Australian Nathan Jawai’s historic road to NBA at crossroads, faces important summer

Australian Jawai hits fork in historic road to NBA

ORLANDO, Fla. — Ask Nathan Jawai about being the first indigenous Australian to be drafted into the NBA and his face lights up with pride.

Jawai also realizes that after a heart scare, weight trouble, three trades and little playing time over two seasons, he faces an important summer that will determine whether he sticks around.

Monday showed just how much work he has to do.

The 6-foot-10 center lumbered up and down the floor in 3 ineffective minutes in his summer league debut for the Charlotte Bobcats. Carrying at least 285 pounds, Jawai must get his pudgy body closer to how it looked when he was the rookie of the year in Australia’s NBL in 2008.

“Back then I was quicker, smaller. That’s what I’ve got to get back to right now,” Jawai said as he looked at his box score line of all zeros save for one foul and turnover. “I think I’d have more opportunities to stay here and be more effective.”

Jawai is a Torres Strait Islander, the name of an indigenous group from Queensland in northern Australia. It has a culture and customs distinct from Aboriginal peoples, the more well-known Australian indigenous group.

Despite his size, Jawai played rugby growing up and didn’t pick up a basketball until he was nearly 17 when his uncle introduced him to the game. He quickly excelled, and starred with the Cairns Taipans in 2007-08.

He made history when Indiana selected him 41st overall in the 2008 draft.

“It means a lot, not only for myself, but my country, my culture,” Jawai said. “For kids coming behind us, the next generation, it means a lot to be the first indigenous to play here.”

But Jawai’s career was suddenly put in jeopardy after the Pacers quickly sent him to Toronto in the Jermaine O’Neal trade. Jawai thought he could contribute for the Raptors when a routine physical showed he had an enlarged heart.

Jawai not only couldn’t play basketball, he wasn’t allowed to do any activity that got his heart rate above 100 beats a minute. Jawai’s weight soared as he sat idle for nearly the entire rookie season until numerous tests determined he had no serious ailment.

“That set me back,” Jawai said. “I was all ready to go.”

After playing in just six games in the 2008-09 season, Jawai was sent to Dallas in a four-team deal that included Jerry Stackhouse and Shawn Marion. When he realized he likely wouldn’t get playing time with the Mavericks, he asked to be traded again, and was sent to Minnesota in October for a second-round pick.

Jawai lost some weight and played in 39 games last season, averaging 3.2 points and 2.7 rebounds. But his playing time slowly declined.

“I kind of got an opportunity and then Darko Milicic came in,” he said. “I think they wanted to convince him to stay.”

Jawai injured his right foot near the end of the season, and he gained more weight. Jawai has been trying to shed the pounds this summer, playing for the Australian national team last month in a three-game series with Argentina.

It allowed Jawai to spend time with Patty Mills, the Portland guard who became the second indigenous Australian to be drafted in the NBA in 2009.

“Both us that carry that really proudly,” Jawai said. “Every time we see each other we always talk about it.”

The Bobcats were one of several teams to show some interest in Jawai. Charlotte has open roster spots, but a logjam of big men.

“He’s got great hands. He runs pretty well for a guy that’s 6-10, 285 pounds, maybe a little more right now looking at him,” said Charlotte assistant Dave Hanners, coach of the summer team. “But he has to be more aggressive and more assertive on every play.

“Maybe that’s hard for him at his size. But he can’t just disappear. I think for long periods of time he’s just on the court and he doesn’t do anything special.”

That was the case in Charlotte’s 85-83 victory over Utah on Monday. Jawai is hoping to get more playing time as the week goes by, and is trying to catch on with another summer league team in Las Vegas. He also has a shot to make the Australian national team that will compete in this summer’s world championships.

“I want to be a role model as well for (indigenous) kids,” Jawai said. “There’s pressure, but if it doesn’t work out here I can always go somewhere else and play. It means a lot to be here. I’m at this level, but I haven’t reached my full potential yet.”