NICKNAME/S: Yuns G

BIO: a athletic, slashing, driving, defensive wing who can guard multiple positions, Daniel Grida was born in Perth (WA) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Lakeside Lightning as a junior before accepting a scholarship to Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence. Grida received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2017. He spent three years year there and played for the program’s state league team (2017, 2018).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Daniel Grida made his NBL debut with the Illawarra Hawks at 20 years of age. He scored four points in his first game.

After falling just short of the playoffs in 2018, Illawarra underwent significant roster changes, losing several key players, including Demitrius Conger (to Serbia), Rotnei Clarke (to Greece), Nicholas Kay (to Perth), Delvon Johnson (to Slovakia), and longtime contributors Cody Ellis and Rhys Martin, who both retired. To fill these gaps, the Hawks brought in Jordair Jett (via NZNBL), Brian Conklin (via France), David Andersen (via Melbourne), Cedric Jackson (via USA), and rookies Emmett Naar and Daniel Grida, while retaining AJ Ogilvy, Tim Coenraad, and Nic Pozoglou.

The Hawks began their campaign with an epic quadruple-overtime loss to Melbourne (122–123) in one of the most memorable games of the season. Despite the tough start, Illawarra showed resilience with key wins, including a road victory over Cairns (104–93) and a two-game win streak against Brisbane (86–78) and Adelaide (120–109) in October. However, inconsistency plagued the team, and a four-game losing streak in November, which included losses to Perth (81–90) and Sydney (79–104), derailed their momentum. The Hawks finished the season outside playoff contention with a 12-16 record.

Rookie Daniel Grida (5.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.6 assists) proved a valuable contributor off the bench, showcasing his defensive skills and energy. His standout performances included a 17-point effort against New Zealand (14 Feb 2019) and a 13-point, 2-rebound game against Brisbane (7 Feb 2019). Despite his limited role, Grida finished third in the league’s Rookie of the Year voting, solidifying himself as a promising young talent.

Illawarra’s leaders included Brian Conklin (14.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists), Todd Blanchfield (13.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists), who earned team MVP honours, and Jordair Jett (11.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists). Despite their individual performances, the team struggled to maintain consistency, missing the postseason in a highly competitive year.

2019/20
In the 2019/20 season, Illawarra faced another challenging year, finishing last on the ladder with a 5-23 record. Grida featured in 27 games, averaging 4.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.6 assists while continuing to develop his game. The Hawks struggled to find their rhythm amid injuries and roster changes, resulting in their second consecutive season without playoff action.

2020/21
In April 2020, the Hawks’ season began with the team falling into voluntary administration, with creditors voting to liquidate the Hawks one month later. The NBL, however, vowed to keep the club alive, and on 17 June 2020, the NBL announced that Dorry Kordahi, Bryan Colangelo, and Michael Proctor had been awarded the license for the club.

Under the agreement with the new ownership, the team was renamed “The Hawks” in an effort to broaden its appeal in New South Wales. Shortly after, it was announced that Brian Goorjian would join the team as head coach. With all players needing to renew their contracts under the new ownership, Sam Froling and Emmett Naar were the only players from the previous season’s roster to return. The revamped roster began with the signing of Deng Adel, who had just completed a short stint with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, and Cam Bairstow, who had returned to Australia after spending a season in Lithuania cut short due to COVID-19. Both players were part of the Australian Boomers national squad. Justinian Jessup, signed as a Next Star player, was placed on a two-year contract, while imports Tyler Harvey and Justin Simon were also brought in to focus on offense and defense, respectively.

The Hawks’ season began with plenty of off-court drama. Fan-favorites AJ Ogilvy and Tim Coenraad were omitted from the roster but later added as injury replacements. Meanwhile, a campaign to reinstate “Illawarra” in the team’s name gained traction, eventually leading to the name being reinstated in early February ahead of the club’s first home game.

Illawarra faced numerous challenges during the season, including the loss of Cam Bairstow, who was ruled out for the remainder of the season after missing nine games with a hip issue, and Daniel Grida, who ruptured the ACL in his right knee while playing in the state league. Deng Adel also struggled to make an impact (5.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2 assists) and requested a release midway through the season to protect his NBA aspirations.

The Hawks rallied in the latter half of the season, winning eight of their final 10 games to secure a third-place finish (20-16) and their first postseason appearance since 2017. Scoring proved to be a challenge for the Hawks, as they finished with the lowest points-per-game average in the league (81.5) and the worst field goal percentage (42.5%). Despite these struggles, the Hawks pushed into the semifinals, where they faced the defending champions, the Perth Wildcats. Illawarra managed a two-point win in Game 1 but lost Games 2 and 3, ending their playoff run.

Daniel Grida, who returned mid-season in Round 12, appeared in 18 games, averaging 3.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.7 steals. However, his comeback was short-lived, as he re-injured his ACL during preseason training in September 2021, ruling him out for the entire 2021/22 season.

2021/22
Illawarra entered the 2021/22 season with high expectations after nearly defeating Perth in the previous year’s semifinals. Tyler Harvey re-signed on a three-year deal, while Antonius Cleveland and Xavier Rathan-Mayes joined as key imports. Unfortunately, Daniel Grida suffered a re-injury to his ACL during preseason training in September 2021, ruling him out for the entire season.

The Hawks finished second (19-9) but again fell short in the playoffs, losing to Sydney in the semifinals. Duop Reath (15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks) claimed team MVP honours, while Antonius Cleveland (14.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.1 blocks) earned the Damian Martin Trophy for Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the All-NBL First Team.

2022/23
Grida returned for the 2022/23 season under new head coach Jacob Jackomas, following Brian Goorjian’s departure. However, injuries and roster changes plagued Illawarra, resulting in a league-worst 3-25 record. Grida appeared in 18 games, averaging 3.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.7 steals. Despite the team’s struggles, his resilience and work ethic were evident throughout the season.

One of Grida’s standout moments came in a game against New Zealand, where his defensive effort and energy off the bench contributed to a rare victory for the Hawks. Despite the win, Illawarra’s season was marked by inconsistency and injuries, making it one of the most challenging campaigns in the club’s history.

While Grida’s statistical contributions were modest, his determination to overcome adversity and his commitment to the team highlighted his value as a player. As Illawarra prepares to rebuild, Grida remains a vital part of their plans for the future.

2023/24
Daniel Grida exercised a player option for the 2023/24 season but instead agreed to a new two-year deal, ensuring he remains in Hawks colours through the NBL25 season.

“Dan provides us with a real x-factor, and his athleticism is a difference-maker on both ends of the floor. With a full off-season under his belt, we expect Dan to play a pivotal role for us in the NBL24 season,” said Hawks GM of Basketball Mat Campbell on re-signing Grida.

Daniel Grida currently plays for the Illawarra Hawks and has played 115 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 4.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.4 assists since entering the league in 2018.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Illawarra Hawks – 2 Year Deal (2023-25)

HIGHLIGHTS:

Dan Boyce (829 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.