On This Day | The 'TJ' Game | 6 July 1996

It was 6 July 1996. The Hawks were at home against the Sydney Kings. Two thousand-ish people crammed into The Snakepit -Basketball Illawarra.
By the time it was over, the scoreboard read 145-121 and Terry Johnson (Hawks ID: 79) had done something that still doesn't look real when you watch the old footage back.

41 points. 13 assists. 80% from the field. In 47 minutes of basketball.

If you know, you know. Hawkheads of a certain vintage have called it "The TJ Game" ever since.

Johnson was a local junior. This was his house. And on this particular night, he treated the Snakepit to a performance that belonged in a different era, a different league, a different atmosphere entirely. The Kings threw everything at him. It didn't matter. Fadeaways, threes, drives, dishes off the dribble. Shane Heal put up 28 on the other end, shooting 63% from three. He was exceptional. He just ran into someone who was better that night.

But here's where this game becomes something more than a great box score.

Look at the Hawks' roster that night and you're looking at a snapshot of what this club was about to become.

On the court in red and black: Glen Saville (Hawks ID: 81), in just his second season, quiet and composed and already showing what he would grow into. Mat Campbell (Hawks ID: 85), a rookie, learning the game at the highest level. Chuck Harmison (Hawks ID: 53), closing out his career in the jersey he'd worn for years. Three men. Three numbers that now hang in the rafters at WIN Entertainment Centre.

On the Kings' side, wearing the wrong colours after following coach Alan Black to Sydney in the off-season: Melvin Thomas (Hawks ID: 69) - now a fourth retired Hawk number.
Four of the club's five retired jersey holders. One game. One night at the Snakepit.

Also on the Kings' roster, picking up 7 rebounds in 20 minutes: Justin Withers (Hawks ID: 57), another Hawk legend (1989-92, 1998).

On the Hawks' sideline, in his first season as head coach: Brendan Joyce. Five years before he'd deliver this club its first NBL Championship.

Nobody in that building knew any of that yet. They just knew Terry Johnson was putting on a show, Andre La Fleur was dropping 30 with 9 assists, Marcus Timmons was hauling down 16 rebounds, and the Hawks were dismantling one of the competition's glamour clubs by 24 points.

Some nights at the Snakepit were bigger than basketball. This was one of them.

And if you're willing to dig deep enough into YouTube, someone has uploaded the game footage. Grainy, unofficial, exactly as it should be. Thirty years old and still worth every minute. Go find it.

MEMBERS KNOW THE FEELING

Somewhere in NBL27 there's a night Hawkheads will still be talking about in 2056.

The only way to say you were there is to be there. Become a member today!

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