‘Trust in the ability, trust in my work,’: Gak gearing up for stellar NBL24 finish
Akoldah Gak will walk back into his former nest high on confidence and out to prove this could be his new normal as the Taipans face a crucial clash with the Hawks on Thursday.
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Akoldah Gak will walk back into his former nest high on confidence and out to prove this could be his new normal as the Taipans face a crucial clash with the Hawks on Thursday.
The stakes couldn’t be higher in the round 16 games as the sixth-placed Hawks host the seventh-placed Taipans, with both teams chasing a spot in the NBL play-offs.
And in the thick of it is a man fresh off a career-first double-double, and out to impress.
Gak made the most of his season-high 28 minutes, putting up 21 points and 14 rebounds - both career-high figures, and by some margin - in his best performance yet.
But the 21-year-old is keeping it real as he prepares to face his former home of three seasons.
“I’m not trying to get too high on myself, I need to keep level-headed, keep building on my performance, building that momentum,” Gak said.
“(I have to) trust in the ability, trust in my work, his work, and enjoying it every day.”
Taipans coach Adam Forde signed Gak to a two-year-deal because he saw something in the raw ability of the man.
Gak, an NBA prospect who played for Chicago Bulls in the NBA Summer League in 2022, spent three seasons at the Hawks, who he joined when he was just 18, and his abnormally high amount of experience in NBL systems for his age made him even more enticing.
Those raw characteristics - his strength, athleticism, and improved shooting ability - was on display as the Taipans ran down the 36ers in last week’s memorable 111-101 overtime win, a victory which kept Cairns’ finals hopes alive.
“It’s good, for my confidence, it showed the hard work I’ve been doing,” Gak said.
“Hope to carry this momentum into the next couple of games and make the top six.”
There might be no shortage of minutes for Gak to prove his double-double against Adelaide wasn’t a one-off as an undermanned Taipans make the trip south.
Sam Waardenburg and Jonah Antonio will definitely be out, while Next Star Bobi Klintman was unlikely to play Thursday due to a flu.
Waardenburg (concussion) and Klintman (illness) are a chance to return to the lineup when they host the Bullets in the final Queensland derby at Cairns Convention Centre on Sunday, but Forde isn’t looking that far.
He’s fully focused on the Hawks, and overcoming a side which they have shared the spoils so far (1-1 in the series) but must defeat if they want to keep their post-season hopes alive.
This Hawks outfit is totally different to the one they met earlier in the season.
Illawarra had a 2-7 record when they sacked Jacob Jackomas, and gone 7-3 since Justin Tatum stepped into the interim role.
“There’s been a lot of game, a lot of rounds, a lot of months have passed, they’ve changed their coaching staff and they look a really different team – and they are,” Forde said.
“They’re really getting aggressive and mixing things up on the defensive end which we need to be prepared for, and there’s a lot of confident in their players to make plays.
“We expect a tough contest at their place, especially coming off a loss.”
Tip-off is at 6.30pm (AEST).
matthew.mcinerney1@news.com.au
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Originally published as ‘Trust in the ability, trust in my work,’: Gak gearing up for stellar NBL24 finish
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