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The Illawarra Hawks have reportedly re-entered the import market just one game into the NBL season, raising questions over the future of championship-winning forward Darius Days.

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ESPN insider Olgun Uluc reported the Hawks are targeting a big man, with the development coming after Days was given a minimal role in Illawarra’s season-opening loss to the New Zealand Breakers.

Days spent fewer than seven minutes on the court in the 95-81 defeat, finishing with zero points, three rebounds and four fouls.

The 28-year-old had only just returned to the Hawks for NBL27 after helping the club win its maiden championship in 2025, making the timing of Illawarra’s reported search particularly notable.

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Less than 7 minutes for Darius Days (0 pts, 3 reb, 4 fouls) in the Illawarra Hawks’ loss to the NZ Breakers today. My ESPN reporting this week (in the story below) is that the Hawks have already re-engaged with the import market. The team has been targeting a big. https://t.co/A9fFUEOBe3
— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) September 20, 2026

Days averaged 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds during that championship campaign and had been welcomed back by the Hawks in July as part of their revamped roster.

Illawarra now appears to be exploring whether another import big could strengthen its frontcourt, although Uluc’s report does not indicate that Days has been released or that a decision has been made on his future.

The Hawks already have three imports on their roster in Days, Milton Doyle and Kelan Martin, with Tyler Harvey’s move to Australian citizenship providing Illawarra with additional import flexibility.

There is a chance the game itself was a factor in Days’ limited action, with early foul trouble and the eventual blowout potentially contributing to coach Justin Tatum’s rotations.

Having said that, if reports are correct that the Hawks are exploring the import market, there is only one import they could possibly replace on the roster — and it will not be Doyle or Martin.

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