Aussie Nathan Jawai had the best game of his short NBA career, scoring 16 points when his Minnesota Timberwolves visited the Portland Trailblazers this week.
Balling against opposing centre Greg Oden, Jawai hit 7 of 11 from the field for 16 points and six rebounds.
To put it in some perspective;
That’s how much of an improvement it was.
I watched the game back to see the big man in action, and loved how the announcers went from basically giving him shit, joking about his weight and the fact that they thought he looked like Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins, to acknowleding he has some skills, and backtracking to find some 'actual' info on him.
Before the "Bamaga Behemoth" had hit a shot the commentators were talking about how he was listed as weighing 280 lbs. / 127.0 kg.
“280 lbs on the moon”… before the other commentator added,
“Before he put the other leg on the scales."
Honestly, that made me laugh. The T'wolves uniform, doesn't make the big man look real svelte.
They went back to the Dawkins joke a few times.
Dawkins was a star during his injury plagued 14 year NBA career, known for his naming each of his powerful dunks, and shattering numerous backboards.
Dawkins famously proclaimed he hailed from a place called 'LoveTron'… (he was almost a precursor to Stephon Marbury is terms of strangeness)
Announcer: “He put LoveTron on the map.”
That also made me laugh.
That also made me laugh.
But what made me smile the most was that by the end of the game they were praising the young Aussie, taking the time to look up some background info on him, and begrudgingly acknowledging after three straight Jawai baskets, “The T’Wolves have got something here…he can play.”
The last time someone not named Andrew Bogut had that much of an influence on an NBA game, was Chris Anstey way way back.
My theory is that big Nate was feeling so good, thanks to being in the hometown of best buddy, and fellow indigenous NBA baller, Patty Mills. Most likely hanging out with Patty for 24 hours prior to the game, and having that familiar face in the building would really help the shy giant.
Anyway, that’s my theory.
Good luck to the big fella.
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