Empowering Influence: How the Boston Celtics Inspired the Illawarra Hawks to Their First Title in Years

Sunday night was an unforgettable occasion for the Illawarra Hawks, as they clinched their first NBL championship in 24 years by defeating Melbourne United in the decisive Game Five.

A special boost for the players may have come from Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics star, who showed his support for the Aussie squad prior to the match.

Tatum’s father, Justin, who is the head coach of the Hawks, received a heartfelt video from his son that he chose to share with his players before the crucial showdown.

In the midst of the championship festivities, 46-year-old Tatum shared with the media how having one of NBA’s greatest franchises supporting them influenced his team’s mindset.

“I told my guys that I woke up this morning to a special video,” Tatum explained.

“Jayson sent a video to my team saying, ‘Pops, make sure you share this with your group’.

“It served as reassurance for my players about how they should feel and the strategy to win what was effectively a Game Seven for them and a Game Five for us.”

“His supportive message lit a spark in them, and it resonated deeply.”

“The entirety of the 2023/24 Boston Celtics are watching our game… if they can triumph, so can we.”

“Hearing from him and receiving that message was extraordinary — it truly meant a lot to my players.”

Tatum stands as one of basketball’s most prominent figures, having led the Celtics to their first championship in over 15 years last season.

The 27-year-old also proudly secured gold for Team USA at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.

Justin took charge as Hawks head coach in 2023, transforming them from the NBL’s bottom ranks to champions in a remarkably brief timeframe.