 and is the most likely option for the Hawks should they surge home to win the series in five games.
GRAND FINAL MVP PICKS
Chris Anstey: Matthew Dellavedova
Delly’s controlling and impacting every game’s temp at both ends of the floor and getting others involved.
Lanard Copeland: Matthew Dellavedova
Delly has been special for me, with Ian Clark second. Hawks need Trey Kell and Harvey to fire. If they don’t, United win is all.
Kelsey Browne: Matthew Dellavedova
The stats have been consistent but it’s Delly’s intangibles. He runs toward pressure and, when it lift, so does he. Knows how to manage emotion and time and brings the team with him.
Brian Goorjian: Ian Clark or Matthew Dellavedova
Both have been great.
Phil Smyth: Matthew Dellavedova.
He is controlling the tempo of the game. He goes fast when he thinks they are rolling and slows when they are not.
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