'This is why they won': Hawks’ championship DNA

Illawarra Hawks' new point guard JaQuori McLaughlin is determined to do whatever it takes to help his team chase back-to-back titles in NBL26.

"I'm going to make winning plays and do what the team needs me to do on both ends of the floor," he told the Illawarra Mercury.

The 27-year-old may be new to the league, but he already has a strong connection with head coach Justin Tatum after playing under him in Indonesia with Pelita Jaya.

McLaughlin impressed Tatum enough during that stint to earn a trial with the Hawks at the CODE Sports NBL Blitz, where he seized his chance and secured a one-year deal.

"It was an easy decision for me to come here. I'm just grateful that JT wanted to bring me out here,” he said. "He believed in me, and I'm here ready to compete and win games.”

Although last season’s champions feature some fresh additions, they’ve retained a vital core of winners, including Tyler Harvey, Will Hickey and Wani Swaka-Lo-Buluk.

From his Blitz showing, McLaughlin’s game appears built to integrate smoothly and elevate the team’s drive for another championship.

He's likely to come off the bench, providing a dangerous one-two punch alongside Hickey.

"As soon as I got here, you could tell why [the Hawks] won the championship last year, just by the chemistry, how much togetherness there is with this team," McLaughlin said.

"It's big time coming into practice. Everyone's competing, going at each other and making each other better."

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