Young NBL gun Lachlan Olbrich opens up on his NBA draft dream, why he chose Illawarra over Adelaide and his love of banh mi and Bloons Tower Defence

NBL young gun Lachlan Olbrich sheds light on his NBA dream, relationship with coach Justin Tatum, why he chose Illawarra over his hometown Adelaide, the best banh mi in the world and the Hawks’ road trip boredom killer.

Lachie Olbrich has always had the NBA dream.

But, as the towering 21-year-old hoops prodigy helps drive Illawarra’s NBL title hopes, in just a few short months, he’ll be doing everything he can to make that dream a reality.

Amid a second eye-catching campaign with the Hawks, it’s within the 208cm phenom’s grasp. The SA native’s name will go into the 2025 NBA draft, big league scouts impressed with his mobility, size, ball-handling and “Aussie aggression”.

“The dream’s always been there but I probably came more to believing it towards the NBL Blitz,” Olbrich told Code Sports.

“Obviously I’ve got no idea what the off-season is looking like right now because I’m just focused on the now and how I can help our team.

“But I will go into the draft and I’ve got a lot of really supportive people around me who will help me make decisions around that path and the pre-draft process.”

Olbrich has impressed in the opportunity he’s been afforded on a stacked Hawks’ roster that sits top-of-the-table ahead of Friday night’s clash with cellar-dweller Cairns, upping his numbers across the board, including a jump from 3.8 points to 8.7 in just 5 extra minutes per night.

Lachlan Olbrich has become a key figure in the top-of-the-table Hawks’ golden run. Picture: Getty Images

But it’s not just the numbers that stand out – it’s what the big kid does on the floor that has those in the know touting him as a future Boomer and big-leaguer.

The fast-twitch movement, mobility and ball-handling belies his massive 6’10” frame, evident in highlight reel moments this season, like the coast-to-coast behind the back dunk on NZ’s Sam Mennenga; a mesmerising crossover-double-spin lay-up on Melbourne’s Marcus Lee; and a big jam on Phoenix centre Jordy Hunter at the NBL Blitz.

“The mobility and versatility at his size and age is incredible,” teammate Mason Peatling says.

“He has incredible balance and prowess around the rim and makes hard stuff look easy – and good players look silly.

“At the lower levels, he’s shown a capacity to do pretty much everything, but, at NBL level, his ability to be switchable and mobile defensively and be a consistent low post and off-the-dribble threat sets him apart.”

Lachlan Olbrich takes flight. Picture: Getty Images

Olbrich has had to work hard on those refined skills and unicorn-like body composition.

“I feel like growing up I was more of a lumbering big but I did a lot of field workouts and running training which has helped with technique-based movement,” Olbrich explained.

“I think I just kind of grew into my body properly and got a feel for how big I am. I feel like I’m well proportion as a 6’10” guy whose not really that lanky in the torso or legs.

“I take a lot of pride in being able to dribble the ball and I feel like you can put me in a workout with a lot of guards anywhere and I can stay with them as far as stationary dribbling and that type of skill.

“I love working on those things and always have, I used to dribble in the backyard making noise the neighbours hate, just practice all the time.”

Look out below whenever NBA draft prospect Lachlan Olbrich is on the floor. Picture: Getty Images/NBL

INSPO FROM THE GREATEST AND A LITTLE CHINK IN THE ARMOUR

His play’s drawn comparisons to young Boomers and NBA players Xavier Cooks and Cam Bairstow and the young gun draws his inspiration from the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic.

“It’s a big compliment, they’re definitely not far off of guys I model my game off,” he said.

“Giannis and his ability to rebound the ball defensively and start the break and how he finishes with long strides with his lay-ups and dunks and guys like Jokic, his playmaking ability at the five and gravity that he pulls on the defence, that’s the level I’m trying to reach.”

The NBA’s obsession with the three-ball means there’s a chink in the Olbrich armour he’s acutely aware of – he’s just 1-7 from deep this season – and he’s working obsessively to improve.

“I know I’ve got to shoot the ball better and I’m doing everything I can, but my main objective, right now, is just to get better every day and, if I do, that then I’ll just get closer and closer (to the NBA),” he said.

Illawarra coach Justin Tatum says his young gun Lachlan Olbrich ‘has no ceiling’. Picture: Getty Images

‘SPADE A SPADE’: JT’S NO-NONSENSE APPROACH REFRESHING

Olbrich says Hawks coach Justin Tatum’s no-nonsense approach has ensured expectations are crystal clear – on a team with less talent, he might be playing 25 minutes per night, rather than the 16 he currently sees.

“JT’s good, he calls a spade a spade, he tells me if I’m stuffing up, he tells me if I’m doing good,” Olbrich said of Tatum.

“He’s a coach who pushes you on a personal level as well.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way.

“We’ve got such high-calibre players in all positions and not everyone can play 20-25 minutes and whoever’s performing the best or whoever the coach thinks will be the best for the match up or the opponent we’re playing at the time is I’ve got full trust in their ability to make that decision.

“I just try and really contribute to whatever I can whenever I am out there, whether it’s setting a big screen and getting one of the guards open or if I catch the ball in a position to score I need to go score, so that’s just how I see it.”

Tatum believes his young charge “has no ceiling”.

“He’s playing with a chip on his shoulder and I’m glad he’s been able to find consistent confidence in his game and knows that he is now one of the best young players in this league,” Tatum told Code Sports.

“I’m just happy for the success he’s having, he’s worked on and off the court for it, he’s a student of the game and he’s a gym rat.

“He’s young and he doesn’t see or understand he has a ceiling, he just wants to keep on going up.”

Lachlan Olbrich was a development player with the Adelaide 36ers in 2022. Picture: Getty Images

ONE THAT GOT AWAY FROM THE 36ERS

Plenty of people in the SA hoops community were up in arms when the son of local legend Greg Olbrich packed his bags for the Illawarra.

Lachie had been an Adelaide 36ers development player during the 2021-22 season and many hoped he’d wear Sixers’ colours on returning from UC Riverside College in the US.

But the Hawks swooped in and stole the local talent away from the Sixers’ clutches.

“It was hard to move away from home and the decision wasn’t an easy one but I think we just looked at the rosters collectively as a family, my agent, and we just thought Illawarra was a good long-term team for me to be at and felt that was where I’d get the most opportunity straight out of college,” Olbrich explained.

BLOONS AND BANH MI

He’s still an SA boy at heart, though, drawn home by family, friends, and the legendary Woodcroft banh mi – the “best banh mi in the world”.

“$8, a full, substantial banh mi, couldn’t ask for anything better, although a close second is Sydney International Airport,” he said.

The Vietnamese roll connoisseur is the youngest player on the Illawarra roster – and he’s got a number of teammates in on his obsession with the mobile game Bloons Tower Defence.

“That’s definitely Mason, huh? Mase stitched me up,” Olbrich guesses in one go when asked about his expertise in the game.

“I had a big push for half the team getting on it for all our plane flights, we’ve got a lot of spare time, just bored on the plan.

“Mason and I have played some 1v1s and it’s good fun.”

Originally published as Young NBL gun Lachlan Olbrich opens up on his NBA draft dream, why he chose Illawarra over Adelaide and his love of banh mi and Bloons Tower Defence