Hawks Round Out Import Crop with NBA Veteran

The Illawarra Hawks have beefed up their frontcourt with the signing of powerful import forward Gary Clark.

Clark will arrive in the NBL with extensive experience of the NBA landscape. The 28-year-old has played over 170 NBA games across stints with Houston, Orlando, Denver, Philadelphia and New Orleans, and was a 2019 G-League champion with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

New Sydney coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah was an assistant on the 2019 title-winning Vipers side.

Clark most recently played for Capitanes de Ciudad de Mexico in the NBA G-League, where he averaged 19.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game across 46 appearances.

"I have heard nothing but great things about the NBL, and I am excited by the opportunity presented to me by the Hawks," Clark said. "I feel like I am in the prime of my career ... Hawks fans are getting a player who works hard. I bring an effort and intensity on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

"I can't wait to meet the coaching staff and my teammates and look forward to helping the Hawks achieve their playoff and championship goals in NBL24."

“Gary is a defensive-minded big with a special basketball I.Q., and we are thrilled that he has agreed to join the club,” Hawks General Manager of Basketball Mat Campbell added.

"We love his physicality and ability to impact the game at both ends. Gary can be as effective on the ball as playing off it, and we see his pairing with Sam Froling in the front court as an exciting proposition for the Hawks faithful.

“We entered the off-season and free agency intending to build a roster that can compete at the very top of the NBL competition and be a group that our partners, members and the Illawarra community can be proud of. We are thrilled with the quality of athletes and people we have assembled.”  

Clark will join backcourt duo Tyler Harvey and Justin Robinson in Illawarra’s import slots. Sam Froling, Dan Grida, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, Mason Peatling, Lachlan Olbrich and Will Hickey are the side’s current rostered local players, while Harry Morris and Biwali Bayles are signed to development player contracts.