Nate plays the generations game
Just as he looked up to Indigenous players Michael Ah Matt and Danny Morseu, Bamaga centre Nate Jawai now finds himself as a role model for the next generation. He is in the squad tonight for the national Indigenous team against the Kingdom of Hawaii, a curtain raiser to the Boomers and USA clash in Melbourne.
WHEN they were growing up, “Uncle Danny” and “Mr Ah Matt” were the idols and role models.
The next generation coming through now will be talking about “Uncle Nate” and “Mr Mills” as the trailblazing Indigenous basketballers creating a new path.
Bamaga centre Nate Jawai grew up idolising indigenous guard Michael Ah Matt, who played for Australia at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and Danny Morseu, a Torres Strait Islander, who did the same at the 1980 and ’84 Games.
But, as Jawai points out – those two were playing basketball with their mates at a local court or a backyard, not curtain-raisers to the NBA Dream Team, who are worth billions of dollars.
It is not just Jawai and NBA champion Patty Mills paving the way, it is Cairns’ Joel Khalu, Australian Indigenous Basketball chief executive officer and coach of the men’s national side, as well as former NBL guard Tyson Demos.
“Knowing me and Patty and the Indigenous programs that are here now, there are only going to be more kids that will be inspired by us,” Jawai said ahead of tonight’s historic game.
“Uncle Danny was the only indigenous person that I knew of that played for Australia at that age, I was young and he inspired me to take up basketball. He came to see me in Bamaga and he was inspiration from there on.
“Basketball is my life, I really want to give back to the sport and the community and my people like it gave to me.
“It is going to be my role to share my stories, inspire young kids to try and represent our Australia.”
Other codes are well ahead of hoops: NRL and the AFL have played Indigenous rounds for years, while the Wallabies now wear Indigenous jerseys at times.
The NBL is slowly getting there too, they may have an Indigenous round this coming season, pushed on by the Illawarra Hawks’ and Townsville Crocs’ work over the last decade.
“We are getting recognised now as athletes that have represented our country,” Jawai said. “This is a big-time event, to represent our country, sharing our culture against Kingdom of Hawaii.
“It will show people what our culture is all about, Torres Strait and Aboriginal culture.
“It is going to be a special day and I cannot wait to be a part of it.”
Jawai was named in the original squad for tonight’s game and will travel to Melbourne.
Far North basketballers Deba George and Tamuri Wigness are also in the squad, but Wigness is away with national junior team duties.