EVERY year, when the AFL and NRL celebrated their respective indigenous rounds, former Illawarra Hawk Tyson Demos felt a stab of envy.
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It's not that it could've been him – though it could have been. His father Kon was an Illawarra rugby league legend and part of the all-conquering 1979 divisional side.
The talent in that side included the likes of Steve Morris and Peter Wynn, with a Country championship and Amco Cup quarter-final appearance ultimately sealing the Steelers passage to the big league in 1982.
Demos wore that red jumper as a junior Steeler before his love of basketball won out. He has no regrets on that score, having enjoyed a stellar NBL career that saw him become a fan favourite in Wollongong – with that toughness crafted on the league paddock on show.
“When I was 16 I was in the Harold Matts with the Steelers and it came to the end of the year where I had to choose whether I'd pursue footy or basketball,” Demos recalls.
“With Dad's background I pretty much knew what his feelings were but I blew out my knee playing footy and took that as a bit of a sign as to what path I'd take.
“I was never the most skillful player, I wasn't the best shooter or anything like that but whenever I went out there I had a crack. That definitely came from Dad.
“He always told me, if you're going to do something, you give it everything and that's what I did. That's probably how I played 10 years in the NBL.”
It proved the right move but still, as he watched his other great sporting love celebrate its indigenous ties year-in, year-out he longed to see basketball do the same.
It's something he regularly discussed with current Hawks assistant coach Matt Flinn, those conversations ultimately proving the catalyst for the special indigenous strip the Hawks will wear when they host arch-rivals Sydney in Wollongong on Sunday.
The jersey, designed by local indigenous student Harry Pitt from a painting by artist Glen Sutherland, came to fruition with the support of the Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service.
It's met with an overwhelmingly positive reception in the Illawarra and beyond, with Demos saying the response has exceeded even his own expectations.
“This is something that me and Flinny have wanted to do for a number of years even back when I was still playing,” Demos said.
“I was always envious when I saw other codes celebrate indigenous round. The AFL and the NRL have been doing it for a number of years and I think the NBL's been a bit behind in that regard.
"My culture is something I'm really passionate about. For the Hawks to recognise a history and a culture and acknowledge the original people is something that's very special for me.
“I'm very lucky to have represented my culture playing for the Indigenous All-Star team, but to play on a national scale in an NBL jersey for the Hawks would've been something to really top off my career.
“It's a shame I'm not on the court playing when it finally happens but I'm in the background and it's still very, very special.
“Hopefully it's something the rest of the NBL clubs can follow.”
The NBL has shown its support this week, using the initiative to shine a light on the finest indigenous players to have graced the league, including San Antonio Spurs star Patty Mills (who sent his own personal message of support this week) and former Toronto Raptor Nathan Jawai.
Two-time Indigenous All-Stars skipper Demos, hopes the move will prompt more indigenous kids to make the same decision he did at that sporting crossroad all those years ago.
"Hopefully this is the start of something that's going to keep growing throughout the whole NBL,” Demos said.
My culture is something I'm really passionate about. For the Hawks to recognise a history and a culture and acknowledge the original people is something that's very special for me.
- Tyson Demos
“I'm just extremely proud to sit among those great past and present indigenous players and I think the more indigenous kids we can get playing the game the better.
“I think there's 15 indigenous players who've played in the NBL. You match that up against the AFL or NRL and it's well below that, but this is one of the right steps we can take.
“A lot of our indigenous kids grow up with a football in their hands, whether it's AFL or NRL, but if we can get a basketball in some of those hands we can find the next Patty Mills or the next Nathan Jawai.”
It's also a cause very close to the heart of current Hawks skipper Kevin White, who has witnessed first-hand the positive role the sport can play in indigenous communities, and not just those close to home.
White first visited the Gove Peninsula in Arnhem Land while still with the Sydney Kings, and he's continued that mission the past two years as an ambassador for Charity Bounce.
The not-for-profit organisation looks to use sport as a means to effect positive change in disadvantaged communities.
White's involvement has seen him travel to the Northern Territory the past two off-seasons to conduct coaching and education clinics for kids in remote areas.
“The opportunity came about as Charity Bounce partnered with the ABA, our players’ union, and I jumped on board and I haven't really looked back,” White said.
“I've loved it, I've been up with them twice now to Alice Springs to Mutijulu up near the rock (Uluru) just visiting the communities and building relationships up there that are pretty special to me.
"To see the way these kids pick up sport in general is special, but they really love their basketball and they love their footy. I think any role model that can go in there and have a positive influence with sport should go and take those opportunities.
“It's great just to go up there and try to help them out but just to provide a fresh story and show there are other avenues for health, education, employment rather than just sending them down the same beaten track.”
And as for the untapped sporting talent in those townships, White says he's been amazed by what he's seen kids do with ball in hand.
“There's probably 10 to 15 Patty Mills’ running around in those communities,” White said.
“These kids are unbelievable athletes. They do things, without shoes on, that I've never seen other kids do.
To see the way these kids pick up sport in general is special, but they love their basketball. I think any role model that can go in there and have a positive influence with sport should go and take those opportunities."
- Kevin White
“The first time I went up there we visited a town called Nywente, a community of 40-50 people. They have a little under 8s team and there was a kid there had never played basketball before.
“He caught a rebound took two dribbles, he mishandled and it went up over his head. He's jumped up and volleyball spiked it to hit another kid on the chest as he's running the floor to lay it in.
"That was a kid who'd never played basketball before but his natural instinct an ability to just take over a game and make a play… I was just blown away. That happens daily.”
It's a talent reservoir that remains largely untapped, but White's certain that we will see kids from those areas make their way onto the big stage.
“AFL are up there more frequently than any other code because of the influence that guys like [AFL stars] Cyril Rioli and Eddie Betts have, and their desire to get home and show these kids that there are other avenues,” White said.
“I don't know when the time will come that someone comes out of those communities and into the league but I'm sure it's only a matter of time.”
It's work he plans to continue, even when his playing days are done, saying that resolve has only been strengthened by the overwhelming response the club's efforts have received in indigenous, and non-indigenous, communities.
Messages have come the likes of former Townsville Croc Chris Cedar, Capitals WNBL star Abby Cubillo and NT AFL legend Bennie Lew Fatt, who was also the first indigenous person to represent Australia in basketball in 1961.
“I love what the club's done, especially being such good mates with Tys [Demos] and knowing what this means to him,” White said.
“Seeing Chris Cedar send his message, I didn't know Benny’s story until this week, Abby Cubillo… it just means so much to them.
“I think the fact our club has jumped on board has opened people's eyes to ask ‘why hasn't this happened before?’
“The messages of support that I've got from indigenous ex-teammates have been unbelievable and I think they're all Illawarra Hawks fans now because of what the club is doing.
“Hopefully it becomes a [league-wide] initiative. It's definitely an area of our game that needs to be celebrated and supported.”
Even more fittingly, the historic encounter will come against arch-rivals Sydney, adding spice to a clash that rarely requires much extra.
The Hawks will return to their home floor high on confidence having won their last three games in the a row, including last week's thrilling one-point win over Adelaide on the road
“There's nothing like playing your rival in a game that means so much,” White said.
“I'm sure the crowd will hold a different dynamic but it'll be an unbelievable dynamic that I'm proud to be a part of in supporting.”