How Hawks Swooped the Opposition

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc has revealed new Illawarra signing Gary Clark was a wanted man ahead of NBL24.

With the signing of import forward Gary Clark, the Illawarra has all but completed its roster. As it stands, the Hawks only have one spot left ahead of NBL24.

Clark will take to the NBL floor as one of the most experienced NBA heads the competition has to offer. The 28-year-old played over 170 games during stints with Houston, New Orleans, Orlando, Denver and Philadelphia.

He also won a G-League title with new Sydney coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah in 2019, and played for Mexican side Capitanes de Ciudad de Mexico in the G-League last season.

“He’s someone that when the signing was announced I got calls and texts from a bunch of NBL teams saying ‘how did the Hawks get him? He’s someone we wanted’,” ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc said of Clark on The Marketplace

“The Illawarra Hawks really wanted DJ Hogg. They were one of those teams that were really in on him.

“Gary Clark brings a similar skillset with more NBA experience … he’s someone who was sought after from across the league.

“He’s a really talented, experienced, proven guy who slots seamlessly into the four spot for them.”

With Clark now on board for the upcoming season, Illawarra’s import trio to open the new campaign now consists of their newest signing, and the returning Tyler Harvey and Justin Robinson.

Injury saw the Hawks utilise four different imports alongside Harvey last season. Robinson suffered a knee injury in an impressive opening game against the Kings, while an ankle injury ended former player George King’s season early. Shoulder and wrist injuries ended the seasons of the pair’s replacements – Peyton Siva and Michael Frazier II.

“You look at Illawarra’s imports – Justin Robinson, Tyler Harvey and now Gary Clark, it’s going to be difficult to find a better import trio than those three,” Uluc said.

“The Hawks now have one more local spot to fill – I’m told they have effectively filled that already – and so the Hawks will go to Summer League, but they’re done.

“They’re one of those teams I think could rebound as hard as anyone and crack that top four.”

Illawarra’s opening game of NBL24 will come against local rivals Sydney on Saturday, September 30.