15Australian F Nathan Jawai competing for Minnesota Timberwolves in NBA.
Jawai's first major professional breakthrough came with the Cairns Taipans during the 2007–08 NBL season. He returned to Australia after one season at Midland College, joined the Taipans and produced a breakout campaign that led to NBL Rookie of the Year honours and selection in the 2008 NBA Draft. The 2008 draft was also historically significant because Jawai became the first Indigenous Australian selected in the NBA Draft.
NBA regular season: 45 games, averaging 2.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. FIBA senior national-team career: 11 documented games across the 2009 FIBA Oceania Championship, 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, 2015 FIBA Oceania Championship and 2019 World Cup Asian Qualifiers, averaging 7.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Major documented honours include 2008 NBL Rookie of the Year, 2008 NBL All-Star Game MVP, 2008 All-NBL Second Team, 2011 ABA League Finals MVP, 2011 Serbian League champion, 2011 Radivoj Korać Cup winner, 2011 ABA League champion, 2013 Copa del Rey winner and 2016 NBL champion with Perth Wildcats.
Jawai's defining moments include becoming the first Indigenous Australian drafted into the NBA in 2008; his NBL breakout season with the Cairns Taipans; winning the 2011 ABA League Finals MVP award with Partizan Belgrade; winning the 2013 Copa del Rey with Barcelona; and helping the Perth Wildcats win the 2016 NBL championship. His final documented appearance, for the Indigenous Basketball Australia All Stars in June 2025, was presented by the NBL as a symbolic closing chapter to his playing career.