Jawai eyes fitness for shot
BAMAGA behemoth Nathan Jawai is edging ever closer to his NBA dream, hoping to make his debut in the top basketball competition in the world by the end of the month.
Jawai, who travels with the Toronto Raptors despite not yet being cleared to play, said he was quickly approaching fitness.
"The workouts are going great and I’m getting into shape quicker than I expected," he said from Milwaukee where the Raptors lost 107-97 to the Bucks on Tuesday.
Jawai was cleared to start training almost three weeks ago after being forced out of workouts in September when pre-season cardiac testing picked up an abnormality.
Mentor Aaron Fearne thought the 22-year-old would take about a month to regain full fitness, something he has had to try to do on the run with few formal full-team training sessions programmed during the packed NBA schedule.
"Probably it’s the end of the month but who knows?" Jawai said of his NBA debut.
"I haven’t been doing anything for three months.
"I’m probably over-doing it a bit but I can’t help myself. I’m too excited that I’m back."
But Toronto Star basketball reporter Doug Smith, in his Raptors blog, responded to a reader’s question on Jawai’s fitness, saying the former Taipan may not even play this season.
"He’s still at least a couple of weeks away from being in top shape and, I’d guess, months away from being able to actually play in a game," Smith said on his blog site.
"He is, after all, a 22-year-old rookie who’s played a grand total of about 30 games in Australia as a pro. To think he'd do anything this season is a stretch and, with what they’re getting out of Jake Voskuhl, they can afford to wait on Nate til next year."
Centre Voskuhl signed with the Raptors last month to add depth to the team with Jawai, among others, out of action. Smith, who travels with the Raptors covering the round for the Star, said Jawai looked "raw".
"He’s working out every day, and practising full out when the team gets a chance to practise which hasn't been very often over the last month or so," he said.
"How’s he look? From what I’ve seen? Raw. Fluid but raw."
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Moral support: Former Taipan Nathan Jawai (left) joins Toronto Raptors teammates Chris Bosh (centre) and Will Solomon on the bench.
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