Tatum Finals-focused, but offers loom

Thursday, February 22, 2024

"I feel like it’s going to get done, but it’s leaving the window open for other teams to throw their bid in."

Illawarra Hawks interim coach Justin Tatum has revealed other teams around the NBL are interested in his services, should a deal with his current employers fail to be reached.

Tatum was named as the runner-up in the NBL24 Coach of the Year race, following the Hawks’ dramatic turnaround under his watch. He led the side to 12 wins in 19 games to lift them from the bottom of the ladder to a fourth-place finish.

Tatum revealed talks are “ongoing” with the Hawks at the NBL’s Finals launch, but told Crosscourt he is yet to see anything come across his table from the club.

“I haven’t seen anything come to my table,” he said. “I feel like it’s going to get done, but it’s leaving the window open for other teams to throw their bid in, which I’m not going to stop them from doing.

“They (the Hawks) know I want to focus on the Playoffs and get it done, but they also know I want to have a job before I go back home (to the United States).”

Illawarra will take on the Tasmania JackJumpers in the Seeding Qualifier at 5:30pm AEDT on Wednesday, February 28, live on ESPN via Kayo.

Read the full story here >> Illawarra Hawks in danger of losing coach Justin Tatum as rival clubs loom