Darwin Salties centre Nate Jawai says he is slowly building towards full fitness in NBL1 North
Former Boomer Nate Jawai’s plans for a rest post the 2022 NBL season were flipped upside down after a call came in from the Darwin Salties.
Northern Territory
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NEW Darwin Salties centre Nate Jawai had plans to put his massive feet up over the 2022 off-season after an NBL campaign with Cairns Taipans.
However, a call from the Territory’s newest sporting franchise changed the trajectory of his year – even if physical hurdles remain front of mind as his NBL1 North campaign slowly gathers speed.
The 35-year-old, the first Indigenous player selected in the NBA draft, was ultimately tempted further north by the idea of living in an environment which reminded him of Cairns – where his career began as a junior and he eventually won the NBL Rookie of the Year in 2008 with the Taipans.
Jawai admits he had to give the proposal some serious thought, considering his family situation with three daughters in Queensland and “a lot of interest” from other clubs.
However, the Salties sales pitch was ultimately too good to pass up.
“It changed my mind,” Jawai told the NT News.
“I thought I was done.
“I was like: ‘Why not?’ I’ll keep playing, it’s fun, it’s a good competition now.”
Jawai was also inspired by the challenge of building chemistry among a completely new batch of players, and to be a part of NT sporting history.
“It’s a new beginning and I’m happy to be a part of it,” Jawai said.
“And I get to play the first season for the Darwin Salties. I’m a part of history.
“Darwin itself deserves a semi pro or a pro team.”
He also wanted to learn off an NBL coach in Salties mentor Matt Flinn, who hails from the Illawarra Hawks.
“He’s somebody who has a really good knowledge of the game that I can learn off,” he said.
“That was probably the biggest thing.”
Despite a month off, and next to no preparation, Jawai enjoyed a strong debut against Townsville Heat in round four with 14 points and eight rebounds from 28 minutes on court, as the Salties won the first leg of its Queensland double header, 96-88.
However, Jawai’s contributions are being closely managed with limited game time.
“A month off basketball is a long time,” he said, admitting it wasn’t exactly picture perfect preparation.
“There’s a lot of work you’ve got to do for a basketball game.
“But I didn’t know I was coming up here.”
A candid Jawai said his fitness was very much a work in progress; currently operating at about 75 per cent overall fitness, with his knees providing the biggest physical impediment so far.
The big centre is known for his consistency, having played 70 consecutive games with the Taipans, but he has experienced “chronic” pain after matches and hard practice sessions, albeit momentarily.
After a dunk during the warm up before the South West Metro Pirates clash last Saturday, Jawai was jolted by the pain.
“I thought: ‘Jesus Christ, my knees are really shocking,” he said.
“My knees are copping it a bit, it’s going to take time.
“It’s because my legs are weak, I haven’t done anything for a long time.
“I’m not quite there, but we have a long time yet (before season’s end).”
However, Jawai believes the 4-2 Salties have the makings of a serious team, with the likes of Deng Riak and Shaquille Hohipa-Wilson still on the sidelines and doubt surrounding Josh Spiers’s availability on Saturday night against the North Gold Coast Seahawks.
“When we’re in sync, we’re unbelievable,” he said.
He said the team was still searching for consistency and had to stop teams getting on a roll.
The Salties enjoyed a 22-point, halftime lead against the Pirates last Saturday night, only for it to be chiselled back to just two approaching the end of the third term, while a 19-point lead against Logan Thunder was also significantly reduced in round three.
All in all, Jawai is loving the Top End experience so far: “It’s exactly like Cairns ... I love it.”
Darwin Salties sign former NBA player Nate Jawai
THE Darwin Salties have scored themselves a massive coup with the signing of a former Boomer and NBA player Nathan Jawai.
Jawai, who was the first Indigenous player to play in the NBA, has more than made his mark on Australian basketball and will bring plenty of experience to the Salties’ camp.
His career includes stints at NBA sides Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves and at NBL sides Perth Wildcats and his home side the Cairns Taipans.
The power forward and centre is highly rated having won the NBL Rookie of the Year in 2008 and won an NBL championship with Perth in 2016.
He represented the Australian Boombers at the 2009 FIBA Oceania Championship and the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
Darwin Salties head coach Matt Flinn was very excited to welcome the big man to the side particularly for the mentor role he would play with players such as Deng Riak.
“This is a big signing for the Darwin Salties – we need some interior stability and Nate is going to be huge for us,” Flinn said.
“There are very exciting times ahead for the team. We still have a lot to learn so it will be great to have him help educate this young team.
“Off the floor, this signing fills our new franchise with such optimism and joy about what could be around the corner for Darwin basketball.
“Nate probably doesn’t realise the impact he has had on basketball in this country. I believe he still has excellent basketball ahead of him with the Salties and that the impact he will have on the community and the next generation of players has no ceiling.
“Everyone in the playing group is excited about this and Nate is looking forward to joining the group this week and get things rolling.”
Jawai is expected to make his first appearance for the side in their away trip against Townsville on May 20.
‘The whole place was shaking’: Darwin Saltie’s slammin’ debut
When the Darwin Salties men’s team ran out of the changerooms on Saturday night in front of nearly 1000 hollering hoops fans against Red City Roar, there was sign on the door the players made a point of touching.
On it were four important letters: DIFA.
Talking to the NT News after a thrilling six-point debut win in round one of the NBL1 North conference, Josh Spiers spelled out the significance of that acronym.
It was a way of paying tribute to the slain Saltie who never quite made it to the court that night, Alier Riak, who was allegedly stabbed to death on a Melbourne street in the early hours of March 13.
“He was a big part of the message,” Spiers said when asked about head coach Matt Flinn’s final words to the team before tip off.
“We’ve got a sign on our door frame as we walk out and it’s ‘DIFA’, which is: ‘Do it for Alier’.
“We’re touching that as we’re walking out, we’re going to honour him throughout the whole season.
“He definitely was a special part of that night.”
Pre-game, Flinn also pushed the message of: “This is all about us”.
“And the way we want to play, control the tempo, run when we want to run, but when we need to, slow it down,” he said.
“‘Play it the right way’ is what he’s been pushing us to do.”
Spiers admits his pre-match jitters were a touch more heightened than normal before the game begun.
“There was definitely a bit more nerves than I’m probably used to,” he said.
“A lot of excitement as well. It was definitely a good feeling before the game.”
There were plenty of good vibes on court too at the Darwin Basketball Stadium, capped off by the play of the round from star recruit Makuach Maluach in the dying minutes of the third term.
Spiers said he had the best seat in the house as the 24-year-old ran the length of the court to deliver a match-defining dunk.
It brought the near 1000 crowd – the largest of any game in NBL1 North in round one – to their feet.
“That was the craziest dunk I’ve ever seen live,” Spiers said, who arrived in the Territory in early April.
“I’ve seen some pretty cool dunks, but I don’t think many compare to that.
“It doesn’t happen very often, I have seen some guys go full court, then finished it with a nice little dunk.
“But the guys doing that weren’t as athletic or looked as good as what Makuach made it look.
“The whole place was shaking, it was awesome.”
Spiers admitted the team had a “few little lapses”, both in offence and defence, which will hopefully be ironed out as the team gels further over the season.
“It was our first real test to play as a team,” he said.
“We’ve got some smart guys who know how to play the game, that always helps when you’re putting a new team together.”
Personally, Spiers’ game was decisive, with 21 points – including four three pointers from eight attempts – and nine rebounds.
“I felt like I had a pretty good game, contributed when I needed to,” he said.
“I thrive off my teammates getting me involved.
“They managed to find me when I was open and I was able to knock down shots.”
Like Salties skipper Jerron Jamerson, Spiers is a familiar face among Darwin basketball circles, having played together with Razzle Storm in 2018.
In fact, a reunion was part of the reason why Spiers was drawn to the new Territory franchise, plus the excitement and energy that usually comes with a start-up.
And while he’s revelling in new experiences, a similar challenge awaits this Saturday night: turning out against a former team in Townsville Heat, where he played last year.
However, Spiers is feeling prepared having done something similar after departing Ipswich Force for Rockhampton Rockets in 2020.
In a curious subplot, Townsville beat Ipswich last Friday night, 75-66, in NBL1 North.
“There’s a bit more excitement for the game, that’s for sure,” he said of playing against old teammates.
“There’s a bit more meaning for me.
“I just want to go out and play well against them and show them what I’ve got.
“I’ve got a lot of love for Townsville, they’ve never done me wrong.
“But there’s always the competitive spirit to give them a loss.”
Darwin Salties beat Red City Road by six points
It took until the closing minutes of the third term to almost lift the roof off the Darwin Basketball Stadium, while announcing to the NBL1 world the Darwin Salties had arrived.
With a spectacular dunk from emerging Boomers squad member Makuach Maluach – after sprinting the length of the court – the roar it created was unlike anything heard until that point on Saturday night; capping off a magnificent debut from the Territory’s newest elite sports team.
A long range bomb from way downtown, just momenters later, only underlined the 24-year-old’s versatility and overall value to his new team at Marrara.
And it seemed to inspire his partner in crime and captain, Jerron Jamerson, to attempt his own, albeit unsuccessful version as the Salties grew in stature and confidence as the game wore on after trailing early in the match.
In the end, the Salties simply had too many weapons for Red City Roar in round one of the season, closing out the match 87-81 in front of a packed house.
The entire team gathered arm-in-arm at the close of the match in the middle of the court, perhaps in honour of their late comrade, Alier Riak, who never quite made it the floor.
The game was bursting with Salties highlights, with Deng Riak’s three pointer by the team bench with nine seconds to go a crowd-lifter, followed by another electrifying Maluach dunk which was disallowed, coming a split second after the final buzzer.
A leg injury to Ambros Eugster in the dying moments, limping off court after he missed a layup and fell to the floor, seemed to be the only downer on the evening for coach Matt Flinn and his men.
WHAAATTT 🤯🤯🤯
— NBL1 (@NBL1) April 30, 2022
Watch @NBL1North live and free on https://t.co/NEk1I7BLMG and the #NBL1 App 💻📲🀠pic.twitter.com/ROWwj2nYgo
In an even contest, where the margin rarely grew to double digits, the ledger was trimmed to four with just over three minutes to run and the Roar a chance of stealing victory.
But a superb jumper from who else but Maluach effectively sealed the game.
The Salties were also emboldened by a vocal hometown crowd, clearly voicing their disapproval with a foul which took Robert McCowan to the free throw line.
Earlier, it was a tight opening first term and a bit before the Salties hit their straps in a three-and-a-half minute burst of dominance before the main break.
The likely types of Josh Spiers, Jamerson, Riak and Maluach had a hand in the momentum-shifting period, turning a five-point deficit into a four-point lead by the main break (43-39).
It underlined the star power the Salties boast, with four of its starting five in Spiers (21 points, nine rebounds), Jamerson (20 points, nine rebounds, five assists), Maluach (23 points, four rebounds) and Riak (18 points, seven rebounds) hitting double figures with scoring.
For a team that had never played before, there was some seamless offensive connection at times too between Spiers, Jamerson and Maluach.
Jamerson was a crucial ingredient in setting the tone in the crucial opening quarter with seven points – and 14 for the half – providing a series of nice drives to the basket and three pointers over the course of the game.
However, it will be Maluach’s third quarter dunk that will be the talk of the NBL1 for the next few days.
Meet your Darwin Salties men’s team
A new era in basketball starts in the Territory this Saturday evening when the Darwin Salties women’s and men’s teams take on Red City Roar in game one of the NBL1 season.
But before the clash, get to know some of the players behind the new franchise who will make history from 6.30pm at Marrara.
The female Salties will include a healthy number of local players, from Kylie Duggan, Tyla Cubillo to Kirra Hill-Carter in the women’s squad, while Ansett’s Matty Hunt gets his first opportunity at the level at 34.
Hunt will join the likes of Adelaide 36ers player Tad Dufelmeier and Boomers World Cup qualifier squad member Makuach Malauch.
Your new local stars reveal here their basketballing backgrounds, greatest achievements and some quirky, pre-game superstitions which appear to be common place among the women’s team at least.
MEET THE SALTIES
Matt Flinn, Darwin Salties senior coach
Age: 50
Born: Wollongong
Previous clubs: Illawarra Hawks, Townsville Crocs
Greatest achievement: Two NBL grand finals
Goals for the season: Win the championship
Interests: Fishing, surfing, family
Favourite food: Fish
Favourite drink: Water
Jerron Jamerson
Age: 30
Number: 0
Born: South Bend, Indiana
Previous clubs: Goshen College, North Gold Coast Seahawks, Mackay Meteors
Greatest achievement: 2021 NBL1 championship with the Meteors
Goals for the season: Lead the Salties to a NBL1 championship
Interests: Video games, photography, videography, podcasting
Favourite food: Pizza, kiwifruit, oranges
Favourite drink: Coconut water
Game day ritual: Early morning shots, pregame nap and arrive at women’s game halfway through
Game day superstitions: No fried foods
Funniest/ most embarrassing basketball moment: Hearing my mom and dad yelling at my games: “That’s a fail!”
Josh Spiers
Age: 25
Number: Eight
Born: Townsville
NBL1 games played: 70
Previous clubs: Townsville Heat, Loyola Marymount University, California State University San Marcros
Greatest achievement: Winning the QBL title in 2017, playing division one college
Goals for the season: Win the championship, help young and new guys improve and improve my individual performance
Interests: Movies, TV shows, hikes, video games, golf
Favourite food: Chocolate, pasta, pizza, pies, KFC, Indian, nachos
Favourite drink: Vanilla Coke, orange Powerade
Game day ritual: Got to have a game day nap
Game day superstitions: Left sock and left shoe first
Funniest/most embarrassing basketball moment: Dad yelling at me and me telling him to be quiet in not so nice words in the middle of a game
Deng Riak
Age: 26
Number: 10
Born: Khartoum, Sudan
Previous clubs: Kilsyth Cobras, Korihait (Finland), Handlova (Slovakia)
Greatest achievement: Playing for University of Akron
Goals for the season: To win an NBL1 championship
Interests: Soccer, architecture, interior design
Favourite food: Nandos, meat pies
Favourite drink: Purple Gatorade
Game day ritual: Brush teeth in locker room before warm up
Ben Wright
Age: 21
Number: 5
Born: Ipswich
Previous clubs: Rockhampton Rockets
Greatest achievement: Winning the Under 16 national championships
Goals for the season: Winning the NBL1 championship
Interests: Basketball, friends and family
Favourite food: McGriddles
Favourite drink: Water
Game day ritual: Chill and get buckets, listen to music before the game
Game day superstitions: Listen to music
Funniest/most embarrassing basketball moment: Missing a dunk at a kids camp
Dan Babb
Age: 24
Number: Six
Born: Sydney
Previous clubs: Hornsby Spiders, Beloit College.
Greatest achievement: Playing basketball in Denmark, my mum’s home country
Goals for the season: Win an NBL1 championship
Interests: Watching NFL, gym, film photography, surfing
Favourite food: Spaghetti bolognese or sushi
Favourite drink: Coconut water
Game day ritual: Meditation
Game day superstitions: I wear red underwear
Funniest/most embarrassing basketball moment: Fans noticing me putting my mouthguard in my underwear on a free throw
Donovan Russell
Age: 24
Number: Seven
Born: New Zealand
Previous clubs: North Gold Coast Seahawks
Greatest achievement: Invited to train for the New Zealand select team
Goals for the season: Win the NBL1 championship, be a better scorer
Interests: Gaming, cars, bikes, music, sports
Favourite food: Burritos
Favourite drink: Frozen Mountain Dew
Game day ritual: Walk, shoot around, big breakfast, tunes
Game day superstitions: Wear my favourite jocks
Funniest/most embarrassing basketball moment: Missed a dunk on a fast break
Shaquille Hohipa-Wilson
Age: 29
Number: 48
Born: New Zealand
Previous clubs: Waikato Pistons, Palmerston, Razzle, Hawke’s Bay Hawks
Goals for the season: Get fit as possible
Interests: Family time and fishing
Favourite food: Hangi
Favourite drink: Vanilla Coke
Game day ritual: Listen to music and hang with the team or family
Funniest/ most embarrassing basketball: One shoe fell out of my playing bag at home, realised when I got to the stadium
Jarrod Molnar
Age: 26
Number: 59
Born: Melbourne
Previous clubs: Albury-Wodonga Bandits, Hawthorn Magic
Greatest achievement: Ranked number two at a Las Vegas overseas combine in 2018, every day on the court is a blessing
Goals for the season: To win the NBL1 championship, to inspire other athletes to pursue their dreams, to create a pathway for me to play in the NBL
Interests: I love coaching and teaching athletes, I also play piano
Favourite food: Stuffed peppers, or anything with vegetables
Favourite drink: Peach iced tea
Game day ritual: Meditation, visualisation, foam rolling, stretching, watching game film and scouting reports (in that exact order)
Game day superstitions: Must eat steak and potatoes for dinner
Funniest/most embarrassing basketball moment: Accidentally put my shorts on backwards
Matty Hunt
Age: 34
Number: Nine
Born: Darwin
Previous clubs: Ansett, Woodville, Sturt Sabres
Greatest achievement: Representing the NT and winning DBA championships
Goals for the season: Win the NBL1 championship, be a better scorer
Interests: Sports, racing and travel
Favourite food: Asian food and pasta
Favourite drink: Dr Pepper
Game day ritual: Chill
Funniest/most embarrassing basketball moment: Not wearing a singlet under warm up clothes when hitting the court
Ambros Eugster
Age: 21
Number: Three
Born: Hobart
NBL1 games played: 49
Previous clubs : Hobart Chargers
Goals for the season: Win games
Interests: Basketball and football
Favourite food: Mango
Favourite drink: Water
Rod Tremlett, Darwin Salties women’s coach
From: Bunbury
Age: 51
Greatest achievement: Coaching at Under 18 Australian level
Interests: All other sports, I’m a sports fanatic
Goal for the season: Developing a cohesive team, and establishing a strong culture
Favourite food: Rissoles and vegetables
Favourite drink: Coke Zero
Game day superstition: Right sock first
Tyla Cubillo
Age: 18
Number: Five
Previous club: Tracy Village Jets
Greatest achievement: Winning championships with my local team
Goal for the season: Be more aggressive in offence
Interests: Music, painting and watching movies
Favourite food: Italian
Favourite drink: Ice coffee, frozen Coke
Game day ritual: Eat food, listen to music
Game day superstitions: If I play good in one game, I have to wear the same bra
Funniest/most embarrassing basketball moment: I hit a girl in the face while trying to keep a ball in the court
Kirra Hill-Carter
Age: 26
Number: 15
Place of birth: Perth
Previous club: Lightning, North Platte College
Greatest achievement: Winning the championship in my first season with Lightning
Goal for the season: Have a good season and show what that Salties can do
Interests: AFL, reading books and watching movies
Favourite food: Chicken laksa, turtle back in Broome
Favourite drink: Lemon, lime and bitters
Game day ritual: Have a good, balanced breakfast
Game day superstitions: Don’t eat an hour before the game.
Funniest/most embarrassing basketball moment: Rolled my ankle while only changing directions at walking pace
Jessica Boundy
Age: 19
Number: 40
Place of birth: Gold Coast
Previous club: North Gold Coast Seahawks
Greatest achievement: Playing in America and winning the QSL championship
Goal for the season: Become a great team contributor
Interests: Photography, most sports, music, enjoying the beach and the outdoors
Favourite food: Mum’s chicken fried rice
Favourite drink: Frozen Mountain Dew
Game day ritual: Pre-game morning shoot around, healthy lunch, rest and stretch
Game day superstitions: Wear the same sports bra
Funniest/ most embarrassing basketball moment: Shooting a three for the opposition team
Ruby Porter
Age: 21
Number: 11
Place of birth: Adelaide
Previous club: Sturt Sabres, University of Nebraska
Greatest achievement: Winning gold in the Under 18 3x3 Asia Cup for Australia
Goal for the season: Win the championship, contribute to each team win
Interests: Beach walks, coaching, going out for breakfast
Favourite food: Schnitzel and chips
Favourite drink: Mango Magic at Boost Juice
Game day ritual: Game day coffee, listen to music
Game day superstitions: Right sock then left sock
Funniest/ most embarrassing basketball moment: Falling out of a bunk bed at an international basketball tournament.
Chelsea Brook
Age: 23
Number: Eight
Place of birth: Gawler, South Australia
NBL1 games played: It will be my third NBL1 season
Previous clubs: Adelaide Lightning, Mackay Meteorettes, Eltham Wildcats, Sturt Sabres
Greatest achievement: Winning gold at the World Univeristy Games
Goal for the season: Win a championship, engage the community and inspire young girls
Interests: Studying law, beach and the outdoors
Favourite food: Avoacado on toast
Favourite drink: Coffee
Game day ritual: Smashed avo and a nap
Game day superstitions: Lucky sports bra
Funniest/ most embarrassing basketball moment: My shoelace broke and I tripped over in the middle of the court
Kylie Duggan
Age: 37
Number: Four
Place of birth: Darwin
Previous club: Woodville, Coburg, Tracy Village Jets
Greatest achievement: Winning 13 straight premierships, and gold at Arafura Games
Goal for the season: Improve my game and playing in a finals series
Interests: Football, fishing, coaching spending time with my family
Favourite food: Curry chicken and chicken vermicelli
Favourite drink: Water
Game day ritual: Coffee, banana bread, keep myself busy
Game day superstitions: Wear the same sports bra, underwear and socks
Funniest/ most embarrassing basketball moment: Fell over my own feet during a game
Teyla Evans
Age: 28
Number: 14
Place of birth: Cairns
Previous clubs: Launceston Tornadoes, Eltham Wildcats, Rockhampton Cyclones
Greatest achievement: Being part of Darwin’s inaugural season
Goal for the season: Win an NBL1 championship
Interests: Coffee, boxing, food
Favourite food: Wood-fired pizza
Favourite drink: Coffee
Game day ritual: Coffee, breakfast, nap
Funniest/ most embarrassing basketball moment: It was so cold in Launceston, I went to catch a pass but my fingers were so numb, the ball went straight through my hands and hit my face
Erin Bollmann
Age: 28
Number: 12
Place of birth: Missouri, US
Previous clubs: Keilor Thunder, Diamond Valley
Greatest achievement: Big V league MVP
Goal for the season: Win the NBL1 championship
Interests: Crosswords, NBA, cooking, TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Favourite food: Fried chicken thigh
Favourite drink: Frozen Coke Zero
Game day ritual: Homecooked meal, stretching, game day playlist
Game day superstitions: I always try to call my dad
Serena Waters
Age: 21
Number: 32
Place of birth: Adelaide
NBL1 games played: 10
Previous club: Woodville
Greatest achievement: Train with Sydney Flames
Goal for the season: Inspire the next generation and have fun
Interests: Food, adventures, music
Favourite food: Burritos
Favourite drink: Lime water
Game day ritual: Don’t eat the day of a game
Game day superstitions: If I have a good game, wear the same shoes and skins
Funniest/ most embarrassing basketball moment: Tripping over a towel while a towel girl for Sydney Kings
Elo Magbegor
Age: 26
Number: 23
Place of birth: Wellington, New Zealand
Previous club: Coburg Giants
Goal for the season: To see how good I can get
Interests: Being outdoors
Favourite food: Butterscotch ice cream
Favourite drink: Orange juice
Game day ritual: Listen to some tunes
Amelia Short
Age: 22
Number: 21
Place of birth: Darwin
Previous club: Ansett
Greatest achievement: Competing in the Arafura Games in 2019
Goal for the season: Improve my game and win
Interests: Cooking, friends, family, dogs
Favourite food: Burrito bowls
Favourite drink: Coffee
Game day superstitions: Double socks
Funniest/ most embarrassing basketball moment: Rolling my ankle while inbounding the ball
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