Yardbarker: Nathan Jawai

Chris Sheridan Knows What's Wrong with the Celtics

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:30:00 -0500

ESPN's Chris Sheridan has come up with six reasons the Celtics are playing like crap. Let's examine each point and see if he's right. Kevin Garnett is still hurting. Midway through overtime with Boston ahead 105-103, the Celtics ran an out-of-bounds play with one second left on the shot clock on which they threw an alley-oop lob to Garnett at the rim. The play was executed perfectly, but Garnett couldn't get up high enough for the stuff --&...

Media Row Report: Blazers 106 Timberwolves 78

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:58:08 -0500

More photos » by Don Ryan - AP Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden, right, "squats the john" -- hip new dunk slang! -- as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Al Jefferson watches in disgust during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. Oden scored 16 points and had three blocked shots as Portland beat the Timberwolves 106-78. (AP Photo/Don Ryan) Browse more photos...

The “Aussie Shaq” Lands In Minnesota

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:00:28 -0500

When Kevin Love went down with a hand injury this preseason, Minnesota’s frontcourt of Love and Al Jefferson was cut in half. That’s why it made complete sense for them to find a good, young and cheap replacement in the meantime. Enter Nathan Jawai. While GM David Kahn says that the trade was discussed well [...]

Mavs Trade Jawai to Minny

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:30:07 -0500

Dallas, in a cost-cutting move, shipped away Nathan Jawai: “The Mavericks liked Nathan Jawai, even while packing at least 280 pounds. But they didn’t like him enough to pay nearly $1.5 million to keep him. The Australian, considered a nice project for the future, was traded to Minnesota on Tuesday for a future second-round draft pick. It’s a distant future, too. In fact, it will be surprising if the Mavs ever see it. They’ll probably use it as a sweetener for a trade in the future. What...

Dallas trades Jawai

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:51:09 -0500

DSD Staff Report- The Dallas Mavericks have traded center Nathan Jawai to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a future second round pick. Jawai (6-10, 280) has played one game for the Mavericks this preseason. He had 2 points and 2 assists in 8 minutes vs. Detroit on Oct. 15. Jawai played layed briefly for Midland College in Texas [...]

Mavs trade Jawai to Minnesota

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:58:32 -0500

Mavs trade Jawai to Minnesota Mavericks trade Nathan Jawai to Minnesota for draft picks. Special thanks to "N41D" for the link.

Sources: Mavs send Nathan Jawai to T-Wolves for future pick

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:54:30 -0500

The Dallas Mavericks have agreed to trade center Nathan Jawai to Minnesota for a future second-round pick, according to team sources.

Raptors’ Newfound Depth Reason For Optimism

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:32:00 -0500

Unlike last season, when Jay Triano was forced to look down his bench and pick from fringe NBA players like Quincy Douby, Nathan Jawai, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Patrick O’Bryant, Roko Ukic and Jake Voshul, this coming season he’ll have a lot of options at his disposal. In fact, the team is loaded with so much depth it marks one of the few times in the history of the franchise where the team is 12-deep with backups at each position that can easily step in and start if the injury bug strikes.

One Maverick (maybe) is playing international ball this summer

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:11:20 -0500

Mark Cuban wouldn't let Dirk Nowitzki or J.J. Barea play with their national teams this summer, but he didn't say anything to stop Nathan Jawai from playing with Australia. Actually, Cuban has never said anything at all to Jawai, the young big man who was a throw-in from Toronto in the Shawn Marion deal. Jawai understands that just because he's property of the Mavs doesn't mean they plan on keeping him on the roster. "It's hard to have a guy on your roster that you...

NBA = National Basketball…Australia?

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:26:13 -0500

Although the NBA Draft is still a fair way off, there are already players who are being highlighted as potential draftees. Thousands of players go through the rigors of balancing school and sport to try and make it on the biggest stage in Basketball, but at the end of the day there are only 60 whose dreams become a reality. That being said, I am so proud that there are 3 Australians who have a strong chance of being drafted.

Firstly, Patrick Mills. At the time of writing, Patrick Mills is averaging 19.8 points in 31 minutes, not to mention a healthy 2.3 assists per game. The guard currently is a sophomore at St Marys, and to say he is integral in their team is an understatement. However, it was in the Olympics where Pat made a name for himself. Being the only NCAA player in the tournament, he held his own against the more experienced US team, scoring 20 points with 2 steals. So good was Mills, he received glowing reviews from Team USA, with Chris Paul having this to say about him:
"Man, he's fast. I read something that says he's faster than me. They're probably right. He can move." [Source]
If Patrick Mills keeps up his consistency then there is no reason why he can't be a solid first round pick. Draft Express currently have him ranked 15th in their mock draft.

Next up is AJ Ogilvy, playing for Vanderbilt. The sophomore is averaging over 15 points and 7 rebounds in 27 minutes. However, it was his rookie season where he really shined, with his outstanding skills making him a potential first round pick. AJ had a stellar Under 19 Championships and this was highlighted by his excellent field goal percentage. He plays with such passion and intensity that when under the ring he truly makes his position known. He is currently ranked 16th in Draft Express' mock draft.

Fans of NCAA basketball will probably know the previously mentioned players quite well, but there may be a third player still playing in the Australian NBL that might sneak into the second round, and that player is Joe Ingles. The small forward shot into calculations from his rookie season playing for the South Dragons. Although "Jingles" as he is often coined, could have opted to nominate for the last draft, he chose to try and improve his skills in the same league that Nathan Jawai got drafted from. Jingles did not see a lot of game time during the Olympics, but he played well and this could lead to him being a potential pick. He can do everything and has a great basketball mind with the ability to read plays well. He is projected at 24 on Draft Express' mock draft.

Australian basketball certainly has a bright future. With Andrew Bogut recently signing a lucrative long term deal with Milwaukee and Nathan Jawai about to start with Toronto, hopefully these three will become a welcome addition to an NBA team next season. Whilst the national league is in dire need of an overhaul, there are hundreds of Aussies at colleges all over America. The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has done a great job in educating and training these players to become professionals and is doing everything to ensure that their full potential is being realized.

Top Ten Things Heard at the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday Night

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:10:28 -0500

You got it all wrong! The A.C.C Crowd Wasn't Booing.. Ok, ok, Raptor fans are pissed. Chris Bosh has been horrible as of late, Bargnani has no confidence whatsoever, the Raptors are not closing out games and the biggest news today are the stories of the Toronto fans booing the Raps at Wednesday ...

Dec. 18/08 - Videos From Practice

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:23:05 -0500

Jawai turns out to be a big jelly filled sweetheart, and Bosh yaps for 8minutes.

Will Change of Scenery Rejuvenate JO?

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 01:40:56 -0500

A Daily Babble Production If the Raptors weren't in the Atlantic Division (and thus a viable option to challenge the green for the top spot), it would be difficult for me not to be highly excited about this team's new-look front-court. As is, I'll settle for filing myself under the classification of notably intrigued. The Raps of course went out and pulled the trigger on one of the summer's bigger trades a couple of months ago when they moved T.J. Ford, Rasho Ne...