BIO: Biwali Bayles was born in Brisbane (QLD) and moved with his family to the inner-city Sydney suburb of Redfern at around age two. Raised in the culturally rich but often turbulent community known as “The Block,” Bayles is a proud Indigenous Australian whose early athletic dreams were rooted in rugby league. He idolised the Brisbane Broncos and aspired to one day play State of Origin for Queensland. However, his mother Binowee—a former basketballer—redirected his path at age 12, concerned for both his safety and his untapped basketball potential.

Encouraged by his mum, Bayles began his basketball journey with the Alexandria Basketball Club before joining the Sydney Comets. He quickly stood out as a playmaking point guard and initially juggled basketball with rugby league and union before committing fully to hoops after being selected for representative teams. His standout junior performances ultimately led to a scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra. Bayles credits the AIS as a turning point in his life, helping him escape the distractions of his environment and setting him firmly on the path to a professional basketball career.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Biwali Bayles made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 19 years of age. He scored seven points in his first game.

After finishing fifth with a 19-17 record and missing the playoffs, Sydney replaced Adam Forde (to Cairns) with US coach Chase Buford. Casper Ware (to Russia), Brad Newley (to Melbourne), Craig Moller (to Germany), Jarrad Weeks (to Tasmania), Didi Louzada (to New Orleans) and Daniel Kickert (retired) departed, while Buford inherited a core featuring Xavier Cooks, Jarell Martin and Dejan Vasiljevic and added Jaylen Adams, RJ Hunter, Matur Maker, Next Star Makur Maker, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (via Perth) and Biwali Bayles (via Hawaii).

Bayles signed a multi-year deal with his hometown club after one season at the University of Hawaii and was later recognised as one of the players contracted under the NBL’s new Indigenous Player Rule. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was very young,” said Bayles after signing with Sydney.

Bayles made his NBL debut against defending champion Melbourne at Qudos Bank Arena on December 5, where Bayles (7 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 block) provided scoring off the bench as Sydney won 79-74. Adams (15 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) and Martin (12 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Kings, while Jo Lual-Acuil (12 points and 7 rebounds) was Melbourne’s best.

Bayles (3.5 points across 17 games) received increased opportunities early in the season as injuries hit Sydney’s backcourt, playing almost 18 minutes per game through the opening rounds while Adams and RJ Hunter were unavailable. Bayles said his approach whenever given minutes was to “bring that energy, and make an impact” while learning to handle the increased physicality of professional basketball.

Bayles’ best scoring game came against Tasmania at Qudos Bank Arena on December 22, where Bayles (12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) was influential as Sydney recovered from a nine-point three-quarter-time deficit and outscored the JackJumpers 29-8 in the fourth quarter to win 83-71. Martin (24 points and 11 rebounds) and Cooks (12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks) helped Sydney improve to 3-2, while Clint Steindl (15 points, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) led Tasmania.

Four days later against Melbourne, Bayles (0 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) suffered a right ankle sprain during the fourth quarter as the undermanned Kings lost 82-68 at Qudos Bank Arena. Martin (19 points and 8 rebounds) and Cooks (12 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) led Sydney, while Caleb Agada (24 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 3 blocks) controlled the game for United. The injury kept Bayles out of Sydney’s next seven games and contributed to him missing the Kings’ four-game losing streak during January.

Bayles returned to Sydney’s active roster on February 10, although the Kings announced he was not expected to play that night as part of his transition back to live basketball, and he returned to the court three days later. As Sydney’s roster became healthier his minutes reduced, and he was an unused substitute on three further occasions during the regular season. Bayles later acknowledged he had not fully appreciated his opportunity during his first season and had endured a rocky relationship with Buford, with his rookie year also including a temporary suspension after breaching team COVID protocols by training outside the club.

Early injuries to Adams (20.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.2 steals across 24 games), RJ Hunter (4 points across 3 games) and Jordan Hunter, who missed the entire season following foot surgery, contributed to Sydney’s difficult start. NBA champion Ian Clark (13.9 points across 16 games) was added during the season as an injury replacement and provided another scoring option alongside Martin (15.8 points and 8.4 rebounds across 31 games), Cooks (15.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks across 31 games), Vasiljevic (12.4 points across 31 games), Makur Maker (7.7 points and 5.3 rebounds across 21 games) and Glover (5.3 points across 30 games). Adams was named NBL MVP and selected to the All-NBL First Team, while Cooks earned All-NBL Second Team honours.

Sydney’s turnaround included 13 consecutive victories from February 6 through April 14, with Bayles appearing in nine games during the streak before Adelaide ended it on April 17. Bayles was an unused substitute in the regular-season finale against Illawarra, where the Hawks won 87-84 at Qudos Bank Arena as Sydney finished third with a 19-9 record.

Sydney opened the semifinals against Brian Goorjian’s Illawarra Hawks at WIN Entertainment Centre, with Bayles an unused substitute as the Kings won 89-79 behind Adams (30 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists), Clark (16 points) and Cooks (11 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks), while Duop Reath (26 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks) and Antonius Cleveland (21 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led Illawarra.

Game two moved to Qudos Bank Arena, where Bayles again did not play as Adams (29 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists), Martin (23 points and 9 rebounds) and Cooks (16 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 blocks) led Sydney back from a 15-point deficit to win 99-87 and complete the sweep. Tyler Harvey (21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals), Reath (20 points and 3 blocks) and Xavier Rathan-Mayes (14 points and 8 rebounds) were Illawarra’s best.

Expansion Tasmania finished fourth with a 17-11 record before upsetting first-placed defending champion Melbourne in three games to reach the Grand Final. Bayles was unavailable under concussion protocols as the Grand Final opened at Qudos Bank Arena, where Sydney defeated Tasmania 95-78 behind Adams (18 points and 3 assists), Clark (17 points and 2 steals) and Cooks (14 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists), while Mikyle McIntosh (14 points and 4 rebounds) and Jack McVeigh (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) led Tasmania. Adams suffered a low-grade left hamstring strain during the victory and missed the remainder of the series.

Bayles remained out under concussion protocols for game two at MyState Bank Arena, where Vasiljevic (20 points and 5 rebounds), Martin (20 points and 10 rebounds) and Cooks (20 points and 11 rebounds) answered Josh Adams (36 points) and McVeigh (10 points and 8 rebounds) as Sydney won 90-86. Vasiljevic hit a long three-pointer in the closing seconds to give the Kings a four-point lead, while Sydney’s 12th consecutive road victory set a new NBL record for road wins during a single season.

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

Bayles returned to the lineup for game three but did not take the court as Sydney completed the sweep in front of an NBL Grand Final record crowd of 16,149 at Qudos Bank Arena. Cooks (23 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 blocks), Martin (22 points and 17 rebounds) and Clark (22 points and 3 assists) led the Kings, while Josh Adams (27 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals), McIntosh (14 points and 8 rebounds) and Josh Magette (12 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 6 steals) led Tasmania in Sydney’s 97-88 victory. The championship ended the Kings’ 17-year title drought and represented their 19th win from their final 21 games, while Buford became the fourth-youngest championship-winning coach in NBL history behind Bob Turner, Ken Richardson and Jim Ericksen, two of whom were player-coaches.

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

Cooks was named Grand Final MVP after averaging 19 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists across the three games.

2022/23
After winning the 2021/22 championship, Sydney lost Jaylen Adams (to Belgrade), Jarell Martin (to Tel Aviv), Ian Clark (overseas) and Makur Maker (to Washington). Championship coach Chase Buford retained Xavier Cooks, Dejan Vasiljevic, Angus Glover and Jaylin Galloway before signing Derrick Walton Jr (via Detroit), Tim Soares (via Europe), former Defensive Player of the Year Justin Simon (via Illawarra), Kouat Noi (via Cairns) and Jackson Makoi (via Croatia).

Biwali Bayles returned for the second season of the three-year deal he had signed with Sydney, with the final season remaining a team option. The young guard remained contracted under the NBL’s Indigenous Player Rule after winning a championship during his rookie season.

Sydney began its title defence with three consecutive victories before Bayles made his season debut against Cairns at Qudos Bank Arena on October 14. Bayles (0 points and 1 rebound in 7:41), Vasiljevic (20 points) and Cooks (15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) led Sydney, but Shannon Scott (16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals) helped Cairns win 83-78 after the Kings made only 14 of their 25 free throws.

Bayles (1.9 points across 10 games) remained behind Walton Jr and Shaun Bruce in Sydney’s point guard rotation and was primarily used during short periods from the bench. No injury was reported during the season, with his limited opportunities initially resulting from his role within the Kings’ deep backcourt. He also welcomed Sydney wearing its Indigenous jersey throughout the season. “To have that design by Stewart James on our uniforms every game is exciting,” Bayles said.

His best game came against Brisbane at Nissan Arena on October 16, where Bayles (7 points and 3 assists) made three of five field-goal attempts and his only three-pointer. Simon (23 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Vasiljevic (16 points and 5 rebounds) helped Sydney defeat Brisbane 102-85, while DJ Mitchell (20 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led the Bullets. The victory was Sydney’s fifteenth consecutive road win, breaking the NBL record previously held by Canberra’s championship teams of the 1980s.

Bayles produced his best playmaking performance against Illawarra on November 20, finishing with 1 point, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists as Sydney recovered from an 82-78 deficit during the final 10 seconds. Glover (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) found Bruce (8 points) with a crosscourt inbound pass before Bruce made a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Kings an 83-82 victory, while Tyler Harvey (32 points and 5 rebounds) led Illawarra.

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE ⚡

THE SYDNEY KINGS HAVE DONE IT AGAIN 🔥

Watch #NBL23 live & free 📺 10 Peach & 10play | Live on ESPN via Kayo & Foxtel pic.twitter.com/CvxWVxOkI8

— NBL (@NBL) November 20, 2022

Cairns later ended Sydney’s NBL-record road winning streak at 17 games with a 94-88 overtime victory at the Cairns Convention Centre. Bayles did not play, while Cooks (25 points and 10 rebounds) and Walton Jr (15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Sydney, with Keanu Pinder (30 points and 13 rebounds) carrying Cairns.

Bayles scored 5 points in 2:18 against Adelaide on December 4, making both of his field-goal attempts as Sydney defeated the 36ers 97-78. Soares (18 points and 3 steals) and Walton Jr (16 points and 11 assists) led the Kings, while Daniel Johnson (21 points and 5 rebounds) was Adelaide’s best.

His final appearance came against South East Melbourne on December 18, where Bayles played the closing 35 seconds of Sydney’s 113-112 double-overtime loss. Walton Jr (45 points, 4 rebounds, and 10 assists) and Noi (12 points and 7 rebounds) led Sydney, while Mitch Creek (46 points and 10 rebounds) and Trey Kell III (21 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) carried the Phoenix.

On January 14, Sydney announced Bayles would take paid leave from the team for the remainder of the season and would not be replaced on the roster. The club did not publicly disclose the reason for the leave but stated it would continue supporting him through the next stage of his career. No injury was identified as the reason he did not return.

Sydney lost its final two regular-season games but finished first with a 19-9 record and secured home-court advantage throughout the postseason. Cooks (15 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 33 games) was named the NBL’s Most Valuable Player and joined Walton Jr (15.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6.2 assists across 33 games) in the All-NBL First Team. Vasiljevic (13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds across 35 games), Simon (10.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 35 games), Soares (9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds across 35 games), Noi (8 points and 3.7 rebounds across 34 games), Glover (7.1 points across 31 games), Jordan Hunter (5.8 points and 3.2 rebounds across 35 games), Galloway (5.1 points across 30 games) and Bruce (4.3 points across 35 games) completed Sydney’s main rotation.

Bayles remained on leave and did not participate in the postseason. After Cairns defeated Perth in the Play-In Tournament, Sydney opened the semifinals at Qudos Bank Arena with a 95-87 victory. Cooks (27 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block), Walton Jr (21 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Soares (14 points and 4 rebounds) led the Kings, while DJ Hogg (24 points), Jonah Antonio (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) and Scott (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) led Cairns.

Game two moved to the Cairns Convention Centre, where Hogg (25 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block), Tahjere McCall (20 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals) and Sam Waardenburg (15 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks) led Cairns to a 93-82 victory. Walton Jr (22 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals), Simon (19 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Noi (12 points and 4 rebounds) led Sydney, while Cooks injured his ankle, Buford was ejected and Soares was later fined for striking Waardenburg.

Sydney recovered in the deciding game, defeating Cairns 79-64 behind Vasiljevic (15 points and 5 rebounds), Cooks (11 points and 11 rebounds), Noi (11 points and 11 rebounds) and Walton Jr (10 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, and 1 steal), while Ben Ayre (20 points and 4 assists) and Waardenburg (17 points and 12 rebounds) led the Taipans.

New Zealand opened the Championship Series by defeating Sydney 95-87 at Qudos Bank Arena. Simon (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks), Hunter (15 points and 4 rebounds) and Walton Jr (12 points and 6 assists) led the Kings, while William McDowell-White (19 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals), Barry Brown Jr (19 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Jarrell Brantley (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals) led New Zealand. Walton Jr suffered severe cramp late in the game, while Cooks left the court with leg corks.

Game two moved to Spark Arena, where Walton Jr played only 4:50 and Cooks lasted 9:05 before both were unable to continue because of their leg problems. Noi (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals), Vasiljevic (16 points and 4 rebounds), Simon (12 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 steals) and Glover (12 points) led the undermanned Kings to an 81-74 victory, while Brown Jr (21 points and 3 rebounds), Brantley (20 points and 6 rebounds) and Izayah Le’afa (14 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led New Zealand.

Back in Sydney, Vasiljevic (15 points and 4 rebounds), Soares (14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks), Simon (13 points, 6 assists, and 2 blocks) and Walton Jr (12 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists) led the Kings to a 91-68 victory in front of an NBL-record crowd of 18,049. McDowell-White (11 points and 6 rebounds), Brantley (10 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Brown Jr (10 points and 3 assists) led New Zealand as Sydney moved ahead 2-1.

New Zealand forced a deciding game by defeating Sydney 80-70 at Spark Arena. Walton Jr (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists), Glover (12 points and 2 steals) and Cooks (10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) led Sydney, while Brantley (23 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block), Brown Jr (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and McDowell-White (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) combined for 62 points for the Breakers.

The Championship Series returned to Qudos Bank Arena for game five, where New Zealand led by 12 points during the first half before Sydney took control with a 14-0 run late in the fourth quarter. Walton Jr (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists), Cooks (19 points and 11 rebounds), Glover (12 points and 9 rebounds) and Noi (11 points) led the Kings, while Brown Jr (22 points and 4 rebounds), Brantley (16 points and 4 rebounds) and McDowell-White (12 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) led New Zealand. Sydney won 77-69 in front of an NBL-record crowd of 18,124, completing back-to-back championships and claiming the club’s fifth title, with Walton Jr named Championship Series MVP as the five-game series attracted 67,811 fans.

It was the last game of the season, and it delivered all sorts of drama.

Re-live the best bits thanks to @HungryJacksAU ⤵ pic.twitter.com/KxOiNZnVDW

— NBL (@NBL) March 15, 2023

ILLAWARRA HAWKS
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. Tim Coenraad and Kevin White retired, while Akoldah Gak (to Cairns), Mangok Mathiang (to New Zealand), Alex Mudronja (to Cairns), Michael Frazier II, Peyton Siva, Lachie Dent and Deng Deng departed. Captain Sam Froling, Tyler Harvey, Justin Robinson, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, William Hickey, Daniel Grida and Harry Morris returned, while Jackomas added Todd Blanchfield (via Perth), Mason Peatling (via Melbourne), Biwali Bayles (via Sydney), Lachlan Olbrich (via UC Riverside), Hyunjung Lee (via Santa Cruz), AJ Johnson (via Southern California Academy), Gary Clark (via Mexico City) and Luca Yates (via NCAA).

Illawarra opened the season against Sydney at the WIN Entertainment Centre on September 30, where Bayles (3 points, 2 assists, and 1 steal) played 10:57 off the bench in his first game for the Hawks, but the Kings won 96-81. Harvey (19 points and 3 steals) and Grida (14 points and 7 rebounds) led Illawarra, while Kouat Noi (23 points and 4 rebounds) was Sydney’s leading scorer.

Bayles (1.7 points across 21 games) joined Illawarra on a two-year development deal after two seasons with Sydney, having averaged 17 points, 6.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds for North Gold Coast during the 2023 NBL1 North season. “I am excited to join the Hawks and am thankful to Mat, Jacob, and the club for providing me the opportunity to develop my game further here in the Illawarra.” He came off the bench in every appearance, providing additional ball-handling and defensive pressure in limited minutes.

Bayles’ best scoring game came against his former club at the WIN Entertainment Centre on November 3, where Bayles (7 points and 1 assist) scored seven points in 8:05, but Sydney defeated Illawarra 103-83. Clark (23 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) and Froling (13 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Hawks, while Jaylen Adams (16 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals) controlled the game for the Kings.

Illawarra held a 2-7 record when Jackomas and the club parted ways, with assistant Justin Tatum taking over as interim head coach. Tatum’s first game came in Auckland on November 19, where Bayles produced his best all-round performance of the season. Bayles (5 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) played a season-high 13:45 and pressured Parker Jackson-Cartwright throughout the game as Illawarra defeated New Zealand 69-65. Harvey (16 points) and Froling (16 points and 12 rebounds) led the Hawks, while Jackson-Cartwright (20 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal) was New Zealand’s best as Tatum opened his tenure with a win.

Clark (17 points and 7.8 rebounds across 33 games) led Illawarra in scoring, won the club MVP and Members’ Choice awards 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), Lee (7.3 points and 3.7 rebounds across 32 games), Swaka Lo Buluk (6 points across 32 games) and Hickey (5.2 points across 25 games) were the other main contributors. Swaka Lo Buluk was named the Hawks’ Defensive Player of the Year as Illawarra improved from 80.8 to 91.6 points per game and finished fourth with a 14-14 record.

Illawarra opened the postseason in Tasmania, where Bayles did not take the court as Clark (21 points and 10 rebounds) and Harvey (15 points) led the Hawks, while Jack McVeigh (26 points and 11 rebounds) and Will Magnay (25 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks) carried the JackJumpers to a 92-76 victory. The Hawks then hosted New Zealand in an elimination game, where Bayles (0 points in eight seconds) appeared briefly as Robinson (26 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) and Froling (21 points and 9 rebounds) led Illawarra, while Jackson-Cartwright (19 points and 9 assists) and Zylan Cheatham (14 points and 9 rebounds) were the Breakers’ best in an 88-85 Hawks victory.

The semifinal series opened at John Cain Arena, where Froling (26 points and 5 rebounds), Clark (22 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Harvey (15 points) led Illawarra, while Matthew Dellavedova (30 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 steals), Luke Travers (24 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) and Chris Goulding (18 points) powered Melbourne to a 115-106 overtime win as Bayles did not take the court. Game two moved to Wollongong, where Clark (31 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 assists), Harvey (23 points), Froling (19 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Hickey (18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) led the Hawks, while Dellavedova (20 points and 8 assists), Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (18 points and 7 rebounds) and Ian Clark (17 points) were Melbourne’s best as Illawarra won 113-108 in overtime, with Bayles again not taking the court. Game three returned to Melbourne, where Froling (23 points and 4 rebounds), Robinson (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Clark (14 points and 6 rebounds) led Illawarra, while Shea Ili (22 points), Travers (15 points and 11 rebounds) and Goulding (14 points) carried United, with Bayles not taking the court as Melbourne won 100-94.

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, Mason Peatling, Todd Blanchfield and Daniel Grida returned from the championship roster. Tatum added JaVale McGee (via Bayamón), Jonah Bolden (via New Zealand), JaQuori McLaughlin (via Jakarta), Harry Froling (via Melbourne), Jackson Ball (via Hawke’s Bay) and Johny Narkle (via Geraldton), with Froling unavailable while recovering from the Achilles injury suffered during the previous Championship Series.

Illawarra raised its championship banner at the WIN Entertainment Centre on September 27, where Bayles (4 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) provided energy and defensive pressure off the bench, but Tasmania defeated the Hawks 91-86. McGee (32 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks) and Harvey (19 points and 6 assists) led Illawarra, while Bryce Hamilton (21 points and 6 rebounds) was Tasmania’s best as Bayles received additional backcourt minutes with Hickey sidelined by an eye injury.

Bayles (2.2 points across 27 games) returned to Illawarra on a two-year deal with a team option for the second season, filling the Hawks’ final Australian roster position. He arrived after earning Swiss League All-Domestic Team honours with BBC Nyon, averaging 28.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists during his return to the Sydney Comets and joining the New York Knicks for NBA Summer League. Tatum primarily used him as a backup guard, with Bayles making seven starts while providing defensive pressure and another ball-handler when injuries affected the rotation.

His best scoring game came against Brisbane at the WIN Entertainment Centre on October 11, where Bayles (12 points and 4 assists) made six of eight shots as Illawarra defeated the Bullets 116-89 and collected its first victory after an 0-3 start. Harvey (22 points, 10 assists, and 5 steals) and McGee (13 points and 12 rebounds) led the Hawks, while Casey Prather (28 points and 9 rebounds) was Brisbane’s best.

Bayles received his first career start in his 64th NBL appearance against Tasmania on December 31, finishing with 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block as Illawarra held on for a 92-90 victory. Froling (16 points and 10 rebounds) and McGee (16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 blocks) anchored the Hawks, while Josh Bannan (25 points) led Tasmania as Illawarra improved to 7-13 and remained in the postseason race.

McLaughlin (7.7 points and 4 assists across 3 games) was released following Illawarra’s winless 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.

McGee (19.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks) and Harvey (16.9 points and 3.6 assists) carried most of Illawarra’s offence, with Hickey (12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists), Swaka Lo Buluk (8 points), 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 collected the Players’ Player and Most Improved Player awards, Swaka Lo Buluk received Defensive Player of the Year and Peatling was presented with the Coach’s Award.

Illawarra finished eighth with a 13-20 record and closed the season at MyState Bank Arena on February 18, where Bayles (0 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist) played five minutes as Harvey (21 points) and Peterson (20 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals) led the Hawks, while Josh Bannan (17 points) was Tasmania’s best in a 103-70 Illawarra victory.

Biwali Bayles currently plays for the Illawarra Hawks and has played 75 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 2.3 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1 assists since entering the league in 2021.