# 2020–21 Illawarra Hawks season

The 2020–21 NBL season was the 43rd season for the Illawarra Hawks in the NBL, and their first under the leadership of their new head coach Brian Goorjian.

## Roster
### Signings

* The Illawarra Hawks retained five players due to them signing multiple season contracts, who were Angus Glover, Sam Froling, Todd Blanchfield, Emmett Naar and Sunday Dech.
* Following the rebranding of the club to The Hawks by the new owners, on 23 June Brian Goorjian was signed as the new head coach. Due to the club being liquidated, all remaining contracts were voided.
* On 15 July, Emmett Naar re-signed with The Hawks for a fourth season.
* On 16 July, Deng Deng returned to Australia on a one-year deal with The Hawks.
* On 21 July, Daniel Grida also re-signed with The Hawks.
* On 22 July, Sam Froling returned to The Hawks on a two-season deal.
* On 23 July, Deng Adel signed with The Hawks.
* On 24 July, Stanford University college guard Isaac White signed with the club.
* On 28 July, Tyler Harvey signed with The Hawks on a one-year deal.
* On 4 August, Cameron Bairstow returned from his short stint in Europe to sign with The Hawks.
* On 5 August, New Zealand teenager Max Darling signed with The Hawks.
* On 14 August, former NBA G League player Justin Simon signed with the club on a one-year deal.
* On 28 August, The Hawks signed Justinian Jessup to their Next Stars roster position. Jessup, who played college basketball for the Boise State Broncos, was signing his first professional contract.
* On 8 September, Andrew Ogilvy re-signed with The Hawks as an injury replacement for Grida.
* On 12 October, The Hawks announced that Akoldah Gak had signed a three-year contract with the club, with the first season as a development player.
* On 12 January, Lachlan Dent was signed as a development player.
* On 3 May, Adel and the Hawks mutually agreed to part ways due to ongoing injuries.
* On 11 May, Tim Coenraad came out of retirement to join the Hawks as an injury replacement for Cameron Bairstow.

### Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

## Pre-season
### Game log

2020 pre-season game log Total: 1–2 (home: 0–0; road: 1–2) :
December: 1–2 (home: 0–0; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
15 December
@ Perth
L 91–83
Justinian Jessup (24)
Deng Deng (7)
Adel, Harvey, Jessup, Naar (2)
RAC Arena not announced
0–1
2
17 December
@ Perth
W 74–82
Tyler Harvey (18)
Andrew Ogilvy (7)
Emmett Naar (5)
Bendat Basketball Centre not announced
1–1
3
20 December
@ Sydney
L 98–89
Justinian Jessup (21)
Deng Deng (9)
Tyler Harvey (4)
Qudos Bank Arena closed event
1–2 :

## Regular season
### Ladder

| Pos | 2020–21 NBL season vte | 2020–21 NBL season vte | 2020–21 NBL season vte | 2020–21 NBL season vte | 2020–21 NBL season vte | 2020–21 NBL season vte | 2020–21 NBL season vte | 2020–21 NBL season vte | 2020–21 NBL season vte | 2020–21 NBL season vte | 2020–21 NBL season vte | 2020–21 NBL season vte |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Last 5 | Streak | Home | Away | PF | PA | PP |
| 1 | Melbourne United | 36 | 28 | 8 | 77.78% | 4–1 | W3 | 14–4 | 14–4 | 3189 | 2956 | 107.88% |
| 2 | Perth Wildcats | 36 | 25 | 11 | 69.44% | 3–2 | L2 | 13–5 | 12–6 | 3133 | 2900 | 108.03% |
| 3 | Illawarra Hawks | 36 | 20 | 16 | 55.56% | 4–1 | L1 | 11–7 | 9–9 | 2962 | 2954 | 100.27% |
| 4 | S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | 36 | 19 | 17 | 52.78% | 2–3 | L1 | 9–9 | 10–8 | 3217 | 3124 | 102.98% |
| 5 | Sydney Kings | 36 | 19 | 17 | 52.78% | 4–1 | W3 | 11–7 | 8–10 | 3112 | 3087 | 100.81% |
| 6 | Brisbane Bullets | 36 | 18 | 18 | 50.00% | 4–1 | W1 | 9–9 | 9–9 | 3204 | 3274 | 97.86% |
| 7 | Adelaide 36ers | 36 | 13 | 23 | 36.11% | 0–5 | L7 | 10–8 | 3–15 | 2985 | 3156 | 94.58% |
| 8 | New Zealand Breakers | 36 | 12 | 24 | 33.33% | 2–3 | L1 | 8–10 | 4–14 | 2937 | 3021 | 97.22% |
| 9 | Cairns Taipans | 36 | 8 | 28 | 22.22% | 1–4 | L2 | 6–12 | 2–16 | 2940 | 3207 | 91.67% |
Updated to match(es) played on 9 June 2021. Source: NBL.com.au

### Ladder progression

* Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top four.
* Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
* Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.
2020–21 NBL season vte :
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | NBL Cup | NBL Cup | NBL Cup | NBL Cup | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| Adelaide 36ers | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Brisbane Bullets | 6 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Cairns Taipans | 4 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Illawarra Hawks | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Melbourne United | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| New Zealand Breakers | – | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Perth Wildcats | – | 2 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Sydney Kings | 5 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |

### Game log

2020–21 game log Total: 20–16 (home: 11–7; road: 9–9) :
January: 4–0 (home: 0–0; road: 4–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
16 January
@ Brisbane
W 84–90
Sam Froling (19)
Cameron Bairstow (9)
Justin Simon (5)
Nissan Arena 1,746
1–0
2
18 January
@ Cairns
W 76–92
Tyler Harvey (25)
Justin Simon (12)
Tyler Harvey (7)
Cairns Pop-Up Arena 1,808
2–0
3
21 January
@ Brisbane
W 82–90
Tyler Harvey (31)
Ogilvy, Simon (9)
Justinian Jessup (6)
Nissan Arena 1,591
3–0
4
28 January
@ Cairns
W 70–90
Tyler Harvey (21)
Froling, Ogilvy (8)
Justin Simon (4)
Cairns Pop-Up Arena 1,849
4–0 :
February: 1–2 (home: 0–1; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
5
7 February
@ South East Melbourne
L 98–82
Deng Adel (17)
Sam Froling (11)
Adel, Naar, Simon (3)
State Basketball Centre 2,175
4–1
6
10 February
Melbourne
L 88–91
Justinian Jessup (24)
Sam Froling (11)
Tyler Harvey (4)
WIN Entertainment Centre 3,459
4–2
7
14 February
@ Sydney
W 82–85
Tyler Harvey (25)
Cameron Bairstow (10)
Justinian Jessup (3)
Qudos Bank Arena 6,534
5–2 :
NBL Cup: 4–4 (home: 3–1; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
8
20 February
@ Cairns
L 101–95
Tyler Harvey (24)
Sam Froling (12)
Tyler Harvey (6)
John Cain Arena 3,711
5–3
9
22 February
New Zealand
W 102–88
Tyler Harvey (22)
Froling, Simon (6)
Tyler Harvey (4)
John Cain Arena 2,313
6–3
10
26 February
@ Brisbane
L 97–91
Justinian Jessup (26)
Cameron Bairstow (8)
Justin Simon (4)
John Cain Arena 809
6–4
11
28 February
@ South East Melbourne
L 93–76
Tyler Harvey (14)
Deng Adel (7)
Justinian Jessup (4)
John Cain Arena 3,195
6–5
12
4 March
Adelaide
W 98–89
Tyler Harvey (24)
Justin Simon (9)
Tyler Harvey (6)
State Basketball Centre 1,355
7–5
13
7 March
Perth
L 70–87
Tyler Harvey (17)
Justin Simon (7)
Justin Simon (3)
John Cain Arena 3,696
7–6
14
11 March
@ Sydney
W 69–89
Sam Froling (20)
Bairstow, Froling (6)
Tyler Harvey (4)
John Cain Arena 997
8–6
15
13 March
Melbourne
W 77–69
Tyler Harvey (23)
Adel, Harvey, Jessup (6)
Tyler Harvey (4)
John Cain Arena 4,183
9–6 :
March: 1–2 (home: 1–0; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
16
21 March
@ Melbourne
L 75–65
Justinian Jessup (13)
Sam Froling (11)
Adel, Harvey, Naar (2)
John Cain Arena 2,552
9–7
17
26 March
@ Perth
L 81–70
Justinian Jessup (15)
Tyler Harvey (8)
Adel, Naar, Ogilvy (2)
RAC Arena 10,216
9–8
18
29 March
Brisbane
W 96–72
Tyler Harvey (28)
Deng Adel (11)
Deng Adel (6)
WIN Entertainment Centre 2,521
10–8 :
April: 2–6 (home: 2–3; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
19
1 April
South East Melbourne
L 63–95
Justinian Jessup (21)
Sam Froling (11)
Harvey, Naar, Ogilvy, Simon 2
WIN Entertainment Centre 2,602
10–9
20
3 April
@ Adelaide
L 84–72
Justinian Jessup (17)
Sam Froling (12)
Froling, Naar, Simon (3)
Adelaide Entertainment Centre 5,686
10–10
21
7 April
Brisbane
L 82–88
Justinian Jessup (19)
Deng Deng (8)
Froling, Harvey 4
WIN Entertainment Centre 2,426
10–11
22
9 April
South East Melbourne
W 82–80
Justinian Jessup (26)
Deng Deng (7)
Tyler Harvey (4)
WIN Entertainment Centre 2,533
11–11
23
11 April
Cairns
W 82–80
Tyler Harvey (35)
Andrew Ogilvy (9)
Andrew Ogilvy (5)
WIN Entertainment Centre 3,064
12–11
24
16 April
@ Perth
L 83–69
Sam Froling (15)
Sam Froling (8)
Emmett Naar (4)
RAC Arena 11,485
12–12
25
18 April
@ Melbourne
L 87–76
Justinian Jessup (19)
Sam Froling (7)
Emmett Naar (4)
John Cain Arena 3,794
12–13
26
24 April
Sydney
L 75–79 (OT)
Sam Froling (22)
Sam Froling (12)
Emmett Naar (12)
WIN Entertainment Centre 3,724
12–14 :
May: 7–1 (home: 4–1; road: 3–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
27
3 May
@ New Zealand
W 67–75
Tyler Harvey (29)
Justin Simon (6)
Sam Froling (4)
Silverdome 1,097
13–14
28
11 May
Adelaide
W 71–66
Tyler Harvey (23)
Deng Deng (9)
Tyler Harvey (7)
WIN Entertainment Centre 2,036
14–14
29
15 May
New Zealand
W 73–71
Tyler Harvey (24)
Sam Froling (12)
Coenraad, Grida, Harvey, Jessup, Simon (1)
WIN Entertainment Centre 2,456
15–14
30
18 May
Melbourne
L 87–102
Deng Deng (15)
Deng Deng (8)
Harvey, Naar (4)
WIN Entertainment Centre 1,794
15–15
31
21 May
@ Adelaide
W 73–81
Sam Froling (19)
Deng, Froling (7)
Emmett Naar (7)
Adelaide Entertainment Centre 6,090
16–15
32
23 May
Cairns
W 93–81
Justinian Jessup (24)
Andrew Ogilvy (11)
Tyler Harvey (9)
WIN Entertainment Centre 2,258
17–15
33
28 May
@ New Zealand
W 73–84
Tyler Harvey (30)
Froling, Harvey, Simon (8)
Tyler Harvey (4)
Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre 1,100
18–15
34
30 May
Adelaide
W 97–83
Tyler Harvey (23)
Harvey, Ogilvy (6)
Harvey, Naar (5)
WIN Entertainment Centre 3,004
19–15 :
June: 1–1 (home: 1–1; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
35
1 June
Perth
W 81–79
Tyler Harvey (27)
Andrew Ogilvy (7)
Harvey, Ogilvy (3)
WIN Entertainment Centre 2,038
20–15
36
3 June
Sydney
L 73–79
Froling, Naar, White (12)
Sam Froling (7)
Emmett Naar (6)
WIN Entertainment Centre 3,217
20–16 :

## Postseason

2021 playoff game log Total: 1–2 (home: 0–1; road: 1–1) :
Semifinals: 1–2 (home: 0–1; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
10 June
@ Perth
W 72–74
Justinian Jessup (17)
Justin Simon (9)
Emmett Naar (5)
RAC Arena 7,662
1–0
2
12 June
Perth
L 71–79
Tyler Harvey (24)
Coenraad, Froling (5)
Justin Simon (5)
WIN Entertainment Centre 5,217
1–1
3
14 June
@ Perth
L 79–71
Sam Froling (14)
Justin Simon (11)
Justin Simon (4)
RAC Arena 8,986
1–2 :

## Awards
### Player of the Week

Round 1, Justin Simon
Round 5, Tyler Harvey
Round 13, Tyler Harvey
Round 20, Tyler Harvey