Hickey Takes the Starting Role for the Hawks

Photo by Marius Christensen on Unsplash

The Illawarra Hawks might have lost an All-NBL First Teamer in Trey Kell III over the off-season, but head coach Justin Tatum says there was never any question about the replacement. Will Hickey, who has just returned to the Boomers after a successful FIBA Asia Cup and a starring performance in the Championship Series, has been given the keys. It is a step that rewards consistency, form under pressure, and the kind of development that identifies a player as one who is ready to assume more responsibility at the highest level.

The discussion of the promotion of Hickey is not simply about the vacant position. Fans would like to watch the team develop and remain involved outside the box score. Betting, for instance, is one of the ways fans maintain that relationship. Several operators provide fans with the opportunity to access a wider range of markets based on player statistics and team performance. To Hawks fans, the fact that Hickey is now a starting player is a bonus, since now the game can be played differently on both sides of the court with Hickey on the court.

Tatum clarified the decision by telling ESPN reporter Olgun Uluc, Davo is his starting point guard. He deserved it, he earned it, it is his place, at this point, to be the head of the team. Tyler Harvey, who has played alongside Hickey in the backcourt, echoed that confidence and has witnessed the transformation firsthand. His development as a player since the first day, he believes Davo will be there, and there is no one he would rather go to war with than Davo.

Hickey has had a stable yet noisy ride with the Hawks. He appeared in all 37 games of the NBL26 season with an average of 10.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. Those figures increased as the stage required more: 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists per game in the Finals. It was topped off with Championship Series MVP awards, which were given to him by Matthew Dellavedova following the historic win of Illawarra. That sort of performance is a career-defining moment for a player who is still establishing his reputation.

What is even more compelling about the rise of Hickey is that it has not been achieved by circumstance alone. His performance in the FIBA Asia Cup demonstrated that he was capable of carrying his domestic performance to the international arena. That tournament sharpened confidence, decision-making, and composure under pressure. By the time he came back to the Hawks, it was not so much whether he could replace Kell but how soon the team would adapt to his leadership.

Tatum and the coaching staff have made it clear that imports entering will have to fit around the core already in place. JaQuori McLaughlin is poised to be the third import to Illawarra following a spectacular performance at the NBL Blitz, but the coaching staff has emphasized that the starting position of Hickey is not negotiable. We are rolling with Davo regardless. He was the MVP of the finals, man. Tatum said that any new signing must be able to complement Hickey, Harvey, and JaVale McGee, and not compete with them in terms of minutes.

In the case of Hickey, the religion of the coach and teammates is a product of years of gradual development. Harvey cited how Hickey competed in practice when he was not in the rotation, citing it as a part of a four-year foundation. Such an attitude, supported by performance on the largest stage, makes his appointment not only rational but a necessity to a team that wants to remain competitive.

The title victory of Illawarra last season was not constructed on a single or two stars but on balance, chemistry, and readiness to rise to the occasion. The rise of Hickey as a reliable player in regular-season basketball and in the finals is a perfect fit in that model. He is not being requested to redefine the identity of the team, just to cement it with his own flavor, one that is tough, has a vision of the game, and is ready to accept responsibility when the game calls upon him to do so.