Illawarra Hawks to Part Ways with Darius Days After NBL27 Opener

The Hungry Jack's NBL27 season is barely underway, yet Illawarra are already bracing for a major shake-up.

According to ESPN’s Olgun Uluc, the Illawarra Hawks are preparing to part ways with import forward Darius Days, the American who played a role in their NBL25 championship run. One game into the new campaign, the club appears ready to redraw its blueprint.

Days’ minutes in Sunday’s 95–81 loss to New Zealand told the story before the news broke. The 24-year-old logged less than seven minutes on court, finishing with three rebounds and no offensive rhythm to speak of as the Hawks were outgunned and outmuscled.

The pressure to react has come quickly. Uluc reports that Days was informed of the club’s decision on Tuesday, with Illawarra now giving strong consideration to signing an import centre to bolster the front line and ease the load on starting big man Sam Froling.

It’s a ruthless call, but it speaks to where the Hawks believe this roster is light. Froling remains the anchor, yet Sunday’s defeat exposed a lack of size and presence around him. An import centre would be a direct response to that problem, a structural change rather than a tweak.

For Days, it marks a sharp turn from the highs of NBL25 to an abrupt exit two seasons later. For Illawarra, it’s a clear message: sentiment will not get in the way of winning.

The Hawks don’t have long to sit with the fallout. Their next test comes on Friday, September 25, when they face the Bullets at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre — and by then, the frontcourt rotation could look very different.