FORMER Cairns Taipan Nathan Jawai has played a starring role for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves in recent weeks, and here's the video to prove it.
Jawai was elevated to the starting five for the first time in his NBA career for a pair of games against Dallas and Memphis at the weekend.
Pictures: Nathan Jawai in Cairns
His performance has earned coach Kurt Rambis's praise.
"Nathan has impressed the coaching staff from day one," Rambis told NBA.com.
"He's very light on his feet, he can move well, he understands the game."
Jawai rates in NBA's best plays of the day
Rambis also spoke highly of Jawai's attititude.
"He's great, he's got a quick wit, very funny guy, light-hearted but he doesn't mind banging and being physical," Rambis said.
"I think everybody has seen the tremendous potential for a guy that can move that quickly, that has that big of a body, nice soft shot, can run the floor.
"He's just got to continue to work on his game, stamina, and conditioning."
The Jawai story:
- October 22: Traded to Timberwolves
- July 11: Traded to Mavericks
- July 2: Boomers star
- June 16: Future starts now
- June 8: Hoop Dreaming star
- May 26: Pumped to flex muscle
- February 20: First NBA points
- January 23: NBA debut
- 2008: Return to Cairns
- 2008: Bamaga to the big time
