"We look really good, and we're locked in.”  - HJ Lee

When HJ Lee lets one fly from beyond the three-point line, the entire WIN Entertainment Centre holds its breath … the Korean sharpshooter included. 

 He’s never launched a shot he didn’t expect to go in, but it’s rare that an entire arena shares in that belief. It’s why the softly spoken 24-year-old feels the stakes are higher whenever he sets foot on the Sandpit hardwood. 

“I can hear the difference when the other guys miss a shot to when I'm missing a shot,” Lee said. 

 “I can hear all this disappointment because they think it's going in, so I feel guilty. I feel like ‘damn, I should have made it’, but I’m so grateful because they're showing so much love when I'm on the court. 

“I feel like they’ve always got my back, they’re like my family. I feel the responsibility to play well for them, so that's why I'm putting all the work in.  

“I'm working hard because of them. You need to play well because they're supporting you. I feel that, but it’s not pressure, it's a blessing for sure.”  

He didn’t disappoint in his last outing at the WEC, going 4-5 from long range for 14 points that snatched the game away from the Kings and notched a much-needed victory heading into the FIBA break. It halted a two-game losing slide, part of a 1-3 month for Justin Tatum’s squad.  

Even banking one in off the glass was no fluke (he practices the art), with Tatum remarking after the victory that the Kings “forgot about one of the best shooters in the league.” 

It was a particularly egregious oversight given that, while he’s shooting a tidy 43 per cent from deep on the season, he’s firing at 52 per cent from long range on his home floor.  

“Obviously I feel more familiar with this court, and more responsibility [to the fans] when I shoot. That's probably the main reason,” he said. 

“We’ve got so many great players out here, so obviously I'm trying to help them.  All shooters struggle in some games, so I feel like I need to contribute [in ways] other than just shooting. Playing defence, getting rebounds, making the right play … I'm really trying to focus on that. 

“It depends on what lineup we're playing as well. When I'm in with [shooters like] Tyler (Harvey) or Trey (Kell), I’ve got to be more focused on defence and rebounding. If I'm playing with Davo (Will Hickey) or Mase (Mason Peatling) I’ve got a little more focus on play-making or shooting.”  

Diversity of line-ups and second-unit depth has proven the ace up Tatum’s sleeve in a strong start to the season. Hickey is a Sixth Man of the Year front-runner, averaging eight points, four rebounds and three assists, while Lachy Olbrich is also averaging eight points and four boards. 

Lee’s in the same vicinity averaging eight points, two rebounds and an assist – not that he’s all that fussed with the numbers. 

“We are all unselfish guys, so we're not really focusing on individual stats,” he said. 

“That’s the great thing. Me, Davo and Lachy, all the guys off the bench, we're just thinking about winning the game. I’m not even thinking about how much I'm scoring, or how much they’re scoring or rebounding.  

“We're really focusing on the effort and just playing the right way. I think that's the biggest strength.”  

It’s something they’ll be banking on when the Hawks return to the WEC on Thursday night against the Breakers in a second-versus-third showdown offering the chance to stay clear of a logjam at the bottom half of the six. 

 Lee, along with Sam Froling, Hickey and Olbrich, only returned to practice on Wednesday, but the opportunity to represent South Korea in the FIBA break was worth any jetlag. Lee’s also adamant it won’t affect his team’s performance against the Breakers.

“It’s always a great honour to represent your country,” he said. 

“It is one of the biggest achievements of my life. It was my first time actually playing in Korea and representing the country, so it was pretty cool. After the game I had to sign all the autographs, it felt like I was playing in Wollongong. I didn't know that all the Korean fans have that kind of energy. 

“We only got back [on Wednesday] so there’s some jetlag, but we had a really good practice, we look really good, and we're locked in.”  

Tip-off against New Zealand at the WIN Entertainment Centre tonight is at 7.30 pm. Doors open at 6:30 pm.