Crosscourt: News and fallout after Illawarra Hawks sealed NBL25 title with victory over Melbourne United

As Illawarra Hawks owner Jared Novelly popped champagne celebrating the Hawks’ second championship, NBL boss Larry Kestelman had a stern message for the club’s American-born backer.

As Illawarra Hawks owner Jared Novelly popped champagne celebrating the Hawks’ second championship, NBL boss Larry Kestelman had a stern message for the club’s American-born backer.

Standing on the same court as Novelly amid crazy post-game grand final scenes, Kestelman took the moment to remind Illawarra owner that he is “going nowhere” and any bid to oust him won’t succeed.

The strong stance came just a day after a leaked email detailing a bold attempt to unite the NBL’s 10 clubs and force the current NBL boss to sell.

Novelly is behind the push for leadership change amid integrity and financial transparency concerns, but Kestelman is standing his ground.

The pair shared a pre-game handshake that was witnessed by Code Sports, but the brief moment indicated very few words were exchanged.

“My mindset is that I’ve been at this for 15 years and I know the fans, the media and everyone wants me here and I’m here to stay,” Kestelman said.

Larry Kestelman stands firm on his ‘not for sale’ stance. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“I went into this because of my family and I remain in it because of the NBL family and my family and I’m going absolutely nowhere.

“Categorically, the NBL is not for sale.”

Asked if Novelly has any valid points around the NBL’s ownership structure and could he have gone about his takeover bid in a different way, Kestelman said:

“I don’t know what Jared’s point is, but I can absolutely tell you that I will not be selling the NBL to Jared or anyone else.”

Kestelman refused to weigh into a debate around which model – clubs or a leader at the top like him – works best.

“I think let the results speak for themselves – that is what I care about,” he said.

“Records broken, but I still believe we can be better.

“I love the NBL, it’s here to stay and I’m going to continue to do the work.”

HAWKS’ SYSTEM DIG AS NBL RESPONDS TO CALL FOR MVP OVERHAUL

Illawarra’s championship hero Will Hickey heaped praise on Matthew Dellavedova’s classy post-game gesture before having a subtle dig at the controversial MVP voting system that led to the awkward booing moment.

Debate in basketball is raging after Dellavedova was awarded the championship series MVP, despite Hickey leading his team to victory in the final two games to secure the Hawks the club’s first title in 24 years.

Incredibly, Dellavedova walked off the ceremony stage and handed Hickey the MVP award, declaring: “This belongs to you”.

NBL officials confirmed the championship series MVP will remain Dellavedova’s in the record books despite his post-game gesture.

United’s Matthew Dellavedova hands Hawk Will Hickey the Larry Sengstock Trophy after the NBL grand final. Picture: Getty Images

Hickey was blown away by Delly’s remarkable act, but suggested the stunning post-game scenes could have been avoided.

“Yeah Delly (is classy), but it goes back to the league, right?,” Hickey told Crosscourt post-game.

“I don’t want to speak too much on it, but it is what it is. I’m a champion and I’ll leave it at that.”

Asked on Monday, the NBL said it had no plans to change the MVP award voting system.

A simple solution could be emulating the NBA’s process for its Finals MVP.

Since its inception in 1969, the award now known as the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP has been decided by eleven media members, who cast votes after the conclusion of the Finals.

This allows the NBA’s MVP judges to take into account the entirety of the series, including defining injuries that prompt bigger roles for players, as opposed to the NBL’s game-by-game vote system.

The NBL’s MVP voting structure was exposed in Wollongong on Sunday night, highlighting the need for change.

Hawks forward Mason Peatling – who won the 2021 NBL championship with United – wasn’t surprised to see Dellavedova offer Hickey his MVP trophy.

He also credited Dellavedova and Chris Goulding for their post-game speeches amid a barrage of boos from the Illawarra faithful.

“At the end of the day we have to recognise United has amazing Australian basketballers and they were in the championship series for a reason,” Peatling said.

“We respect them as competitors and people and I think Chris (Goulding) and Delly spoke incredibly well after the game.

“You’d like to think the crowd can move on and they can be treated as human beings.”

Illawarra Hawks lapped up the glory. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Hickey put aside the post-game drama to lap up the hype of winning his first NBL championship.

He spoke with pride about his Indigenous links and the power he has to inspire the next generation of Aboriginal athletes.

“It means a lot,” he said.

“I hear people say why does it matter that I’m Indigenous? I’ve grown up and all I’ve known is that I’m Indigenous.

“So to me every other black kid that is out there watching that they can see me and at least think, ‘I can do that as well’.

“That to me is a big thing.”

TATUM ILLAWARRA’S ‘FATHER FIGURE’

Jubilant Illawarra Hawks players have hailed coach Justin Tatum’s “father-like” influence for guiding the club towards its second NBL championship.

Tatum – the dad of Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum – has done a remarkable job rebuilding the Hawks from cellar dwellers to champions.

Illawarra guard Dan Grida believes the Hawks wouldn’t be holding the trophy without the man affectionately known as “JT”.

“Justin is unreal,” Grida said.

“He has a little saying, ‘hard work, that is what we do’ and we work really hard at practice and on the court and JT has been unbelievable for everyone.

“If they could do it, we could do it” 🥹

Jayson Tatum and the whole @celtics squad tuned in to watch the @illawarrahawks win the NBL25 Championship 🏆 pic.twitter.com/wBd4r8TYg2

— NBL (@NBL) March 23, 2025

“He is a father figure to everyone and obviously his son (Jayson) is awesome as well.

“We all really respect JT and he has brought us all together this season.”

Injured Hawks big man Sam Froling says the club’s culture is so strong because of Tatum’s presence and man management.

“It’s the head of the snake – it’s JT,” Froling said.

“He is such a great coach and person. He makes it really easy to lead and play hard and then it trickles down throughout the playing group.

“There are no dickheads, for want of a better word.”

FROLING’S FAMILY CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB

The Froling family has written another successful chapter following Sam’s NBL championship victory with the Illawarra Hawks.

The Hawks’ triumph means Sam joins his sister Keely (two with the Canberra Capitals) and mother Jenny (two with Nunawading) in the family’s title club.

It means father Shane Froling was brutally left out of the family’s post-game celebration photos on Sunday night.

“We kicked dad out of the family photo because he doesn’t have one (a championship),” Sam joked to Crosscourt.

“Hopefully we can add some more.”

Sister Keely was also courtside in Wollongong to celebrate Sam’s title with the Hawks.

She also had a laugh about the family’s growing championship club.

“We were just joking that Sam, mum and I need a photo now because we’re the three ones with championships,” she said.

Froling family celebrating the Hawks win. Picture: IG/Keely Froling

Sam Froling was huge for the Hawks across NBL25. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

“It’s pretty special. We would have loved for Sam to be playing, but he is such a big part of this team and it’s awesome to see him win a championship.”

A season-ending Achilles tear denied Sam a chance to play in Sunday’s deciding grand final game, but he is just thrilled to win his first NBL title.

“That is what I wanted, the championship, so if I was out there on the court or not, it doesn’t matter,” he said.

“It’s so special, man. It feels like I’ve been waiting a long time for this and the city has been waiting 24 years.

“Look at the amount of people here – I think the town is going to be buzzing for a long time after this.”

PRIDE AS GUTTED UNITED FACE ANOTHER LONG ROAD

In the face of chants of “Goulding’s a w***er” during the game, followed by boos during the NBL championship presentation ceremony for Goulding and Dellavedova, Melbourne United is proud of the dignified way it carried itself after the shattering defeat.

Goulding, then Dellavedova have been feted for their post-game speeches as boos roared from the Illawarra Hawks sold out crowd and despite a loss that condemned the club to back-to-back championship series defeats, this one at the hands of Illawarra.

“The way we conducted ourselves in defeat last night, despite the surroundings made me pretty proud,” one United source said.

Coach Dean Vickerman said Dellavedova’s act to hand his MVP over to Hawk hero Will Hickey was “one of the classiest things I’ve ever seen in an awards ceremony”.

“Yes, I want to be better, yes, I want to win a championship, yes I wanted CG to not have to stand up there and make that speech and make a better speech that we won the championship,” Vickerman said.

United was gracious in defeat. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

“But I’m super proud of the group all year and how they bounced back.”

In the hours after the loss, United’s travelling party of about 70 players, family owners, staff and sponsors gathered in a function room at the nearby Sage Hotel to contemplate and console.

The mood was sombre, but not as mournful as many might expect, given it’s the second straight year they’ve lost the championship in the very last game of the season.

Vickerman said a few words to the United family who had made the trek and it was an evening of reflection, after Vickerman had already vowed to bounce back next season.

“I spoke to our group and said you win with class and you lose with class,” Vickerman said, post-game.

“I’m really proud of our team really proud that we put ourselves in a position after last year to do it again.

“Yes, we came up short but I don’t have the feeling from last year.

“I thought we fought and battled as tough as we could and in big moments they won them

“The next goal for us (is) to bounce back and put ourselves in that position again.”

United will hold exit meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, with its awards function on Tuesday night.

Originally published as Crosscourt: News and fallout after Illawarra Hawks sealed NBL25 title with victory over Melbourne United