Why Gak Move "Makes a Ton of Sense"

Over the past two seasons Adam Forde has set himself up as a player development mastermind in the NBL landscape.

The likes of Bul Kuol, Keanu Pinder, Sam Waardenburg and Lat Mayen have all benefitted from the opportunities afforded to them by the reigning NBL Coach of the Year, and he helped lay the foundation for the likes of Xavier Cooks and DJ Vasiljevic to thrive during his time in Sydney.

Forde has been handed another exciting player project for NBL24, with the talented Akoldah Gak heading north from Illawarra on a two-year deal.

“This signing made a ton of sense for both parties,” ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc said on The Marketplace.

“Going into the Hawks he was considered a major prospect, and so the expectation was by year two or three he could develop to a point where he could give significant minutes, but that development was never there.

“Now he goes somewhere like the Cairns Taipans, somewhere he should have an opportunity to play under a coach like Adam Forde who is known for his player development.

“If any team made sense for someone like Akoldah Gak who needed that development and those minutes, the Cairns Taipans are that team.”

Over the course of his three seasons at the Hawks Gak appeared in just 25 games.

He played just 12 times in NBL21 and NBL22 combined – when the Hawks were competing for a spot in the Championship Series – and made 13 appearances in NBL23 where he averaged one point and 1.3 rebounds per game.

The 21-year-old also represented Australia at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in 2021 and played for the Chicago Bulls in last year’s NBA Summer League.