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Hawks coach slams NBL's treatment of star big man
Steve Barrett, AAP • October 9th, 2025 8:34 am
Hawks centre JaVale McGee isn't getting enough protection in the NBL, his team coach says | Photo: Blake Armstrong/AAP
Illawarra coach Justin Tatum has fired a verbal rocket at the NBL, sensationally declaring the league does not deserve a player of JaVale McGee's calibre, citing what he believes is a lack of protection from rough opposition tactics.
The Hawks' towering 213cm, 122kg McGee has been one of the competition's major drawcards since his off-season signing and is arguably the most credentialed player to ever grace the Australian league.
The 37-year-old logged 983 NBA games, including three championships, and was a member of the US team that won gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
McGee has lit up the NBL, averaging 25.7 points - trailing only Bryce Cotton - and 10.0 rebounds.
But when the winless Hawks were crushed 117-88 by the last-placed New Zealand Breakers in Auckland on Wednesday, McGee managed only 19 points and three boards, sparking Tatum's claims of foul play.
"I'm not sure if the league enjoys him being here because when I have a seven-foot guy keep falling on the ground, getting tripped, getting undercut, I'm not sure if he's enjoying it, or if the league is enjoying it," Tatum fumed.
"He could be an advocate for the league, but I'm not sure if he's going to be an advocate if the league is going to misinterpret or not understand how to ref a guy his size.
"If you ask me, I don't think the league deserves him to be here."
McGee had a game-high 10 free-throw attempts and drew seven fouls - all in less than 22 minutes of action against the Breakers - but Tatum believes several more NZ indiscretions went unwhistled.
"One thing we feel we have to do is protect our players," he said.
"We've got a 16-year NBA veteran in our team - he gets tripped up and checked in the middle of the court.
"We have to fight through a lot of adversity on that one.
"I've got to make sure I always protect my players because the league is not.
"We've got to protect him."
Coach Justin Tatum is adamant his Ilawarra star needs more on-court protection | Photo: Blake Armstrong/AAP
Tatum believes sending video clips of McGee's treatment to NBL headquarters is a waste of time.
"It's pointless with this league," he said.
"We cut up film all the time. We see it, we observe it, we adjust to it.
"JaVale's got to figure it out and play through it as long as he wants to play here."
Breakers coach Petteri Koponen defended his side's tactics, crediting their teamwork for keeping McGee in check.
"Guys were executing, they were alert collectively," he said.
"We don't have one body who can match up with him one-on-one, so we need to do it together. And guys were alert.
"They were flying, rotating ... the guys did a great job."
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