Nate Jawai to Depart Taipans

Veteran Nate Jawai won’t return to the Cairns Taipans for the 2022/2023 Hungry Jack’s NBL Season, coach Adam Forde has confirmed.

The 35-year-old has played the last seven seasons with the Taipans, following a stint at the Perth Wildcats during their championship season in 2015/2016.

“It won’t be Jawai,” Forde said in the Cairns Post, when asked about the club’s final remaining roster spot.

“We’ll probably be looking for another ball handler, so it will be an import point (guard) and a backup point.”

Jawai struggled with injury during his final year in Cairns, but has had a big impact both on and off the court during a long and successful career.

He was the NBL’s Rookie of the Year in 2008, while claiming the NBL All Star Game MVP.

The 209-centimetre Centre became the first Indigenous player to be drafted in the NBA, taken with the 41st pick at the ‘08 Draft.

He played in Serbia, Russia, Spain and Turkey, before returning to the NBL in 2015.