Darwin Saltie Nate Jawai to play in the local men’s competition in October

Former NBA centre and Darwin Saltie Nate Jawai has revealed his plans for the off season with one local NT team set to benefit.

IT WILL be a walk down memory lane when former NBA centre and Darwin Saltie Nate Jawai takes to the floor alongside an old friend with the Ellas Titans in the local men’s premier competition, set to start in October.

The 35-year-old suffered an injury-plagued campaign in the Salties’ debut NBL1 North season and was tech fouled out of its quarterfinal loss to USC Rip City just before the final break.

Battling a persistent calf complaint, Jawai played intermittently but still showed flashes of brilliance to land in the franchise’s top five for assists.

The former Cairns Taipan averaged eight points and four rebounds across his nine games at the Croc Pot.

However, Jawai will now join up with childhood friend and “good mate” Deba George, formerly of the Cairns Taipans, at the Titans, coached by Salties star Erin Bollmann in the Darwin Basketball Association’s men’s league season which starts on October 13.

Nate Jawai played nine games for the Salties in 2022. Picture: Ben Thompson.

“Me and Deba grew up together in Cairns and played in the same team,” Jawai said.

“We’ve always been brothers.

“We’ve had our different journey (in basketball), a different path, now with him coming back to Darwin ... I have an opportunity to play with him again and reminisce the childhood times when we used to have fun together.”

Jawai, who has fully recovered from that calf issue, said he would stay in Darwin until the Christmas break before returning to Cairns to “regroup and see what’s next”.

He said he hoped to return to the Croc Pot for the 2023 season, after rediscovering his love for the game down at Marrara.

“The Salties is a great organisation and I’d love to be a part of it again,” he said.

“I fell in love with the game again.

“The chemistry, the friendship, it was like family.

Nate Jawai is involved in community and outreach work with the Salties. Picture: Darwin Salties.

“The joy came back and I enjoyed playing under (coach) Flinny.

“We’ll just have to wait and see.”

He said the Salties more closely resembled an NBL team with healthy crowds, a punishing training regimen and overall strong community support.

“I didn’t really know what to expect when I came to Darwin,” Jawai said, immediately impressed by the Croc Pot’s electric atmosphere.

“It’s like a mini party on court.

“It’s just a different feel out this way.

“Every time I came to the game the car park was full. And the stadium’s full.

“To see that support, from 6.30 to 10.30, was unbelievable.”

Before his departure for Queensland, Jawai will be involved in community and outreach work through the Salties and Healthy Deadly Kids program: “It’s good to give back.”