BIO: Wani Swaka Lo Buluk was born in Bedford (WA) and grew up in Perth where he began playing basketball, a product of the Stirling basketball program. As a teenager, he played his first state league season with Warwick Senators in the SBL.

a athletic, slashing, driving, defensive wing who can guard multiple positions. Swaka Lo Buluk received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2018. He spent one year there and played for the program’s state league team.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Wani Swaka Lo Buluk made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 17 years of age. He scored two points in his first game.

During the off-season, Perth re-signed star Bryce Cotton (three-year deal), while also adding Nick Kay and Mitch Norton (both via Illawarra), former Wildcats big man Tom Jervis (via Brisbane), and new import Terrico White (via Turkey). This led to the departures of Lucas Walker, Jarrod Kenny, and Dexter Kernich-Drew, who all signed with Cairns.

Wani Swaka Lo Buluk made history in December 2018 when he debuted for the Wildcats at just 17 years and 6 months old, becoming the youngest ever player to represent the team. His debut came against the Cairns Taipans, where he took the court as injuries impacted several key players, including Damian Martin, Angus Brandt, Kevin White, and Bryce Cotton. Despite being thrust into the lineup earlier than expected, Swaka Lo Buluk made the most of his opportunities during the regular season, gaining valuable experience and showing glimpses of his potential.

He averaged 1.7 points per game and had some notable moments throughout the season. His best showing came in the regular season against Melbourne on 24 November 2018, where he recorded 2 points and 1 rebound in 9 minutes of action. His limited minutes offered him a chance to grow, and his contributions provided depth to a team dealing with injuries.

The Wildcats finished the regular season in first place with an 18–10 record, securing the top spot on the NBL ladder. Perth then went on to defeat Brisbane in the semi-finals, although Swaka Lo Buluk did not see minutes during the semi-finals, before defeating reigning champions Melbourne United in the Grand Final. Swaka Lo Buluk appeared in one game during the series but had minimal impact on the court. Despite his limited contributions, he was part of Perth’s 2018–19 title-winning team, gaining invaluable experience in his rookie season.

2019/20
The Wildcats’ first move of the 2019 off-season was re-signing four-time championship-winning coach Trevor Gleeson (three-year deal), as well as five-time championship-winning duo Damian Martin and Jesse Wagstaff and import Terrico White. In total, six members of the championship-winning squad returned, with Wani Swaka Lo Buluk being elevated from development player to the full roster, replacing the retiring Greg Hire. The team also added Dario Hunt and Majok Majok to replace exiting big men Tom Jervis and Angus Brandt (to Europe).

Perth started the season in dominant fashion (5–1), but by Round 10, had taken a step backward (8–5) following back-to-back losses. The Wildcats regrouped behind four straight wins and closed out December with a 13–6 record. In December, Damian Martin played his 300th game for the Wildcats but then suffered a left heel injury, which saw him miss the entire month of January. After losing back-to-back games to start 2020, coach Gleeson and the Wildcats decided to release Dario Hunt (8.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) and replace him with seven-year NBA veteran Miles Plumlee (9.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks).

The addition of Plumlee gave Perth the inside presence they needed, showcased in a Perth win over New Zealand (80–79), when he recorded 23 points and 18 rebounds, becoming the first Wildcat to record 20+ points and 15+ rebounds in a game since 2007.

With seven games remaining and Plumlee required to play all seven to qualify for the postseason, the Wildcats won six of seven games to secure their 34th consecutive finals appearance with a second-place finish (19–9). Fresh off his World Cup experience playing for the Australian Boomers, Nick Kay (15 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.1 steals) delivered a breakout season alongside Bryce Cotton (22.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists), who etched himself into the history books by becoming the first import to lead the league in scoring three years in a row.

In the semifinals, Perth defeated Cairns (2–1) to advance to their 15th NBL Grand Final. Thanks to big games from Cotton (32 points) and Kay (14 points and 6 rebounds), they claimed Game One (88–86) in front of 11,647 Kings fans.

As the teams prepared for Game Two in Perth, it was decided that the remaining games would take place with no fans in the building due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Without a single fan in the arena, the Kings evened the series (1–1) thanks to Jae’Sean Tate (21 points) hitting seven of his nine shots and Andrew Bogut (24 points and 14 rebounds) having one of his best games of the season.

In Game Three of the Grand Final series against the Sydney Kings, Kay (30 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists) delivered a career-high scoring effort, including seven three-pointers, alongside Cotton (31 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists) to propel Perth to a Game Three victory (111–96).

Prior to Game Four, the Sydney Kings chose to withdraw from the series due to uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus and travel restrictions. With multiple Kings players based overseas, there were concerns that restrictions would prevent their return home. After a week of deliberation, it was decided that Perth would be awarded the championship due to holding a 2–1 lead at the time, securing their tenth title. After averaging 30.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists over the three games, Cotton was named Grand Final MVP for the second time in four years, becoming the first player in Wildcats history to be named league MVP, Grand Final MVP, and win a championship all in the same season.

As a development player, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk appeared in only 11 games during the season, averaging 2.3 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.4 assists.

SYDNEY KINGS
2021/22
Wani Swaka Lo Buluk joined the Sydney Kings as an injury replacement for the 2021/22 season, which began with the Kings replacing coach Adam Forde with unproven American coach Chase Buford. Buford, the son of R.C. Buford—the mastermind behind the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA—took over a team with an already impressive core in Xavier Cooks, Jarell Martin, and Dejan Vasiljevic, and added former NBA talent Jaylen Adams and fellow import RJ Hunter.

Early-season injuries to RJ Hunter (who played only one NBL game), Adams (missed a third of the season), and young big man Jordan Hunter (missed the entire season) resulted in a sluggish start for the Kings. After a stretch in January where the Kings lost four consecutive games, Adams returned, the Kings added former NBA teammate of co-owner Andrew Bogut, Ian Clark, and things began to improve.

Swaka Lo Buluk averaged 4.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists, finishing the season fourth on the Kings in minutes played. The Kings then finished the year in spectacular fashion, winning 13 consecutive games to end the regular season.

In the semifinals, the Kings faced Brian Goorjian and the Illawarra Hawks, comfortably defeating them in two straight games. On the other side of the bracket, the Tasmania JackJumpers, in their debut NBL season and lucky to even be in the playoffs, defeated Melbourne United in three games. Tasmania had finished the season in fifth place and only qualified for the playoffs thanks to points percentage after South East Melbourne beat Perth in the final game of the season.

In the Grand Final series, Sydney continued to show their dominance, defeating Tasmania (95–78) in the opening game. Adams, who had been named NBL MVP the previous week, scored 18 points in the win but suffered a left hamstring injury that would see him miss the remainder of the series.

Game two saw JackJumpers fan favorite Josh Adams erupt for 36 points in front of a sell-out Tasmanian crowd, but thanks to 20-point efforts from both captain Xavier Cooks and Jarell Martin (who shot 80% from the field), as well as Dejan Vasiljevic, who nailed a long-range dagger in the closing minutes, the Kings clinched game two, 90–86. The win was Sydney’s 12th straight road victory—the most away wins ever during a single NBL season.

Dejan Vasiljevic with the 𝘿𝘼𝙂𝙂𝙀𝙍 🗡️
–
– 📺 Watch the #NBLFinals Live on ESPN pic.twitter.com/XDIgoHVKo9— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) May 8, 2022

The Kings then closed out the series in game three, ending their 17-year championship drought in front of 16,000 fans at Qudos Bank Arena. Xavier Cooks and Jarell Martin combined for 45 points and 29 rebounds, and the Kings secured their 19th win out of their final 21 games.

Cooks was named the MVP of the finals series, averaging 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists over the three games. At 33 years of age, Swaka Lo Buluk won his third title in just his 83rd NBL game (only Casey Prather has won that many rings in fewer games), and Buford became the fourth-youngest championship-winning coach in league history.

17 years in the making 💜💛#WeTheKings #NBL22 pic.twitter.com/Wz7uIGjTr6— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) May 14, 2022

2022/23
Illawarra entered the 2022/23 season after consecutive semifinal exits, but the Hawks underwent a major rebuild when Brian Goorjian (to Bay Area Dragons) departed and long-time assistant Jacob Jackomas was promoted to head coach. Duop Reath (to China), Justinian Jessup (to Spain), Antonius Cleveland (to Adelaide), Xavier Rathan-Mayes (to Melbourne), Harry Froling (to Brisbane) and Emmett Naar (to the Netherlands) departed, while AJ Ogilvy retired, leaving Tyler Harvey and Sam Froling as the only players retained from the previous season’s main rotation.

Jackomas added Deng Deng (via Brisbane), Mangok Mathiang (via Casey) and imports Justin Robinson and George King.

Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (via Sydney) signed a two-year deal after helping the Kings win the 2022 championship. Having established himself as one of the NBL’s leading perimeter defenders, he joined Illawarra seeking a larger offensive role, explaining, “Hawks reached out and it just felt like a better situation for me to grow my game a bit more.”

Swaka Lo Buluk’s best game came in Illawarra’s season opener against Sydney at the WIN Entertainment Centre on October 1, where he made six of ten field goals and finished with 14 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. Lachlan Dent (19 points) and Harvey (18 points) also contributed, but Derrick Walton Jr (32 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists) led the defending champions to a 106-97 win.

Swaka Lo Buluk (4.9 points across 28 games) appeared in every game and made 21 starts. He opened the season in the starting lineup before moving into a sixth-man role during December, then returned as a regular starter when Illawarra’s mounting injuries left Jackomas increasingly reliant on his defence and versatility.

Robinson (10 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists across one game) suffered a meniscus tear during the opening game and underwent season-ending surgery, with Kevin White (via Perth, 0.6 points across five games) initially added as a short-term replacement. Peyton Siva (via New Zealand, 9.3 points, 6.3 assists, and 1.6 steals across 11 games) was subsequently signed for the remainder of the season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury against Perth. King (10.7 points and 4.1 rebounds across nine games) was released after struggling with a persistent lower-leg injury, leading to Michael Frazier II (via Perth, 17.3 points and 3.9 rebounds across eight games) joining the Hawks before breaking his left arm against Adelaide.

With Illawarra sitting at 1-9 by the middle of November, Swaka Lo Buluk, Dent and William Hickey were required to take on larger roles as the Hawks continued to lose experienced players from their rotation.

Swaka Lo Buluk (10 points and 2 rebounds) helped Illawarra collect its third win of the season against New Zealand at Spark Arena on January 19, with Harvey (25 points and 3 steals) and Mathiang (15 points and 5 rebounds) leading the Hawks. Dererk Pardon (19 points, 17 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led the Breakers, who moved ahead through a late Tom Abercrombie steal and dunk before Harvey made a long three-pointer as time expired to give Illawarra a 78-76 win.

Harvey (18.9 points and 1.5 steals across 27 games) led Illawarra in scoring and received the Members’ Choice Award, while Froling (14 points and 8 rebounds across 28 games) was named club MVP. Deng (8.6 points and 6.5 rebounds across 28 games), Mathiang (7.7 points and 5.1 rebounds across 25 games) and Daniel Grida (5.1 points and 3.9 rebounds across 14 games) were the other main contributors, while Akoldah Gak (1 point across 13 games) received the Players’ Player Award. Swaka Lo Buluk was recognised as Illawarra’s Defensive Player of the Year after regularly accepting the opposition’s most difficult perimeter assignment.

Despite losing four imports to season-ending injuries, Illawarra suffered 14 defeats by ten points or fewer.

The Hawks closed the season against Tasmania at the WIN Entertainment Centre on February 4, where Swaka Lo Buluk (0 points and 2 rebounds), Harvey (13 points) and Froling (12 points and 7 rebounds) led Illawarra, while Milton Doyle (20 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists) guided the JackJumpers to an 87-63 win, leaving Illawarra in 10th place with a franchise-worst 3-25 record.

2023/24
Following the worst season in club history, Illawarra entered Jacob Jackomas’ second year as head coach looking to recover from a 3-25 campaign. Kevin White and Tim Coenraad retired, while Akoldah Gak (to Cairns), Mangok Mathiang (to New Zealand) and Alex Mudronja (to Cairns) departed. Todd Blanchfield (via Perth), Mason Peatling (via Melbourne), Biwali Bayles (via Sydney), Lachlan Olbrich (via UC Riverside), Hyunjung Lee (via Santa Cruz), Next Star AJ Johnson (via Southern California Academy) and Gary Clark (via Mexico City) joined the roster, while Justin Robinson returned from the knee injury which ended his previous season.

Swaka Lo Buluk entered the second season of the two-year deal he signed with Illawarra after winning the club’s Defensive Player of the Year award during his first year with the Hawks. Looking to increase his offensive impact while maintaining his role against the opposition’s leading perimeter players, he said, “I’m ready to take off this season.”

Illawarra opened the season against Sydney at the WIN Entertainment Centre on September 30, where Swaka Lo Buluk (3 points) started and played 18:30, but the Kings won 96-81. Harvey (19 points and 3 steals) and Grida (14 points and 7 rebounds) led the Hawks, while Kouat Noi (23 points) was Sydney’s leading scorer.

Swaka Lo Buluk (6 points across 32 games) appeared in every game and made 27 starts, remaining Illawarra’s primary perimeter defender while producing the highest scoring average of his NBL career.

Consecutive heavy defeats to Sydney and Cairns left Illawarra at 2-7 and resulted in Jackomas parting ways with the club, with assistant Justin Tatum taking over as interim head coach and guiding the Hawks to four wins from their next six games. Grida (5.2 points across 10 games) was sidelined by a knee injury, Hickey (5.2 points across 25 games) moved into a larger role and Kyle Adnam (1 point across 3 games) joined as an injury replacement.

Swaka Lo Buluk’s best scoring game came at Qudos Bank Arena on February 11, where Swaka Lo Buluk (16 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal) shot 5-of-7 from the field and made two three-pointers as Illawarra defeated Sydney 106-95. Clark (22 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Harvey (21 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals) led the Hawks, while Denzel Valentine (21 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) was Sydney’s best as Illawarra collected its second consecutive win over the Kings and strengthened its finals position.

Clark (17 points and 7.8 rebounds across 33 games) led Illawarra in scoring, won the club MVP award and was selected to the All-NBL First Team, while Froling (15.4 points and 7.8 rebounds across 33 games) received the NBL Next Generation Award. Harvey (15.1 points across 33 games), Robinson (12 points and 4.4 assists across 33 games) and Lee (7.3 points and 3.7 rebounds across 32 games) were the other main contributors, while Swaka Lo Buluk received the Hawks’ Defensive Player of the Year award. Illawarra increased its scoring from 80.8 to 91.6 points per game and finished the regular season fourth with a 14-14 record.

Illawarra opened the play-in tournament against Tasmania at MyState Bank Arena, where Swaka Lo Buluk (4 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists) played 12:55 off the bench as the JackJumpers won 92-76. Clark (21 points and 10 rebounds) and Harvey (15 points) led the Hawks, while McVeigh (26 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Magnay (25 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, and 4 blocks) controlled the game for Tasmania.

The Hawks returned to the WIN Entertainment Centre for an elimination game against New Zealand, where Swaka Lo Buluk (6 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists) played 22:01 as Illawarra won 88-85 and advanced to the semifinals. Robinson (26 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) and Froling (21 points and 9 rebounds) led the Hawks, while Parker Jackson-Cartwright (19 points, 9 assists, and 2 steals) and Cheatham (14 points and 9 rebounds) were New Zealand’s best.

The semifinal series began at John Cain Arena, where Swaka Lo Buluk (10 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) played 26:26 as Illawarra surrendered a late lead and lost game one 115-106 in overtime. Froling (26 points and 5 rebounds) and Clark (22 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Hawks, while Dellavedova (30 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 steals) and Travers (24 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) sparked Melbourne’s comeback.

Game two moved to the WIN Entertainment Centre, where Swaka Lo Buluk (8 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 2 steals) played 25:03 as Clark (31 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 assists), Harvey (23 points) and Hickey (18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) led Illawarra to a 113-108 overtime victory. Dellavedova (20 points and 8 assists) and Lual-Acuil (18 points and 7 rebounds) led Melbourne before the Hawks forced a deciding game.

Game three returned to John Cain Arena, where Froling (23 points and 4 rebounds), Robinson (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Clark (14 points and 6 rebounds) kept Illawarra within reach, while Ili (22 points) and Travers (15 points and 11 rebounds) led Melbourne to a 100-94 victory and ended the Hawks’ season one game short of the Grand Final. Swaka Lo Buluk (8 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists) played 15:41 in the loss.

2024/25
After reaching the semifinals the previous season, Illawarra entered Justin Tatum’s first full campaign without Gary Clark (to Yokohama), Justin Robinson (to Breogán), AJ Johnson (to Milwaukee), Biwali Bayles (to Nyon) and Kyle Adnam (to Cairns). Wani Swaka Lo Buluk returned alongside Tyler Harvey, Sam Froling, William Hickey, Hyunjung Lee, Lachlan Olbrich, Mason Peatling, Todd Blanchfield and Daniel Grida, while Tatum added Trey Kell III (via Adelaide), Darius Days (via Winnipeg), Zac Triplett (via Melbourne) and Brad Ballinger (via Illawarra NBL1).

The defensive wing signed a new three-year deal, with a club option in the final season, after starting 27 games during Illawarra’s turnaround in NBL24. Tatum said, “Wani is one of our leaders on the defensive end of the floor.”

Illawarra opened the season at HoopsFest on September 21 with a 102-75 win over Cairns, where Swaka Lo Buluk (8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) started alongside Days (20 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Froling (19 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 block), while Tanner Groves (19 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 block) led the Taipans.

Swaka Lo Buluk (7.8 points across 29 games) started every regular-season game, regularly defending the opposition’s leading perimeter scorer while producing the highest scoring average of his career.

One of his strongest performances came against Sydney on September 29, where Swaka Lo Buluk (16 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal) shot 6-of-9 from the field as Illawarra defeated the Kings 96-89 and improved to 3-0. Harvey (21 points and 3 steals) and Kell (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Hawks, while Xavier Cooks (22 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists) was Sydney’s best. Swaka Lo Buluk also limited Jaylen Adams (9 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists) to 2-of-12 shooting and forced six turnovers, with Tatum saying, “Swak was the MVP today.”

His best scoring game came in Perth on December 6, where Swaka Lo Buluk (17 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 steals) shot 7-of-8 from the field and made both three-point attempts as Illawarra defeated the Wildcats 121-111. Kell (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Froling (17 points and 6 rebounds) provided support, while Bryce Cotton (40 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Perth.

Kobe McDowell-White (via Sunshine Coast) joined the Hawks as a development player in October, while Kuany Kuany (via VCU) was added as a nominated replacement player in November.

Harvey (17.9 points, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals) and Kell (17.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists) led Illawarra’s offence, with Froling (14.6 points and 7.3 rebounds), Days (11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds), Hickey (8.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists), Olbrich (8.7 points and 3.8 rebounds), Lee (7.7 points and 3.4 rebounds) and Peatling (5 points and 4 rebounds) forming one of the league’s deepest rotations. Swaka Lo Buluk finished second in voting for the Damian Martin Trophy with 34 votes and received Illawarra’s Defensive Player of the Year award for the third straight season, while Tatum was named NBL Coach of the Year, Harvey and Kell earned All-NBL First Team selections and Froling was selected to the All-NBL Second Team.

Illawarra completed the regular season with a 95-75 win over Sydney on February 7, where Swaka Lo Buluk (4 points and 3 rebounds), Harvey (15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Lee (15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) helped the Hawks finish first with a 20-9 record, while Adams (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the Kings before being ejected following an incident with Swaka Lo Buluk. Click here to watch.

Illawarra opened the semifinals at the WIN Entertainment Centre with a 101-94 win over South East Melbourne, taking control with a 32-12 third quarter behind Kell (24 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists), Harvey (24 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block) and Blanchfield (16 points and 6 rebounds), while Swaka Lo Buluk added 4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Joe Wieskamp (22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks), Nathan Sobey (17 points and 9 rebounds) and Derrick Walton Jr (15 points and 11 assists) led the Phoenix.

Game two moved to Melbourne, where South East Melbourne levelled the series with a 101-94 win behind Matt Hurt (30 points and 2 blocks), Sobey (25 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Angus Glover (16 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists), while Hickey (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists), Froling (11 points and 5 rebounds) and Harvey (10 points and 4 assists) led Illawarra and Swaka Lo Buluk finished with 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal.

The deciding game returned to Wollongong, where Kell (30 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal), Blanchfield (28 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal) and Swaka Lo Buluk (12 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist) helped Illawarra defeat South East Melbourne 126-96 and reach its first Grand Final since 2017, while Wieskamp (25 points and 5 rebounds), Sobey (19 points and 6 rebounds) and Owen Foxwell (13 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals) led the Phoenix.

The Grand Final series opened in Wollongong, where Swaka Lo Buluk (11 points, 2 steals, and 1 block), Froling (16 points and 7 rebounds), Hickey (14 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals) and Blanchfield (13 points and 3 rebounds) led Illawarra, but Matthew Dellavedova (18 points and 7 rebounds), Chris Goulding (15 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Marcus Lee (14 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 blocks) carried Melbourne to a 96-88 win.

Game two moved to John Cain Arena, where Swaka Lo Buluk (12 points and 3 rebounds) contributed alongside Harvey (24 points), Froling (23 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Kell (18 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block) as Illawarra defeated Melbourne 102-100, while Ian Clark (31 points), Goulding (17 points and 4 assists) and Dellavedova (14 points and 5 assists) led United.

Melbourne regained control in game three with an 83-77 road win behind Jack White (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals), Clark (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Dellavedova (16 points and 11 assists), while Hickey (12 points), Days (11 points and 4 rebounds), Kell (10 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Swaka Lo Buluk (10 points) led Illawarra.

Facing elimination in game four, Illawarra defeated Melbourne 80-71 despite Kell being ruled out with a knee injury and Froling (5 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) rupturing his Achilles during the second quarter. Hickey (22 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals), Olbrich (13 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists), Harvey (12 points and 4 rebounds) and Days (9 points and 11 rebounds) led the Hawks, while Swaka Lo Buluk added 2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. Dellavedova (17 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists), Goulding (17 points and 5 rebounds) and Clark (16 points and 2 steals) led Melbourne.

Game five returned to Wollongong, where Kell (26 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists), Hickey (21 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists) and Harvey (16 points and 7 rebounds) led Illawarra, while Goulding (21 points, 3 assists, and 2 blocks), Shea Ili (20 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals) and White (17 points and 7 rebounds) were Melbourne’s best. Dellavedova (5 points and 7 assists) was awarded the Larry Sengstock Trophy before handing it to Hickey, while Swaka Lo Buluk (16 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) scored 12 points during the second quarter as Illawarra won 114-104, claimed its first championship since 2001 and delivered him his fourth NBL title.

2025/26
After defeating Melbourne in five games to win its first championship in 24 years, Illawarra entered NBL26 as defending champions under coach Justin Tatum. Trey Kell III (to Toyama), Darius Days (to San-en), Lachlan Olbrich (to Chicago) and Hyunjung Lee (to Nagasaki) departed, while Tyler Harvey, Sam Froling, William Hickey, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk and Mason Peatling returned from the championship roster. Tatum added JaVale McGee (via Bayamón), Jonah Bolden (via Arecibo), Jackson Ball (via Hawke’s Bay), Biwali Bayles (via Nyon) and JaQuori McLaughlin (via Jakarta), with Froling unavailable while recovering from the Achilles injury suffered during the previous Grand Final series.

The defensive specialist entered the second season of the three-year deal he signed before NBL25, remaining Illawarra’s primary perimeter stopper after starting throughout the championship campaign and winning his fourth NBL title.

Illawarra raised its championship banner at the WIN Entertainment Centre on September 27, where Swaka Lo Buluk (9 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) started, but Tasmania defeated the Hawks 91-86. McGee (32 points, 13 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) and Harvey (19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Illawarra, while Bryce Hamilton (21 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) was Tasmania’s best.

Swaka Lo Buluk (8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1 assist across 33 games) started every game for the second straight season and regularly handled the opposition’s leading perimeter scorer. He set a new career-high scoring average, remained one of Tatum’s most trusted defensive players and reached 200 NBL appearances during the season.

His best scoring game came against Adelaide at the WIN Entertainment Centre on December 20, where Swaka Lo Buluk (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal) shot 8-of-14 from the field and made three three-pointers. Peterson (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) and Grida (11 points and 2 rebounds) provided support, while Bryce Cotton (16 points and 7 assists) led Adelaide as the 36ers won 84-78, with the performance setting a new career high while his defence helped hold Cotton to 6-of-18 shooting.

On February 5, Swaka Lo Buluk (11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) tipped in the winning basket with 5.7 seconds remaining as Illawarra recovered from 16 points down to defeat Adelaide 100-99. Harvey (22 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Hickey (22 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 steals) led the comeback, while Cotton (28 points, 2 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block) was Adelaide’s best as the Hawks ended a seven-game losing streak against the 36ers and kept their title defence alive.

McLaughlin (7.7 points and 4 assists across 3 games) was released after Illawarra’s 0-3 start, with Quentin Peterson (via Xinjiang) signed as his replacement. Bolden (4.4 points and 5.5 rebounds across 8 games) suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during the FIBA break, while Froling (11 points and 6.7 rebounds across 15 games) returned on Christmas night after missing the opening 18 games while recovering from the Achilles injury suffered in the previous Championship Series.

McGee (19.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks) and Harvey (16.9 points and 3.6 assists) led Illawarra’s offence, with Peterson (15.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists), Hickey (12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists), Grida (6.3 points), Peatling (6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds) and Blanchfield (5.1 points and 4.2 rebounds) the other main contributors. McGee was named club MVP, Grida received the Players’ Player and Most Improved awards, Peatling collected the Coach’s Award and Swaka Lo Buluk won Illawarra’s Defensive Player of the Year award for the fourth straight season. Tatum publicly criticised his omission from the NBL’s Damian Martin Trophy nominees after Swaka Lo Buluk again took the opposition’s most difficult perimeter assignment.

With Illawarra already outside the postseason, Swaka Lo Buluk (4 points and 1 rebound) started the final game at MyState Bank Arena on February 18 as the Hawks defeated Tasmania 103-70. Harvey (21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) and Peterson (20 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Illawarra, while Josh Bannan (17 points and 4 rebounds) was Tasmania’s best as the Hawks finished eighth with a 13-20 record.

Wani Swaka Lo Buluk currently plays for the Illawarra Hawks and has played 205 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists since entering the league in 2018.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Illawarra Hawks – 2 Year Deal (2026-28)