Saturday June 28 2008 - 12:15pm Eastern
So, as I mentioned in a quick blog last night, I had a chance to meet Nathan Jawai.
I was coming home from dinner with my wife … just walking the streets … and I ran into the big man. Jawai had just flown in from New York, and he was wandering around town.
So I introduced myself and stood there on the street having a chat for 5-10 minutes.
The first thing that struck me - besides how nice and polite the guy was - was the fact that he looked trim! I’ll be the first to admit that I knew very little about him or his game when the Raptors (Pacers) took him at #41 on Thursday night. Scouts had talked about his upside and his athleticism and hands for a man his size … but there wasn’t much else out there about the Aussie … other than little reports or recaps on ESPN and other sites. Thus, the one thing that stood out about Jawai for me - and many of you I’m sure - was the 280-285 pounds that he allegedly weighs.
Well, with no scale available on the street, I couldn’t get an exact reading … but … Jawai certainly doesn’t look 280 to me. When I think 280 … I think … BIG; almost “fat”. Jawai looked more like 260lbs to me. He looked to be in great shape. It’s the first thing that hit me.
Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe if he stepped on a scale he would be 280 … but if he is … he carries it well. The guy is not overweight or pudgy. He looks solid.
And he’s THRILLED to be in Toronto. He said he knew there were a number of teams that were interested in him - in fact he thought he might be going to the Cleveland Cavaliers - but when he found out that he was coming to the Raptors he was estatic. He said, and I quote, that he “wanted” to be here.
It’s not his first time in Toronto either. He said he’s been here a couple of times before … with the Australian national team. He loves the city. And he’s going to be spending at least a couple of weeks here right now.
When I told him that some of his ‘neighbors’ from New Zealand were in town next week for a couple of exhibition games against Team Canada (Note: You should really get tickets and go support the Canadian team), he was thrilled to find out he’d have a chance to watch some ball and go say hello to some of his Kiwi friends.
He might even pop over to the Canadian side and give a quick hello to David Thomas. The Canuck has been making a name for himself in Australia for a number of years and he actually just left Melbourne to sign with Jawai’s now-former-club, Cairns.
Jawai (Note: He told me it’s actually pronounced “Jaw-Why” - Almost like two separate words: Jaw. Why.) said he was watching the NBA Draft at the ESPN Zone (restaurant) in Times Square when he found out he had been selected. However, he didn’t get to hear his name called. For those that watched on Thursday, you’ll remember that ESPN went to commercial after the NJ Nets selected Chris Douglas-Roberts at #40. When the broadcast finally came back from the break, Jawai said he saw his name on the little ticker at the bottom of the screen and realized he had just been drafted. It was sort of anti-climatic but a thrill nonetheless.
Before we ended the conversation, my wife said to Nathan “I hear they call you Baby Shaq” …
Jawai smiled and laughed and said some people have given him that tag but, respectfully, he hates it. Based on that … I’m guessing he doesn’t like ‘Aussie Shaq’ then either.
Regardless, the guy doesn’t need a nickname. He’s a just a good, down-to-earth young man that I believe fans of the Raptors will enjoy having in town.
Welcome to Toronto, Nate.
E. Smith
- Apparently there was a glitch with our blogs on the FAN site and my post from last night got deleted, as did this one (which was originally posted around Noon on Saturday). But, luckily, I had this one saved … so re-posting it was easy!
Mike says:
I can’t wait for this guy to slap people around under the basket, clog the paint, and hopefully clean the glass for us ….. you always need a solid defensive 5 on your team
Jun 28, 6:08 PM
- E. SmithMike A. says:
Thanks for the insight Eric. I have a good feeling about this one.
Jun 28, 7:06 PM
- E. SmithMiles says:
This team has had a huge upgrade. Bosh has gotten better every year. ONeil and him should have a chemistry and Jose as the main man should explode onto the scene.
I had three criterion for keeping my seasons tickets.
1. Sam Gone
2. TJ gone
3. we need a big three. Bosh Oneil, Calderon.
Doc Rivers looked terrible till he got talent now he looks brilliant and was brilliant. Maybe I am wrong on Sam. Time will tell. Should be an incredibly exciting year watching Bosh ONeil and Calderon develop into the most exciting threesome in basketball.
Go Raptors…
Jun 28, 7:12 PM
- E. SmithImran says:
Although I do not know much about our selection. I’m happy to hear that he’s ready to contribute and loves the city.
Welcome to Toronto Jawai!
- E. Smith******************
NOTE:
There was a glitch on the FAN site today and this original blog and many of your comments were somehow deleted. I tried to find and restore as many of your posts as possible.
Thanks, E
*********************
- E. SmithI hope he’s a dirty player down low who won’t mind taking a flagrant 1 every now and then. We need a lot of toughness inside, JO and Jawai will definitely bring that.
- BeburgNathan Jaw-breaking-Why. Get the highlight films ready. This guy will have numerous vicious dunks this coming season. Mark my words.
- ZNow that is a blog.
I’m runnin’ down a dream.
- Dee DribbleJust thought I would add a bit on Nate from the persepective of an Australian fan who watched him explode into our NBL this past season.
For those that don’t know much about Nate, he is the first indiginous (Aboriginal) Australian ever drafted to the NBA. He comes from a remote community in far north queensland and did not start playing basketball until he was in his mid teens. Being a queenslander he spent most of his youth playing rugby (which could have something to do with his toughness). When discovered he was drafted into the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra (Andrew Bogut also attended here). He later went onto play for a Junior College in the US but suffered an injury and decided to return to Australia and play proffesionally for the Cairns taipans.
Nate was probably abit of a victim of circumstance and really wasn’t at first expected to come along as quickly as he did. He started the season playing off the bench behind the Cairns Taipans front court combo of americans Larry Abney, Rashad Tucker and former Australian Boomer (National team) Martin Catalini. When Catalini went down for the season with an injury Nate stepped in at the 5 in and immediatly made a massive impact, averaging 20-10 for a good part of the year.
Mid season he was selected to play in the annual NBL All-Star game and it was there that he truly announced his presence by smashing down in the range of 10 dunks playing against Australia’s best. he was named the MVP of the All-star game as a result……and was more than humble when receiving the award, a quality that I’m sure you will find endearing in him.
He continued putting up big number’s for the rest of the year before the Cairns Taipans were dumped from the play-offs in the semi finals.
Since then he attended several camps around the US in an effort to lose some weight and add some more skills. He unfortunatly suffered a slight injury just prior to one of the major camps (can’t remember the name) which is probably why he slipped to 41.
It is pretty well known in Australia that the Rap’s have been interested in Nate for a while as they have been to a few games scouting him this year (As did the Lakers and Pistons).
What is unfortunate for Nate is that by spending the past few month’s working out for NBA teams he has probably cost himself a birth in the Aussie Olympic team. However on the flip side that could be construed as a positive for the raps as it goes along way to showing how much Nate wants to play in your league.
Nate has publicly said that he expects to play Power Forward in the NBA, but I can’t really see why he couldn’t play the 5. He has amazing speed, strength and touch for a man his size and is developing a pretty reasonable jumper to go with his natural explosiveness. He is Raw but in time has the natural skillset to be a solid NBA player.
Whilst I’m here if the Raps are keen on getting any other Aussies they should check out Patrick Mills, Joe Ingles and David Barlow anyone of these guys could be a great pick-up.
- Matt DalyAnother Jawai fan here!It’s great to see him drafted to the raptors, One thing about nate is that he’ll give 110% effort every game. he’s definately shed the pounds since his arrival in u.s. i wish him all the best! aussie aussie aussie oi oi oi!
- Eamon R[…] http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/ericsmith/2008/06/28/the-skinny-on-jawai/ […]
- FAN590 - Blogs - The Rap » Blog Archive » Jaws Is A RaptorAnother Aussie here, Nate will definitely give the Raptors everything he’s got and, as someone else said, will be very modest and down to earth as well. Playing & practicing with Bosh & ONeil is going to make him so much better. We are are all really proud of Nate here in Oz, your are gonna love the guy. I’m now officially a Raptors fan. Go Nate!!!!
- Ron