Jawai at NBA career crossroads
NATHAN Jawai's NBA future is no clearer after he failed to make an impression when sent back to development league club Sioux Falls over the weekend.
Jawai’s Minnesota Timberwolves sent the 23-year-old Bamaga product back to their D-League affiliate for a pair of games against the Dakota Wizards at the weekend to help evaluate his fitness and future.
Pictures: Nathan Jawai in Cairns
His Sioux Falls Skyforce won both games – a 119-118 overtime win on Saturday and yesterday’s 110-102 victory – but Jawai managed a total of just 12 points and six rebounds over the two matches.
Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn expected Jawai to gain significant minutes in each match and sent his vice-president, Fred Hoiberg, to watch both games.
"This will provide an opportunity for Nate to play 30 minutes per game on back-to-back nights and be the focal point of an offense," Kahn said when the move was announced. "It will help us and Nate evaluate where he is with his conditioning and long-term potential in the NBA.
"We expect to have Nate rejoin us after the weekend."
Jawai had little time to prepare for the move, with the allocation made official less than eight hours before the first game.
He managed almost 30 minutes but was replaced for the overtime period by Raymond Sykes, who won the game with a buzzer-beating overtime tip-in. Jawai had just over 19 minutes yesterday, finishing with six points on two-of-five shooting from the field and three rebounds as well as four fouls and three turnovers.
"I understand they want to win down here and I’m just here to help the team," Jawai told The Argus Leader. "Whether it’s for two or 30 minutes, I’m going to try my best."
Jawai is off contract this year and the rebuilding Wolves are assessing him for the future.
"It’s a great opportunity for him," Hoiberg told The Leader of Jawai’s deployment. "He’s really strong. He’s a good player on the low block."
Jawai has played 36 games for the Timberwolves this season and is averaging 3.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and just under 11 minutes per game.
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Nathan Jawai
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