Daniel Grida

Hawks ID: 198

Daniel Grida has spent more of his Hawks career fighting his own knee than fighting opponents. He's still here. That's the whole story.

Third in Voting, First in Grit

Grida arrived at Illawarra out of Perth's Lakeside Lightning system in 2018/19, via two seasons at the Centre of Excellence in Canberra and a strong showing at the NBL Next Gen camp. His rookie season was good enough to finish third in Rookie of the Year voting. It looked like the start of something straightforward. It wasn't.

The Knee That Wouldn't Quit

In March 2020, Grida ruptured his ACL. He was expected to miss the entire 2021 season, then defied that timeline with a surprise return in Round 12, playing out the back half of the year on a knee that had barely healed. In September 2021, the same knee gave way again, ruling him out of the entire 2022 campaign. He came back in stages after that: 14 games in 2022/23, 10 in 2023/24. Two knee reconstructions on the same joint would end most careers. Grida kept showing up.

Champion at Last

In 2024/25, it all paid off. Grida was a full-time contributor off the bench for a full season for the first time in years, and he ended it as an NBL champion. "Winning a Championship this season has been a dream come true," he said. He's since re-signed for another two years.

Numbers

152 games for the Hawks, 16th on the club's all-time games played list as of the end of NBL26.

The Mullet and the Man

Off the court, Grida's flowing blonde mullet, often compared to a young Larry Bird, has made him one of the league's most recognisable characters, with fans across Illawarra adopting the look themselves. General Manager Mat Campbell put it plainly: "His dedication, competitive spirit, and deep connection with the community have earned him a special place as a fan favourite here in the Illawarra." Grida's story was never going to be about raw numbers. It was always going to be about staying.