Tatum wants to keep champs together

As the celebrations continue for the Illawarra Hawks, coach Justin Tatum is keen to keep the core of his championship winning group together next season.

The Hawks snapped a 24-year title drought last Sunday by defeating Melbourne United in Game 5 of the Championship Series, but attention will quickly turn to the roster construction for next season and some big decisions to be made.

Illawarra superstars Trey Kell III and Sam Froling, who will miss a chunk of next season with an Achilles injury, are both free agents, with Tatum hopeful the NBL26 Hawks look as close to possible as their championship roster. 

"As an admin, we've been talking to the staff to say that's what (keep the group together) we want. But you always have to have a plan B, C and D," Tatum said via the Illawarra Mercury.

"But plan A is for this group to reunite, to do our best to keep the core and everybody together.

"These guys love each other outside basketball. That's so important. Otherwise, we would not have won anything if those guys really didn't believe and trust each other outside basketball."

Free agency begins on April 4.

Read more here >> The Hawks' plans can wait, celebrating a title 24 years in the making comes first