Kings vs Hawks: Ep. 2 — Hawks/Kings defections and the rivalry grows through the 90’s
October 19, 2025
Chuck Harmison
- Nationality: USA/GER
- Date of Birth: 24/02/58
- Place of Birth: Germany
- Position: F/C
- Height (CM): 202
- Weight (KG): 97
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Iowa State (1976-1980)
- NBL DEBUT: 13/02/82
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 20/09/96
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 38
- NBL History: Nunawading 1982-83 | Coburg 1983-84 | Bankstown 1985 | West Sydney 1985-86 | Illawarra 1987-96
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Born in Germany but raised in Ames, Iowa (USA), Harmison was one of the most coveted recruits in the nation coming out of high school. The 6-9 center led Ames High School to a undefeated state championship season in 1976. He then chose to remain in Ames for college where he put up solid numbers for Iowa State from 1977-80.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Chuck Harmison made his NBL debut with the Nunawading Spectres at 23 years of age. He scored 17 points in his first game.
In 1983, the Spectres paired Harmison with his friend and college teammate Dean Uthoff to form a formiddable frontcourt combination.
On the 27th of July, 1991 Harmison was a part of the highest scoring game in NBL history when the Illawarra Hawks lost to the Melbourne Tigers 186-158 in a game where a total of 344 points were scored. Harmison contributed two points in 14 minutes of playing time. Remarkably the Hawks shot 76% from the field, which remains the highest shooting percentage ever recorded by a team in a losing effort.
In 2008, Chuck Harmison’s no.4 Hawks jersey was retired.
After retiring Illawarra made Harmison the general manager of the team, a title he held for seven years. He then acted as the NBL general manager for nine years.
Chuck Harmison played fifteen seasons across five NBL teams. This included the Nunawading Spectres, Coburg Giants, West Sydney Westars and Illawarra Hawks. He averaged 12.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 386 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 18th in total rebounds
– 24th in total blocks
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 38 | Illawarra | 9-17 (10) | 25 | 419.0 | 113 | 81 | 23 | 30 | 51 | 14 | 13 | 22 | 53 | 49 | 137 | 36% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 15 | 21 | 71% | 38% | 36% | 14 |
| 1995 | 37 | Illawarra | 14-12 (7) | 29 | 917.0 | 353 | 182 | 54 | 40 | 142 | 27 | 21 | 42 | 75 | 150 | 257 | 58% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 53 | 65 | 82% | 61% | 58% | 29 |
| 1994 | 36 | Illawarra | 13-13 (10) | 27 | 912.0 | 303 | 183 | 60 | 66 | 117 | 30 | 20 | 57 | 80 | 132 | 265 | 50% | 0 | 2 | 0% | 39 | 50 | 78% | 52% | 50% | 24 |
| 1993 | 35 | Illawarra | 15-11 (6) | 28 | 1,000.0 | 367 | 240 | 70 | 89 | 151 | 24 | 21 | 43 | 85 | 165 | 277 | 60% | 1 | 3 | 33% | 36 | 57 | 63% | 60% | 60% | 33 |
| 1992 | 34 | Illawarra | 13-11 (5) | 26 | 765.0 | 262 | 148 | 56 | 66 | 82 | 25 | 15 | 45 | 90 | 117 | 220 | 53% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 28 | 44 | 64% | 54% | 53% | 28 |
| 1991 | 33 | Illawarra | 6-20 (11) | 26 | 549.0 | 202 | 105 | 66 | 40 | 65 | 16 | 14 | 27 | 65 | 91 | 152 | 60% | 1 | 2 | 50% | 19 | 29 | 66% | 61% | 60% | 18 |
| 1990 | 32 | Illawarra | 13-13 (8) | 26 | 655.0 | 246 | 143 | 68 | 41 | 102 | 29 | 20 | 33 | 80 | 112 | 215 | 52% | 1 | 8 | 13% | 21 | 32 | 66% | 53% | 52% | 18 |
| 1989 | 31 | Illawarra | 7-17 (11) | 23 | 734.0 | 301 | 166 | 76 | 50 | 116 | 19 | 18 | 30 | 74 | 138 | 278 | 50% | 4 | 13 | 31% | 21 | 27 | 78% | 52% | 50% | 38 |
| 1988 | 30 | Illawarra | 11-13 (7) | 24 | 708.0 | 242 | 144 | 27 | 45 | 99 | 34 | 19 | 22 | 56 | 105 | 221 | 48% | 2 | 6 | 33% | 30 | 39 | 77% | 51% | 48% | 22 |
| 1987 | 29 | West Sydney | 8-18 (11) | 26 | 1,074.0 | 398 | 263 | 64 | 99 | 164 | 21 | 16 | 50 | 80 | 179 | 354 | 51% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 40 | 55 | 73% | 52% | 51% | 33 |
| 1986 | 28 | West Sydney | 15-12 (4) | 27 | 0.0 | 484 | 337 | 63 | 141 | 196 | 40 | 30 | 68 | 93 | 214 | 429 | 50% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 56 | 71 | 79% | 52% | 50% | 36 |
| 1985 | 27 | Coburg | 18-8 (5) | 21 | 0.0 | 349 | 206 | 38 | 92 | 114 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 72 | 155 | 324 | 48% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 39 | 57 | 68% | 50% | 48% | 28 |
| 1984 | 26 | Coburg | 18-6 (3) | 26 | 0.0 | 418 | 303 | 23 | 102 | 201 | 24 | 44 | 34 | 68 | 180 | 379 | 47% | 1 | 3 | 33% | 57 | 73 | 78% | 51% | 48% | 28 |
| 1983 | 25 | Nunawading | 15-7 (5) | 25 | 0.0 | 363 | 171 | 33 | 69 | 102 | 22 | 15 | 30 | 59 | 148 | 282 | 52% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 67 | 92 | 73% | 56% | 52% | 32 |
| 1982 | 24 | Nunawading | 19-7 (3) | 27 | 0.0 | 530 | 314 | 40 | 118 | 196 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 78 | 230 | 420 | 55% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 70 | 104 | 67% | 56% | 55% | 31 | Totals | 386 | 7733 | 4931 | 2986 | 761 | 1088 | 1898 | 349 | 294 | 567 | 1108 | 2165 | 4210 | 51.4% | 10 | 40 | 25.0% | 591 | 816 | 72.4% | 54% | 52% | 38 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 38 | Illawarra | 9-17 (10) | 25 | 16.8 | 4.5 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 5.5 | 36% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.6 | 0.8 | 71% | 38% | 36% | 14 |
| 1995 | 37 | Illawarra | 14-12 (7) | 29 | 31.6 | 12.2 | 6.3 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 4.9 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 5.2 | 8.9 | 58% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.8 | 2.2 | 82% | 61% | 58% | 29 |
| 1994 | 36 | Illawarra | 13-13 (10) | 27 | 33.8 | 11.2 | 6.8 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 4.9 | 9.8 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 1.4 | 1.9 | 78% | 52% | 50% | 24 |
| 1993 | 35 | Illawarra | 15-11 (6) | 28 | 35.7 | 13.1 | 8.6 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 5.4 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 5.9 | 9.9 | 60% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 33% | 1.3 | 2.0 | 63% | 60% | 60% | 33 |
| 1992 | 34 | Illawarra | 13-11 (5) | 26 | 29.4 | 10.1 | 5.7 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 8.5 | 53% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.1 | 1.7 | 64% | 54% | 53% | 28 |
| 1991 | 33 | Illawarra | 6-20 (11) | 26 | 21.1 | 7.8 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 5.8 | 60% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 50% | 0.7 | 1.1 | 66% | 61% | 60% | 18 |
| 1990 | 32 | Illawarra | 13-13 (8) | 26 | 25.2 | 9.5 | 5.5 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 3.9 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 4.3 | 8.3 | 52% | 0.0 | 0.3 | 13% | 0.8 | 1.2 | 66% | 53% | 52% | 18 |
| 1989 | 31 | Illawarra | 7-17 (11) | 23 | 31.9 | 13.1 | 7.2 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 5.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 6.0 | 12.1 | 50% | 0.2 | 0.6 | 31% | 0.9 | 1.2 | 78% | 52% | 50% | 38 |
| 1988 | 30 | Illawarra | 11-13 (7) | 24 | 29.5 | 10.1 | 6.0 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 4.1 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 4.4 | 9.2 | 48% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 33% | 1.3 | 1.6 | 77% | 51% | 48% | 22 |
| 1987 | 29 | West Sydney | 8-18 (11) | 26 | 41.3 | 15.3 | 10.1 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 6.3 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 6.9 | 13.6 | 51% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.5 | 2.1 | 73% | 52% | 51% | 33 |
| 1986 | 28 | West Sydney | 15-12 (4) | 27 | 0.0 | 17.9 | 12.5 | 2.3 | 5.2 | 7.3 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 7.9 | 15.9 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 2.1 | 2.6 | 79% | 52% | 50% | 36 |
| 1985 | 27 | Coburg | 18-8 (5) | 21 | 0.0 | 16.6 | 9.8 | 1.8 | 4.4 | 5.4 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 3.4 | 7.4 | 15.4 | 48% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.9 | 2.7 | 68% | 50% | 48% | 28 |
| 1984 | 26 | Coburg | 18-6 (3) | 26 | 0.0 | 16.1 | 11.7 | 0.9 | 3.9 | 7.7 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 6.9 | 14.6 | 47% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 33% | 2.2 | 2.8 | 78% | 51% | 48% | 28 |
| 1983 | 25 | Nunawading | 15-7 (5) | 25 | 0.0 | 14.5 | 6.8 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 4.1 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 5.9 | 11.3 | 52% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 2.7 | 3.7 | 73% | 55.7% | 52% | 32 |
| 1982 | 24 | Nunawading | 19-7 (3) | 27 | 0.0 | 19.6 | 11.6 | 1.5 | 4.4 | 7.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 8.5 | 15.6 | 55% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 2.6 | 3.9 | 67% | 56.5% | 55% | 31 | Total | 386 | 20.0 | 12.8 | 7.7 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 4.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 5.6 | 10.9 | 51.4% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 25.0% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 72.4% | 54% | 52% | 38 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 38 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 0 |
|---|
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Belgium - St Truiden (1980–1981)
Chuck Harmison played one season in Belgium with St Truiden during the 1980–81 campaign, having arrived in Europe in August 1980, and that year in Belgium came before his move to Australia.
He landed the St Truiden contract after being linked to an agent-run try-out camp, where a Belgian-league connection identified him as a fit while the club was seeking a power forward, and Harmison later described the stint as a roughly nine-month stay in which most local teammates worked day jobs and English-language media access was limited.
COLLEGE
Chuck Harmison played four seasons at Iowa State from 1976–77 to 1979–80, arriving in Ames in the same recruiting class as future Australian NBL legend Dean Uthoff and beginning his Cyclones career under head coach Lynn Nance at Hilton Coliseum.
As a freshman in 1976–77, Harmison appeared in 26 games and averaged 6.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game as Iowa State finished 8–19 overall and 3–11 in Big Eight play, with the season ending in the first round of the Big Eight tournament in a 97–62 loss to Kansas State.
In 1977–78, Iowa State surged to a 14–13 overall record and went 9–5 in the Big Eight to finish tied for second, with Harmison again providing steady frontcourt production at 6.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game over 27 games and the Cyclones’ season concluding with a 65–63 first-round Big Eight tournament loss to Missouri.
Harmison’s junior year in 1978–79 was a more turbulent season for the Cyclones, who finished 11–16 overall and 6–8 in conference to place sixth in the Big Eight, while he played 24 games and averaged 7.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest before Iowa State fell 91–70 to Kansas in the opening round of the Big Eight tournament.
As a senior in 1979–80, Harmison produced career-best averages of 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game across 27 games as Iowa State again went 11–16 overall and finished seventh in the Big Eight at 5–9, with Lynn Nance resigning on January 29, 1980 and assistants Rick Samuels and Reggie Warford taking over for the remainder of the season before the Cyclones lost 101–87 to Kansas State in the first round of the Big Eight tournament.
Across his Iowa State career, Harmison totalled 862 points and 594 rebounds, finishing his Cyclones tenure as a proven Big Eight frontcourt contributor alongside Uthoff during a four-year stretch that included a second-place conference finish in 1977–78 and a senior-year scoring jump in 1979–80.
LIFE AFTER BASKETBALL
Harmison was a general manager for the Illawarra/Wollongong Hawks for seven years, and the general manager of the NBL from 2004-11.
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