IT was "Jawai day" throughout the Far North yesterday as family and friends celebrated Taipans' star Nathan Jawai being drafted into the US National Basketball Association.

As father Ron and brother Mark marked their birthdays in Cairns, family had cause for greater celebration when Nathan was picked up at No.41 in the draft by the Indiana Pacers in a deal that is likely to send him to the Toronto Raptors.

The assembled clan, including parents Lyn and Ron, brothers Mark and Chris and sister Moanna, arranged days off work and kids were allowed to miss school as family and friends gathered to watch the draft.

"We sort of made it a Jawai day," Nathan's mother Lyn told The Weekend Post.

"We're really proud of him. This is his dream."

Tiny Bamaga on the tip of Cape York was also celebrating last night with phones buzzing and car horns beeping throughout town as word of Nathan’s achievement leaked out.

Nathan's sister Sonia Townson said Nathan had "put Bamaga on the map".

Nathan's uncle Danny Morseu - the first Torres Strait Islander to play for Australia and a member of the NBL Hall of Fame - was ecstatic at the outcome.

"I'm just so happy that things panned out for him," he said.

Mr Morseu convinced Jawai to take up basketball as a teenager, saying he would support him and help open doors in the sport.

"Who would think a kid from Cape York where (there's) alcohol and drugs and all sorts of problems … has managed to get out of there and on his way," Mr Morseu said.

Aunt Mary Ann Jawai said she was on cloud nine and the phone was running hot.

"I'd like to jump over the moon," she said.

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