Nathan Jawai
| Position | Power forward / Center |
|---|---|
| Height | 208 cm (6 ft 10 in) |
| Weight | 127 kg (280 lb) |
| League | PBL Euroleague VTB United League |
| Team | UNICS Kazan |
| Number | 32 |
| Born | 10 October 1986 Sydney, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| College | Midland College |
| Draft | 2nd round, 41st overall, 2008 Indiana Pacers |
| Pro career | 2007–present |
| Career history | Cairns Taipans (2007–08) Toronto Raptors (2008–09) Idaho Stampede (2009) Minnesota Timberwolves (2009–10) Sioux Falls Skyforce (2010) KK Partizan (2010–11) |
| Awards | NBL All-Star Game (2007–08) NBL All-Star Game MVP (2007–08) NBL Rookie of the Year (2007–08) All-NBL Second Team (2007–08) |
Nathan Jawai (born 10 October 1986 in Sydney, Australia) is an Indigenous Australian professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Russian team UNICS Kazan.
Contents |
[edit] Pro career
In the 2007–08 NBL season, Jawai averaged 17.26 points per game, 9.39 rebounds per game and 1 block per game in 30 minutes and shot 57% from the field, making him second in the league. His NBL career-high for points is 28, rebounds 18, and blocks is 3. He was drafted 41st overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers; however, his rights were traded to the Toronto Raptors in a deal that also brought Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto for T. J. Ford, Rasho Nesterović, Maceo Baston, and the Raptors' 17th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft who turned out to be Roy Hibbert.[1][2]
Soon after the trade the Raptors announced they had signed Jawai to a two-year deal on 11 July 2008.[1]
Nicknamed the "Aussie Shaq", "Outback Shaq", and "Baby Shaq" due to his resemblance to Shaquille O'Neal,[3] Jawai claims to not like the nicknames or comparisons to O'Neal.[4] He is also nicknamed by Toronto commentators 'Big Nate'.[5]
On 17 December 2008, Jawai was cleared to resume training after enduring a worrisome period in which he was not allowed to undergo physical activity. Jawai was required to 'rest', due to a routine pre-season test, revealing a cardiac abnormality.[6]
On 21 January 2009, Jawai made his NBA debut against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills.[7]
On 26 February 2009, Jawai was assigned by the Toronto Raptors to the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League.[8] In his first start (his second game), he registered 12 points, 5 rebounds and a team-high 3 blocks in a 104–96 Idaho win over Utah Flash.[9] Jawai was recalled from the D-League on 23 March 2009.[10]
On 9 July 2009, Nathan Jawai was traded to the Dallas Mavericks as a part of the four-team deal among Raptors, Mavericks, Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies.[11] Later that year, on 20 October 2009, Jawai was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a conditional second-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.[12]
On 8 November 2009, Jawai played arguably the best game of his NBA career, scoring a team-high 16 points and grabbing six rebounds in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers.[13]
On 19 February 2010, Jawai was sent to the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA D-League for a short stint.[14] He was recalled on 21 February 2010,[15] and sent back on 31 March 2010.[16]
On 18 August 2010, Jawai signed a one-year contract to ex-European champions KK Partizan from Belgrade, Serbia.[17]
In June 2011 he signed with UNICS Kazan in Russia.[18]
[edit] NBA career statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
[edit] Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–09 | Toronto | 6 | 0 | 3.2 | .250 | .000 | .000 | .3 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .3 |
| 2009–10 | Minnesota | 39 | 2 | 10.6 | .441 | .000 | .684 | 2.7 | .6 | .3 | .2 | 3.2 |
| Career | 45 | 2 | 9.6 | .435 | .000 | .684 | 2.4 | .5 | .2 | .2 | 2.8 |
[edit] References
- ^ a b Australian league rookie of year Jawai signs with Raptors
- ^ Pacers, Raptors complete trade sending O'Neal to Toronto
- ^ Aussie basketball has a new star
- ^ Talking With Nathan Jawai
- ^ Nathan Jawai vs Kings
- ^ Raptors' Jawai finally cleared to begin NBA career
- ^ Toronto Raptors vs. Detroit Pistons - Play By Play
- ^ Raptors Assign Jawai To Idaho Stampede
- ^ NBA Development League: Flash at Stampede
- ^ Raptors recall Nathan Jawai from D-League
- ^ MAVERICKS ACQUIRE FOUR-TIME ALL-STAR SHAWN MARION
- ^ Wolves Acquire Nathan Jawai from Dallas
- ^ Jawai leads charge for NBA side
- ^ Wolves send Jawai to D-league for weekend stint
- ^ Wolves Recall Nathan Jawai From Sioux Falls Skyforce
- ^ Jawai Re-Assigned To D-League
- ^ Partizan adds size with Jawai
- ^ UNICS goes big with Jawai
[edit] External links
- Euroleague.net Profile
- NBA.com : Nathan Jawai Info Page
- Nathan Jawai in Cairns - Cairns Photo Galleries
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Joe Ingles |
NBL Rookie of the Year 2008 |
Succeeded by Aaron Bruce |
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- 1986 births
- Living people
- Australian Institute of Sport alumni
- Australian basketball players
- Australian expatriate basketball people in the United States
- Cairns Taipans players
- Centers (basketball)
- Idaho Stampede players
- Indiana Pacers draft picks
- Indigenous Australian sportspeople
- Junior college men's basketball players in the United States
- KK Partizan players
- Minnesota Timberwolves players
- Sportspeople from Sydney
- Power forwards (basketball)
- Sioux Falls Skyforce players
- Toronto Raptors players