'JaVale Froling' drop 39 points on 17-from-21 the field

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Two men, one position: 39 points; 11 rebounds; one assist; a steal; and two blocks in 39 minutes is "something we’ve been trying to execute all year", Illawarra head coach Justin Tatum revealed after the Hawks secured an absolute NBL26 must-win 101-91 win against Tasmania in Hobart on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

Three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee had 23 on 9-from-10 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line in 22 minutes while Sam Froling came off the bench, scored 16 points in just under 17 minutes on 8-from-11. The elite bigs were a combined 17-from-21 from the field combined against a decimated JackJumpers frontline.

"I’m happy for JaVale and Sam," Tatum said.

"It was 22 or 23 minutes from JaVale and 16 minutes from Sam, and we got 38 or 39 points between the both of them.

"That’s something we’ve been trying to execute all year, especially when Sam got healthy.

"We envisioned that being part of our situation going forward, so I tip my hat off to both of them."

Tatum tag-teamed McGee and Froling instead of playing them together and the Hawks advantage in the paint was obvious without injured Tasmanian Australian Boomer Will Magnay.

"It can go game by game, but we’re trying to find a consistent rhythm for both of them to be effective on the floor," Tatum revealed.

"Tonight, we saw some things where we could yin and yang them a little bit, making sure our four men and guards still find ways to filter them the ball.

"That can make them more effective than having both out there at the same time.

"We’ll never throw away the option of playing them together, but right now we had a lot of success with what we worked on in practice this week, with one big in and one big out.

Hawks import guard QJ Peterson, back after missing the last game in Perth, said McGee and Froling gave him better scoring opportunities.

"It’s amazing," Peterson.

"They make my job a lot easier. They provide a lot of open shots with screens, and when they’re open, we have to get them the ball.

"We saw what happens when we feed them. Sam went 8-for-11 and Gee went 9-for-10, so we just have to keep working on that chemistry and keep building."

It was the only perfect union at MyState Bank Arena. A newly-wed, very newly-wed couple watched the game with the lucky bride still in her wedding dress.

The Hawks got the game they had to have, are now 9-16 with three games in hand, chasing the JackJumpers at 12-16.

Tatum said his ball club was ready for the challenge of a tight schedule during the next week.

"Especially because we’re pretty much healthy, which is something we haven’t really seen all year," he said.

"I love the confidence in the locker room, I love how guys are getting after each other in practice, and I love that they understand we still have a shot to be a top six team. It’s all positive vibes and belief, and we just want to build off that every day.

"We don’t get overly hyped about (Brisbane on Monday, January 26, 2026).

"We’re excited about the positives, but we don’t forget what our journey is. We have a game on Monday, then Thursday, then next Saturday.

"It’s one game at a time. We don’t want to go into Brisbane feeling overconfident. We just want to build momentum."

Key Details

• Round: 18
• Result: Illawarra Hawks 101 def. Tasmania JackJumpers 91
• When: 24th of January 2026
• Where: MyState Bank Arena, Tasmania
• Attendance: 4,340
• Standings

By the Numbers

• JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks) starred with 23 points, eight rebounds, one assist, two steals, and two blocks in 22 minutes.
• Josh Bannan (Tasmania JackJumpers) led the JackJumpers with 26 points and eight rebounds in 34 minutes.

What Happened

The contest opened with both teams trading baskets and momentum, illustrated by twenty-four lead changes throughout the night. Tasmania edged the first quarter 26-27, but Illawarra exploded in the second period, outscoring the JackJumpers 33-22. That 11-point swing established a 60-48 Hawks lead at the half, setting the tone for the remainder of the game.

Illawarra’s offensive rhythm was fuelled by JaVale McGee’s outstanding ability inside the paint. McGee went 9-from-10 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 at the charity stripe, anchoring a Hawks attack that shot an impressive 56.7% from the field. The Hawks’ largest lead ballooned to 15 during a third quarter run.

Hawks utility Daniel Grida was flawless, scoring 12 points on perfect 6-from-6 shooting, while William "Davo" Hickey contributed fifteen points and six assists.

Statistically, Illawarra’s efficiency was decisive. The Hawks shot a stellar 56.7% from the field and 24% from deep, while Tasmania struggled from outside, converting just 27.3% of their 33 attempts. The Hawks controlled the glass with 43 rebounds to Tasmania’s forty, and their ball movement led to 27 assists. Despite committing 10 turnovers, Illawarra’s ability to capitalise on Tasmania’s six turnovers and limit second-chance points proved crucial.

Tasmania’s efforts were highlighted by Bannan’s efficient 12-from-22 shooting and Johnson’s all-round game (21 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals). However, the JackJumpers’ inability to consistently connect from outside and their struggles to contain Illawarra’s interior scoring left them chasing the game.