For Illawarra Hawks stalwart Dan Grida, his seventh season with the club stands out as a personal favourite, a testament to resilience after a career marred by serious injuries. The Western Australian-born swingman, who now calls Wollongong home, is finally hitting his stride, providing a crucial spark for the Hawks as they fight to salvage their NBL26 season.
From Championship High to Finals Fight
The 2024/25 NBL championship win in front of a roaring WIN Entertainment Centre crowd remains a pinnacle for Grida. However, the current campaign has been a stark contrast. The defending champions find themselves in a precarious eighth position with an 8-15 record, making their final ten regular-season games a desperate scramble for a top-six finals berth.
Grida, 27, is central to this push. After making his debut in the 2018/19 season and playing all 56 games in his first two years, his career was derailed by two knee reconstructions from rupturing the same ACL twice, followed by a string of other injuries. His current run of health and form is a hard-earned victory.
"I'm just happy to be getting some more minutes and doing all I can to help us get some wins," Grida said. "I've got to this point a few times, getting back to everything and had another injury... I'm really enjoying this healthy stretch I've had."
A Homecoming at HoopsFest
Grida's resurgence will face a significant test this Friday when the Hawks travel to his home state for HoopsFest. The team is set to battle the fifth-placed Perth Wildcats (14-10) at a packed RAC Arena, with all round games held at the venue.
Rather than seeing it as a disadvantage, Grida is embracing the spectacle. "I look at it the other way, it's actually better. We get to play at RAC Arena," he said, contrasting it with last year's game at Challenge Stadium. "Personally, I'm always happy to go back home. I'm super excited to go home and see the family."
He emphasises the critical nature of the upcoming fixtures against the Wildcats and the sixth-placed Tasmania JackJumpers (12-13). "Those games are essentially a double win; we get a win, and they get a loss," Grida noted. "We're treating every game the same. We've gotta win every game."
Searching for Chemistry in a Season of Disruption
The Hawks' struggle this season is attributed to more than just injuries to key players like Grida. The team has faced significant turnover and bad luck, disrupting the chemistry that powered their championship run.
"It's taken a little bit longer than we'd like," Grida admitted, referencing the early absence of Will Hickey and the season-ending Achilles injury to Jonah Bolden. "It's been a bit rough with the turnover; we're still looking for that chemistry. We're getting there, so hopefully we can figure it out soon."
Despite the challenges, Grida's on-court hustle and dedication have made him a beloved figure among the Hawks faithful, a status bolstered by his community work off the court. His recent scoring form, including a season-high against the Cairns Taipans in December, is a sign of his growing influence.
With time running out, Grida acknowledges the target on the Hawks' backs as defending champions but remains focused on the task. "The teams are all giving us their best shot because we were the champs last year... but we're doing our best, and we'll see how we go these next few games." For Dan Grida and the Illawarra Hawks, the final push starts now.
