A match-deciding, career-defining effort from Illawarra Hawks guard Will Hickey has lifted his side to clinching their first NBL Championship since 2000-01, and second ever, over Melbourne United 114-104 on Sunday.
Capping off his third season with the Wollongong-based franchise after taking the long route to securing an established place in Australia's top competition, the proud Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi/Gomeroi man dominated the decider early and carried on to finish with 21 points, 10 rebounds and game-high eight assists in front of the Hawks largest-ever home crowd.
The 26-year-old entered game five in the frame for finals MVP averaging 14 points, and after a game-best 22 points and eight assists to level the series in game four away from home on Wednesday.
Former NBA championship winner, and Melbourne United guard Matthew Dellavedova handed his finals MVP trophy to Hickey after being named the series' best.
The Cowra product fought his way to a development contract with the Hawks after unsuccessful attempts at both Naarm-based franchises, United and South East Melbourne Phoenix, and coming up and down from NBL1.
He played a total of nine games with his previous two sides.
"I've believed in myself my whole life. Nobody's believed in me, right? So why not come out here and instill that belief into us, and the fans and the Illawarra," Hickey said post-match.
Will Hickey with the vision 🥽
Watch live on ESPN | 10 & 10 Play ðŸ"º pic.twitter.com/BNLrl6yTsW
— NBL (@NBL) March 23, 2025
The fairy tale looked shaky through the opening exchanges, Melbourne jumping out of the blocks and building a seven-point lead by mid-way through the first quarter.
Hawks' big-man Sam Froling was forced to watch on from the bench after injuring his achilles in game four.
Hickey had 12 points of his own at the first break, scoring eight of his team's first 10, to keep the Hawks in it before entering the break all square at 26-all.
Illawarra turned things in the second, working their advantage out to double-digits.
The home side held onto margin at each of the remaining breaks, with Melbourne unable to make inroads, or quickly gave up any ground they made, reducing a 10-point difference, through the later stages.
United veteran Chris Goulding worked his way into the game after early struggles to put his mark on things, Dellavedova - who had averaged 16 points across the finals, was held to two points by halftime.
Trey Kell led scoring with 26 for Illawarra, with Hickey mostly damaging in the paint while also dictating his side's offence in possession.
Two years ago, they finished anchored to the bottom of the table season.
Hickey's first in red and black, It was the Hawks' worst return across a history closing in on 50 years.
Coming into game five, the home side has lost each game of the series, after a post-home-and-away campaign which went the entire distance.
"I'm just trying to soak the moment in," Hickey said. "I'm just so proud of us".
"We were down, we were out. It's the grit that we showed - two losses on our own court, and to come out and finish it tonight. That's made me really emotional...there's not a lot you can put into words."
THE ILLAWARRA HAWKS ARE YOUR NBL25 CHAMPIONS ðŸ†
Will Hickey finished with 21 points and is your Foot Locker Player of the Game ðŸ'Ÿ pic.twitter.com/hESEO7mDN3
— NBL (@NBL) March 23, 2025
Hickey's numbers swelled through the finals.
Earlier this week Hickey told NBL.com.au "there's some animosity there" between himself and former Melbourne United teammates, "me being there and not getting opportunities or whatnot".
"Here we are, I'm trying to close things out. They're a great team, but that's sort of where it lies there. Just leave it at that."
He averaged 10 points per game, four assists and five rebounds across the 2024-25 season.
Close to doubling his minutes in a championship campaign, his time on court produced a decisive increase in scoring and impact on games.
