JaQuori McLaughlin and the Illawarra Hawks have agreed to a mutual release. The import point guard appeared in three games for the Hawks and averaged 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists while the team has accumulated an 0–3 record.

It was a brutal welcome to the league for McLaughlin. His short journey through an NBL career started in an unconventional place when he played under Hawks head coach Justin Tatum in Indonesia. Tatum had gone there to pass the time during the off-season and met McLaughlin who was oddly confined to playing in Southeast Asia only three years removed from a stint in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks. Still, in a foreign land far away from home, McLaughlin posted 16.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game under the guidance of Tatum. Their team, Pelita Jaya, finished in top place for the regular season and were ultimately the runners-up in the playoffs. McLaughlin was recognised on the all-league second team.

Tatum must have been impressed. Back in Australia, his Hawks were forced to undergo an effective rebuild after their miraculous championship win. Their starting point guard and All-NBL First Team member, Trey Kell III, had been lured away by a stack of yens. It left them with a major hole across multiple areas as Kell was the team’s leading playmaker, ranked second in scoring and ranked fourth in rebounds during their top-of-the-ladder regular season. Tatum must have realised that McLaughlin too possessed the varied skillset for a guard that Kell exemplified; McLaughlin’s 16.3/4.4/5.6 were remarkably similar to Kell’s 17.8/4.2/4.1. In addition, McLaughlin looked like a gem that had been buried in Indonesia as a 27-year-old 6’4″ point guard with NBA experience.

There was still apparently some apprehension though. McLaughlin was not linked with an immediate contract when he joined the Hawks; instead, he had what was effectively a probational period during their NBL Blitz campaign. McLaughlin only had 7 points in a loss to the Adelaide 36ers but bounced back in a major way with 24 points in a win against the Perth Wildcats. After that, his future was secured and he was signed to a contract with the Hawks.

Tatum announced William Hickey as the Hawks’ starting point guard for the 2025–26 season. He had had a breakout season during 2024–25 and then had another breakout during the championship series in place of an injured Kell (a performance so impressive it deserved the Finals Most Valuable Player award). Tatum envisioned Hickey as taking over for Kell permanently and doing everything that he could do. McLaughlin’s addition then was supposed to be as a back-up and steadying presence off the bench.

Those plans were derailed when Hickey was ruled out indefinitely with an eye injury. McLaughlin was then thrust into a role that he was not brought over to do. Not only was he the replacement for Hickey in physical form, he was always going to be the replacement for Kell in spirit. McLaughlin was appointed as the Hawks’ starting point guard.

Unfortunately for McLaughlin, it was not an easy adjustment from Indonesia. He debuted against the Tasmania JackJumpers with 5 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists. McLaughlin had what will remain his NBL career-high with 13 points against the Perth Wildcats. In his ultimate game, he scored 5 points against the New Zealand Breakers. All three games were losses of a progressively worst quantity; 5 points, 8 points and finally 29 points. That last game against the Breakers would have been McLaughlin’s death knell; the 0–4 Breakers smashed the 0–2 reigning champions. During those games, McLaughlin’s percentages were horrifically low: 20.7% field goal and 14.3% three-point percentage. His field goal percentage was easily the lowest in the league for an import and — amongst players with a made three — his three-point percentage was the third worst league-wide (only Ben Henshall at 9.1% (!!!) and Alex Higgins-Titsha with a tied 14.3% have lower percentages).

So, it is unfortunate for McLaughlin. He was brought in for a particular role, thrust into a role larger than him and now finds himself regarded as inadequate. Hickey still has no timetable for his return so it will be essential for the Hawks to find a guard that can cover all of the deficiencies across the team. Those deficiencies are abundant as both their offensive and defensive ratings rank as second-lowest. JaVale McGee is earning comparisons to Wilt Chamberlain while trying to keep the team afloat. The South East Melbourne Phoenix released their underperforming import to bring in a high profile replacement; the Hawks will urgently need to do the same if they are not only have a possibility to repeat as title contenders but also wish to salvage the season.