EUROPEAN RETURN
NATE’S OFF TO FRANCE:
NATE Jawai has not plied his trade in Europe for almost five years and says he heads to France with a point to prove that he can still compete at a high level.
Jawai signed with French side Levallois Metropolitans, a club that is based in LevalloisPerret, yesterday morning just hours after his NBL commitments with Cairns wrapped up for the 2018-19 season.
“I have played in Europe a fair bit, in different competitions when I was there, and I want to go back and make a statement,” Jawai said. “Anywhere you go, you want to do that.
“I loved my time in Europe before and it is new for me now – I have never played in France before.”
WITH a young daughter in Cairns and another child on the way, centre Nate Jawai cannot just up and leave home like he could have a decade ago.
That is why the 32-year-old former NBA centre thought long and hard about taking up a short-term contract in Europe after the NBL season.
But, after his best season – in terms of statistics and consistency – in some years, an offer from France was too good to refuse.
Jawai signed with French side Levallois Metropolitans, a club that is based in LevalloisPerret, yesterday morning, just hours after his NBL commitments with Cairns wrapped up for the 2018-19 season.
The Bamaga product has played in many European nations, but never France, and he is excited about returning to the continent to play there for the first time in almost five years.
“It is tough – I am not young anymore, I have my daughter and another one on the way,” Jawai said.
“I sat down and thought about it; it is only a short stint that I will go over for, I go there and be back to Australia before the new baby is born.
“That is one of the reasons I have done that and I am excited to get over there. It is a new opportunity for me to go over and show I can still play.
“I felt I had a good season here. We did not win, but I felt good about myself and how I played.”
In his younger days, Jawai was on the books of some of the European powerhouses, Barcelona and Galatasaray to name two, and despite now being on the wrong side of 30, wants to return to show he can still mix it with the best.
“I have played in Europe a fair bit, in different competitions when I was there, and I want to go back and make a statement,” Jawai said.
“Anywhere you go, you want to do that.
“I loved my time in Europe before and it is new for me now – I have never played in France before.”
Jawai is out of contract with the Snakes but said talks were positive about coming back in season 2019-20.
Rookie Cairns coach Mike Kelly said earlier this month he was keen to bring Jawai back for another season.