Illawarra Hawks to Release Darius Days After Opening Loss

One game. That’s all it has taken for the Illawarra Hawks to start reshaping their title defence.

According to ESPN’s Olgun Uluc, the Hawks are preparing to part ways with import forward Darius Days, the American who played a role in their NBL25 championship run. The move comes on the back of a flat season opener, a 95-81 defeat to the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday.

Days barely figured in that loss. He logged less than seven minutes, failed to score, and finished with three rebounds. For a player expected to bring impact and versatility, it was a quiet, uneasy start to the new campaign.

Behind the scenes, the club has moved quickly. Uluc reports that Days was informed of the decision on Tuesday, with Illawarra now strongly considering signing an import centre to bolster the frontcourt and ease the load on starting big man Sam Froling.

It’s a clear statement of intent. The Hawks are not prepared to wait and see if things click. They want size, rim protection, and a more defined interior presence alongside Froling, and they want it now.

The timing is ruthless. The Hungry Jack’s NBL27 Season is only a week old, yet Illawarra’s hierarchy has already drawn a line under one of its championship pieces in pursuit of a better roster balance.

Next up is a road test: the Hawks face the Brisbane Bullets on Friday, September 25 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. By then, the question will hang over the club: will a new import big be in the building, and how quickly can Illawarra turn early upheaval into on-court stability?