Hawks host the Kings in NBL24 Opener

NBL Basketball returns to WIN Entertainment Centre as your Illawarra Hawks launch the new season against Freeway Series rivals, the Sydney Kings.

A new-look Hawks roster will take the hard work and learnings of the pre-season into the opening night blockbuster in front of a projected sellout crowd.

Coach Jackomas enters his second season at the helm with one of the deepest rosters in the NBL24 competition.

The Hawks return Co-Captain's Tyler Harvey and Sam Froling, along with Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, Dan Grida, and Davo Hickey from last year's campaign.

Jackomas' new rotation also includes NBA talent in imports Justin Robinson and Gary Clark, Korean sharpshooter Hyunjung Lee, free agent forwards Mason Peatling and Todd Blanchfield, one of the country's more exciting big man prospects in Lachlan Olbrich, and NBL Next Star AJ Johnson. Biwali Bayles, Harry Morris, and Townsville big man Luca Yates round out the talent-laden Hawks roster.

The Freeway Series title sits with the team from north of the highway, and the Hawks will be looking to set the tone for the new season with a win on our home court and take early bragging rights in the four-game Freeway Series.

Opposition Watch

The two-time defending champions will again start the season as one of the competition's favourites; all be it with some changes to key personnel both on and off the court.

LED screens and fashion critics nationwide will welcome a new leader on the Sydney sidelines in, former NBA assistant coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah.

Former league MVP Jaylen Adams returns to the side, joined in the backcourt by Denzel Valentine, with former Taipan DJ Hogg rounding out the import trio.

The local contingent features Angus Glover, Jordan Hunter, Jaylen Galloway, Shaun Bruce, Kouat Noi, Jonah Bolden, and Next Star Alex Toohey. 

Where It Will Be Won

There are marquee match-ups all over the court, none bigger and more influential than the point guard battle of Robinson and Adams.

Hawks' fans know the potential of Robinson and what his leadership on the offensive end and his tenacity at the defensive end can mean for the group. Adams is an explosive offensive talent who made a name for himself in some of the biggest moments of the NBL22 season.

Both point guards will lead vastly different rosters than those that left the floor in NBL23, and their ability to escape the nervous energy of the first few minutes and lay a platform for their respective wing and big man talent could go a long way to deciding the result.

Keep an eye out for the backcourt battle of Harvey and Valentine, the physicality and inside games of Froling and Bolden, and the young talent of Olbrich and Johnson up against Alex Toohey in the purple and gold.

No love is lost between these two organisations, and the opportunity to gain one up while starting the season off on the right side of the ledger will mean this opening night match-up could be the best of them yet.

Limited tickets are available via Ticketmaster for tonight's match at www.hawks.com.au/tickets 

Be in your seats by 7.45 pm for lights out, with the action to tip-off at 8.00 pm.