BIO: Lachlan Timothy Dent was born in Campbelltown (VIC) before growing up in Wollongong, NSW. He attended The Holy Spirit College while playing all of his junior basketball in the Illawarra basketball program.

Dent represented both NSW Country prior to playing the NBL, he also tested his chances with AFL Football and spent a year with the Sydney Swans Academy. Dent would play in the NEAFL games and in a U18s national’s game. The experience led him to believe basketball was a better option for him and began training with the Hawks prior to the 2018/19 season.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Lachlan Timothy Dent made his NBL debut with the Illawarra Hawks at 19 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

After finishing seventh with a 12-16 record and missing the playoffs the previous season, Illawarra entered the new campaign under first-year head coach Matt Flinn. Kevin White (to Adelaide), Brian Conklin, Jordair Jett and Cedric Jackson departed, while the Hawks added former NBA guard Aaron Brooks, Next Star LaMelo Ball, Josh Boone (via Melbourne), Sunday Dech (via Perth) and Sam Froling (via Creighton) around returning players Todd Blanchfield and AJ Ogilvy.

Local guard Lachlan Dent signed with Illawarra for the season as a training player. He was not part of the regular roster and was instead called into the playing squad when injuries created opportunities.

He made his NBL debut at 19 against Brisbane on December 7, playing just over two minutes and going scoreless as Illawarra lost 101-91. Angus Glover (17 points and 6 rebounds) and Blanchfield (17 points) led the Hawks, while Lamar Patterson (19 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) led Brisbane.

Dent (2.5 points across 2 games) appeared only twice during his first NBL season, with his limited opportunities coming from his status as a training player and injury replacement rather than an injury of his own.

Illawarra’s season was disrupted by the loss of Brooks (17.9 points and 4.1 assists across 7 games) to a torn Achilles and Ball (17 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1.7 steals across 12 games) to a bruised foot, while Blanchfield (13.3 points and 3.9 rebounds across 28 games) became the team’s leading scorer and won the Hawks’ MVP award for the second consecutive season. Dech (9.2 points and 3.7 rebounds across 27 games), Ogilvy (8.5 points and 6.3 rebounds across 26 games) and Boone (8.2 points and 5.8 rebounds across 24 games) were also major contributors, while Ball was named NBL Rookie of the Year.

“My agent just kind of called me and said, ‘we’ve got some good news for ya’. I just yelled some expletives out. I was just so happy,” Dent said of receiving his opportunity with the Hawks.

Dent’s best game of the season came in his second and final appearance against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on February 14, where he made both of his field goal attempts, including his only three-pointer, to finish with 5 points in five minutes. Dech (26 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Glover (15 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Illawarra, while Jae’Sean Tate (19 points and 5 rebounds) led Sydney to a 98-82 victory as the Hawks finished ninth with a 5-23 record and ten consecutive losses.

2020/21
Following a five-win season which left Illawarra at the bottom of the ladder, the club entered voluntary administration before the NBL awarded the licence to Dorry Kordahi, Bryan Colangelo and Michael Proctor. The team was renamed The Hawks and Brian Goorjian was appointed head coach, with Sam Froling and Emmett Naar the only full-time players from the previous season to return. Cam Bairstow (via Vilnius), Deng Adel (via Long Island), Deng Deng (via New Zealand), Justinian Jessup (via Boise State), Tyler Harvey (via Ulm), Justin Simon (via Windy City), Isaac White (via Stanford) and Max Darling (via Croatia) joined the rebuilt roster. Local guard Lachlan Dent signed a one-year development deal in January after previously appearing twice as an injury replacement. “I kinda just kept showing up,” Dent said. “It’s been my dream to play pro ball for a long time.”

Dent (0 points) made his first appearance of the season against New Zealand on February 22, playing 3:16 as Illawarra defeated the Breakers 102-88 behind Harvey (22 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals), Jessup (20 points and 3 steals) and Bairstow (17 points), while Corey Webster (22 points) and Tai Webster (20 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists) led New Zealand.

Dent (1.4 points across 12 games) remained outside Goorjian’s regular rotation for most of the season, with his minutes generally coming when games were decided or injuries created additional opportunities. He did not suffer a documented injury during the season, with his limited appearances due to his development-player role and selection rather than injury.

Dent (2 points) received 7:29 against South East Melbourne on April 9 as Illawarra defeated the Phoenix 82-80, with Jessup (26 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals), Harvey (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Froling (10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) leading the Hawks, while Kyle Adnam (22 points) was South East Melbourne’s leading scorer.

With Daniel Grida unavailable due to a dislocated thumb, Dent (3 points) played eight minutes against Melbourne on May 18, with Deng (15 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals) leading Illawarra while Chris Goulding (25 points) and Jock Landale (21 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks) led United to a 102-87 win.

Dent’s best game came in Illawarra’s final regular-season game against Sydney on June 3, where Dent (8 points, 1 rebound, and 5 assists) made both of his three-point attempts in 9:24. White (12 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals), Naar (12 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Froling (12 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks) also contributed, while Jarell Martin (23 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Xavier Cooks (19 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Sydney to a 79-73 win.

Harvey (20 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.5 steals across 37 games) was named to the All-NBL First Team, Froling (11.3 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across 39 games) won the NBL Most Improved Player award and Simon (8.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.8 steals across 39 games) won the Damian Martin Trophy as Illawarra finished third with a 20-16 record and returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Dent did not enter game one of the semifinals at RAC Arena, where Jessup (17 points and 4 rebounds), Simon (16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals), Froling (10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and Harvey (10 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals) led Illawarra, while Todd Blanchfield (24 points) and John Mooney (13 points and 15 rebounds) led Perth. Simon’s putback dunk with 15 seconds remaining gave the Hawks a 74-72 win.

Game two moved to the WIN Entertainment Centre, where Dent again did not enter the game as Harvey (24 points and 4 steals), Jessup (11 points) and Deng (9 points and 4 rebounds) led Illawarra, while Mooney (18 points and 10 rebounds), Luke Travers (13 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Clint Steindl (12 points) led Perth to a 79-71 win.

Dent did not play in game three at RAC Arena, where Froling (14 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks), Harvey (10 points) and Simon (9 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Illawarra, while Blanchfield (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals), Mooney (16 points and 15 rebounds) and Mitch Norton (15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) led Perth to a 79-71 win.

2021/22
After pushing Perth to a deciding game in the NBL21 semifinals, Illawarra entered Brian Goorjian’s second season with Justin Simon (to Ludwigsburg), Cam Bairstow (to Adelaide) and Max Darling (released) departing. Antonius Cleveland, Harry Froling (via Brisbane) and Duop Reath (via Serbia) joined the Hawks, while Xavier Rathan-Mayes replaced Travis Trice (released) before the season.

Lachlan Dent returned on a one-year deal as a development player. “He is an energetic young guard who is still learning a lot about himself and the game,” Goorjian said.

Dent (0 points across 6 games) played 12 minutes for the season and did not miss any games through a confirmed injury or illness, with his limited opportunities reflecting his development-player role and Illawarra’s experienced guard rotation. Dent (1 steal) produced his best game against New Zealand on March 1, playing three minutes as Illawarra won 102-87 behind Justinian Jessup (23 points, 3 steals, and 2 blocks) and Tyler Harvey (19 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists), while Hugo Besson (20 points and 7 rebounds) led the Breakers.

Harvey (16.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.7 steals) led Illawarra in scoring, Reath (15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks) collected the club’s MVP award and Cleveland (14.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2 steals) won the NBL Defensive Player of the Year award and was selected to the All-NBL First Team. The Hawks finished second with a 19-9 record, while Dent did not play in either semifinal as Sydney completed a two-game sweep.

2022/23
After reaching the semifinals in consecutive seasons, Illawarra entered the 2022/23 campaign without Brian Goorjian, who departed to coach the Bay Area Dragons in the East Asia Super League. Long-time assistant Jacob Jackomas was promoted to head coach, but Duop Reath (to Lebanon), Justinian Jessup (to Spain), Antonius Cleveland (to Adelaide), Xavier Rathan-Mayes (to Melbourne) and Harry Froling (to Brisbane) departed, while AJ Ogilvy retired. Deng Deng (via Brisbane), Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (via Sydney) and Mangok Mathiang (via Casey) joined the rebuilt roster.

Lachlan Dent re-signed as a development player for his third season with Illawarra after averaging 17 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds with the Brisbane Capitals during the NBL1 North season. Jackomas said, “He’s been a part of the team for the past two semi-final campaigns.”

The development guard’s best game came off the bench in Illawarra’s season opener against Sydney at the WIN Entertainment Centre on October 1, where he made all seven field-goal attempts and five three-pointers to finish with a career-high 19 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal in 15 minutes. Derrick Walton Jr (32 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal), Xavier Cooks (24 points) and Justin Simon (19 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 steals) led Sydney to a 106-97 win, while Justin Robinson (10 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) suffered a meniscus tear during the third quarter before completing the game and undergoing season-ending surgery.

LACHIE 2 HOTTY.@lachlandent_ is having himself a night 🔥

A career-high 19 and counting

Watch #NBL23 live on ESPN via Kayo & Foxtel pic.twitter.com/P2WQVxJkmw

— NBL (@NBL) October 1, 2022

Dent (4.9 points across 25 games) made ten starts and led Illawarra in assists, including ties, in seven games as the injuries around him created the largest role of his NBL career. He remained available throughout the season, with his three non-appearances against Cairns on December 10, Sydney on December 16 and Melbourne on December 18 coming through coach’s decisions as the backcourt rotation tightened around the team’s imports and returning players.

His first start came against South East Melbourne on October 6, where Dent (7 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal) recorded his season-high in assists. George King (16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) and the Hawks’ leading scorer (22 points and 5 rebounds) provided support, while Junior Madut (21 points and 7 rebounds) led the Phoenix as Illawarra collected its first victory with an 85-72 win.

Robinson (10 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists across one game) was initially replaced by Kevin White (via Perth) before Peyton Siva (via New Zealand) joined for the remainder of the season, moving Dent back to the bench while he continued to earn minutes at both guard positions. King (10.7 points and 4.1 rebounds across nine games) returned to the United States and was placed on injury reserve after scans revealed the extent of a persistent ankle and lower-leg injury, with a former Perth import added as his replacement.

Illawarra ended a nine-game losing streak against Melbourne at the WIN Entertainment Centre on December 5, where Dent (0 points and 1 rebound) played 43 seconds. Sam Froling (29 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 block), Michael Frazier II (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Tyler Harvey (15 points) led the Hawks, while Rayjon Tucker (27 points) was Melbourne’s leading scorer as Illawarra won 93-79.

Frazier II (17.3 points and 3.9 rebounds across eight games) later suffered a broken left arm against Adelaide and missed the remainder of the season, while Siva (9.3 points, 6.3 assists, and 1.6 steals across 11 games) suffered a high-grade right shoulder injury against Perth on December 31 that also ended his campaign.

Dent produced another strong performance against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on January 15, making three three-pointers and finishing with 15 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. His back-to-back three-pointers helped erase an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit before his floater put Illawarra ahead 79-78 with less than 70 seconds remaining, but Derrick Walton Jr (19 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Tim Soares (15 points and 6 rebounds) helped Sydney close the game with six unanswered points and win 84-79. Reflecting on the increased opportunity, Dent said, “It’s nice to have some confidence, to play at this level and know that I can do it.”

Four days later at Spark Arena, Dent (4 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist) helped Illawarra collect its third victory of the season. Dererk Pardon (19 points, 17 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led New Zealand, before Tom Abercrombie (13 points and 2 steals) put the Breakers ahead with a late steal and dunk, but the Hawks’ leading scorer (25 points and 3 steals) 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 and finished second in voting for the NBL’s Next Generation Award. Deng (8.6 points and 6.5 rebounds across 28 games), Mathiang (7.7 points and 5.1 rebounds across 25 games), Swaka Lo Buluk (4.9 points across 28 games) and Daniel Grida (5.1 points and 3.9 rebounds across 14 games) were the other main contributors. Swaka Lo Buluk received the Defensive Player of the Year award, Grida received the Community Award and Akoldah Gak (1 point across 13 games) was named Players’ Player, while Illawarra suffered 14 losses by ten points or fewer.

The Hawks closed the season against Tasmania at the WIN Entertainment Centre on February 4, where Dent (4 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 1 steal), Harvey (13 points) and Froling (12 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 steal) led Illawarra, while Milton Doyle (20 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1 steal) guided the JackJumpers to an 87-63 win, leaving the Hawks in 10th place with a franchise-worst 3-25 record.

SYDNEY KINGS
2025/26
With Matthew Dellavedova unavailable through illness and Shaun Bruce sidelined by a calf injury, Sydney signed Lachlan Dent (via Karlsruhe) as a short-term injury replacement.

Dent (0 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 block across 1 game) made his only appearance against Tasmania on November 23. Dent (0 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 block) played 5:30 in the 104-81 loss, with Kendric Davis (20 points) and Kouat Noi (18 points) leading Sydney, while Bryce Hamilton (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists) starred for Tasmania.

Sydney finished first with a 24-9 record, swept Perth in the semifinals and defeated Adelaide 113-101 in overtime in game five to claim the championship.

Lachlan Timothy Dent played five seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Sydney Kings and the Illawarra Hawks. He averaged 3.1 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 46 NBL games.