At 15:30 on August 17th, the NBL preseason officially kicks off with Illawarra Hawks hosting Shanghai Sharks, which is also Shanghai’s first match of their overseas training.
The Illawarra Hawks are a strong team in the NBL and have demonstrated considerable strength. In last season’s playoffs, they were defeated 1-2 by Melbourne United in the semifinals, missing out on a spot in the finals. Based on their performance last season, the Illawarra Hawks remain a formidable team and have retained most of their players for the new season, aiming to challenge for the championship once again.
The Illawarra Hawks also feature some familiar faces, including former Houston Rockets player Gary Clark as an import player, who has notable shooting abilities. Additionally, Korean player Lee Hyun-Jong, who played in the NBA Summer League this summer, is part of the team. He represented the Portland Trail Blazers in two games, playing a total of 30 minutes and scoring 10 points. During the 23-24 season, Lee Hyun-Jong participated in 27 regular-season games for the Illawarra Hawks, averaging 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, with a three-point shooting percentage of 40%. His contract with the team is for three years, and this upcoming season will be the second year of that contract.
The Shanghai Sharks were invited to participate in this event, providing the team with a valuable training opportunity. As one of the wealthiest teams in the CBA, they are looking to make breakthroughs. In the recently concluded Summer League, Shanghai performed well with a record of four wins and two losses, losing only to Shanxi and Qingdao. In their most recent game, Shanghai narrowly defeated Jiangsu 76-71, with Li Tianrong delivering an outstanding performance, scoring 25 points on 11-of-18 shooting, which was key to the team’s victory.
This overseas training aims at securing a strong start, presenting a challenge for the team. Compared to their previous game, Shanghai has had ample time to rest, so there should not be any issues with stamina. It is expected that key players such as Wang Zhelin, Liu Zheng, and Li Tianrong will participate. However, the team’s foreign players have yet to return. For the new season, Shanghai has confirmed their small foreign player signings as Blaney and Waters, while the big foreign player selection will be finalized during this Australian training period.
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