Why Hawks need Kell III to beat United

Thursday, March 20, 2025

"He’s their best all-round player. He can get you 25 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds.".

Any All-NBL First Team member is going to be hard to replace, and Damon Lowery believes Illawarra could be in a world of hurt if Trey Kell III doesn’t play on Wednesday night.

Both the Hawks and Melbourne United are sweating on the fitness of their respective stars, Kell III and Shea Ili, but Lowery says the availability of the former may prove the difference between the two teams.

“If he doesn’t play, yes it’s possible for the Hawks to win, but the odds are so stacked against winning without him,” the 2001 NBL champion said on NBL Now.

Kell III is considered a day-to-day prospect after copping a knock and leaving the game on Sunday with what looked to be a knee injury.

“Trey Kell might not be 100 per cent, 50 per cent, 25 per cent ... if you’re a Hawks supporter, you want whatever he’s got, provided there’s nothing structural.

“He’s their best all-round player. He can get you 25 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, he’s that kind of a player when he’s up and about.

“If they don’t have that, now you need somebody like Tyler Harvey, something like Hyunjung Lee, they’re going to have to make up the difference. Right now, they’re offensively challenged.”

Lowery said the Hawks wouldn’t risk any further damage to their star man, but expected Kell III would be desperate to play, even if he’s not quite 100 per cent.

“I would like to see Trey Kell walk up to Justin Tatum and say ‘I’m good, any doctors, any physicians, just get away from me, I’ll talk to you after the game’,” Lowery added.

“You’ve got to let everyone know in that locker room, ‘I’m ready for war’.

“It’s got to be a steely resolve, no excuses ... ‘I’m good to go, I’m starting’.”

Kell III has averaged 15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists throughout the Finals Series, and was hugely influential in the Hawks’ Game 2 win in Melbourne.

Ili was sidelined for Game 3 with concussion symptoms, but could make his return for what looms as a potential Championship decider.

Watch Game 4 live on ESPN, 10 Bold and 10 Play from 7.30pm AEDT on Wednesday night.