NBL EXPERIENCE

Michael Jones made his NBL debut with the Illawarra Hawks on 21/2/1981. He scored 25 points in his first game.

After one season, head coach Adrian Hurley left the Hawks after almost driving them to their first playoff appearance and was replaced with former coach Joe Farrugia. Along with Hurley, Kevin Becker, Ted Holcomb, and retiring stalwart Bob Kubbinga all exited the team, with Farrugia replacing them with importse Michael Jones and Benny Lewis, and local teen Tim Morrissey.

Prior to the season beginning, the Hawks were able to notch up a notable win over European powerhouse Partizan, who were touring the country, before the season tipped off with a loss to Newcastle (73–93). Although Jones (25 points) and Lewis (24 points) both delivered high scoring efforts, Carl Whitfield (26 points) and the Falcon’s were too strong.

Less than 24 hours later the Hawks responded by beating City of Sydney (92–80) behind Jones (30 points) and Lewis (15 points), with McLeod steadying the offence (15 points, 5-of-9 FT). Curt Forrester (30 points) led the Astronauts in a game that saw Illawarra go 20-of-27 at the line.

Illawarra dismantled Canberra (91–71) next, with Jones (36 points) going head to head with Cannons import Dave Nelson (34 points). Lewis (31 points) also kept the scoreboard ticking over.

A Melbourne double then stalled momentum. At Albert Park, Rocky Smith (32 points) powered St Kilda past Illawarra (114–100) despite Jones (37 points) and McLeod (20 points) delivering their best games of the season. The next day at Kilsyth the Hawks came up short against Nunawading (74–95) to sit 2–2 after four games.

From there the road proved unforgiving. A home stumble to Launceston (91–104) preceded a bruising South Australian weekend: the season’s heaviest defeat at West Adelaide (66–104) and, 24 hours later, a narrow loss to Forestville (88–94). Jones (43 points, 9-of-9 FT) delivered his season high in the Forestville loss, while Reg Biddings (29 points) led the Eagles.

To finish the season, Illawarra benefitted by playing four of their last five games at home, where defeated Brisbane at home (90-80), almost toppled first-placed St Kilda (100–102) in one of the season’s best games at the Snakepit. Then closed out year with wins against Coburg (87–85), Bankstown (98–86) before falling in Brisbane to finish the campaign (69–82). In that finale, Jones (21 points) and Lewis (16 points) led the Hawks, while import Bullets imports Leroy Loggins (24 points) and Brian Banks (20 points) led Brisbane.

Jones (30.5 ppg across 22 games) led the league in free-throw percentage (87.6%) and was crowned NBL MVP, remarkably without somehow making the All-NBL First Team. Lewis (20.5 ppg) provided a consistent second punch, Slacke (12.7 ppg) supplied veteran shot-making, with Ray Hannett (8.4 ppg), McLeod (7.5 ppg) and Williams (5.4 ppg) rounding out the core rotation.

The Hawks were almost close to unbeatable at home (8–3), but woeful on the road (1–10), seeing Illawarra finished 9th of 12 teams (9–13 record).

1982
Illawarra replaced their head coach for the third time in three seasons, moving on from coach Joe Farrugia and replacing him with Tom Pottenger. Other than that, the Hawks entered the 1982 NBL season with its core largely intact after a 9–13 campaign the previous year. Departing import Benny Lewis (to Coburg) and forward Alan Yates were replaced by new American forward Alonzo Weatherly, while the reigning league MVP Michael Jones returned to headline a roster that also featured captain Gordie McLeod, veteran Jim Slacke, and key role players Ray Hannett and Ted Holcomb.

Illawarra opened with a 98–91 home victory over Launceston, as Jones (20 points, 8 rebounds) began his title defense in steady fashion. Round 2 brought heartbreak with a one-point road loss to Adelaide City (87–88), despite Jones (30 points) and Weatherly combining effectively in their first double feature as teammates. The Hawks quickly rebounded with one of the season’s early highlights, a 34-point eruption from Jones in a 105–99 win over Brisbane on February 20, where he dominated inside and out to offset a late Bullets rally.

The first half of the season was marked by inconsistency, with Illawarra alternating between dominant home showings and narrow road defeats. They found their rhythm in April with a four-game winning streak that included decisive home victories over Westate Perth (125–103) and Nunawading (106–83), the latter a 23-point demolition that showcased Jones’ scoring precision and the interior power of Weatherly (23 points, 12 rebounds). Jones again delivered marquee performances late in the season, highlighted by a 34-point, 10-rebound double-double against Geelong on May 8, and another 34-point outing versus Canberra on July 3 in a 92–90 home thriller that capped the Snakepit schedule.

While the Hawks proved formidable at home (8–5), they struggled away from Wollongong, managing just three wins from thirteen road games. Close losses—including 89–91 at Canberra and 87–88 to Adelaide—proved costly as the team hovered near playoff contention but never broke through. The campaign ended with back-to-back defeats to St Kilda (87–119) and Nunawading (73–103) that left Illawarra just short of a postseason berth.

Jones (23.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists across 26 games) again led the Hawks and ranked among the NBL’s top scorers, delivering elite consistency and rebounding strength from the centre position. Weatherly (23.7 points and 9.2 rebounds) provided the perfect frontcourt complement, while long-time Hawk Jim Slacke (16.8 points and 5.0 rebounds) remained a reliable third option. Captain McLeod (10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists) directed the offense with poise, as veterans Hannett (7.6 points and 4.4 rebounds) and Holcomb (6.7 points and 2.7 rebounds) filled out a disciplined rotation.

Illawarra finished 11–15 and ninth on the ladder, narrowly missing the playoffs.

1983
The Hawks’ season began on a challenging note, with the departures of team captain Gordie McLeod (to Sydney), Alonzo Weatherly (overseas) and the retirements of Ray Hannett and Ted Holcomb.

Additionally, Charlie Ammit took over as head coach (the fourth different coach in four seasons after Hurley ’80, Farrugia ’81, Pottinger ’82) and Michael Jones took over as team captain.

To fill the gap, the Hawks signed import Jerry Steurer to replace Weatherly, and teenager Tim Morrissey rejoined the squad after missing 1982.

Illawarra’s opener at Newcastle foreshadowed a rough start—95–113—despite Jones (35 points), Simon Cottrell (24 points) and Steurer (20 points) all putting up decent numbers, George Morrow (26 points and 9 rebounds) and the Falcon’s proving too strong. That loss began an eight-game skid before a 102–100 home escape against Devonport finally snapped the drought. Jones (33 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks), Jim Slacke (29 points and 8 rebounds) and Steurer (24 points and 8 rebounds) combining for 86 points in that one. Six days later the Warriors reversed the outcome in Tasmania, underlining the Hawks’ travel woes.

With victories being a rarity for the Hawks this season, the most excitement for fans came from the hot scoring of Jones (32.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals), who led the NBL in scoring, scored 30+ points in 16 of his 22 games, exploding for a career high 46 points in a loss to Coburg (92–109). Steurer (23.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.7 steals) teamed well with Jones throughout the year, his best game (31 points) coming in a loss to Bankstown at the Snakepit (71–82).

Entering the final month with only a single victory, Illawarra defeated Devonport (89–79) in a rare road victory, then claimed back-to-back home thrillers: 89–88 over Coburg (Steurer 31, Jones 30) and 92–90 over Frankston (Steurer 30, Jones 25) for the club’s only consecutive wins of the campaign.

The final game of the season saw Jones (34 points) and Steurer (22 points) produce solid games in a 90–98 home loss to Brisbane, who were led by Mark Bragg (22 points).

Other key contributors this season included Jim Slacke (11 points, 3.5 rebounds) and Tim Morrissey (7.9 points, 2.9 rebounds). Despite late fight, the Hawks finished 4–18 (seventh in the Eastern Division).

Michael Jones played three seasons the Illawarra Hawks. He averaged 28.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 70 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 10th in points per game.