However, with 35 games on his resume, that will be the case when he takes the floor against Brisbane in Canberra on Sunday, the Hawks first outing without injured star Aaron Brooks.

With 22 games to credit, Sunday Dech is the most second-most capped of the young crop while 21-year-old Angus Glover only cracked double digit appearances against Perth on Sunday.

With Brooks gone the Hawks also shape as LaMelo Ball's team barely two months after his 18th birthday.

It speaks to the void NBA veteran Brooks will leave in the back-court - at least until the Hawks lock in an import replacement - but Naar says the club's youth brigade need to step up to arrest a 1-6 slide.

"When someone goes down it always means opportunities come for other people to step up," Naar said.

"I'm not sure what's happening or when we're getting a replacement or things like that but us young guys have to really grab the opportunity that's there for us.

"We've had a lot of depth in the guard spot and for all of us there's been some games where we play a lot more, some games where we play a lot less.

"Any chance you get out there you've got to see it as an opportunity, even more so now that there's 30 minutes or so up for grabs. We've just got to go out there and take it."

Fans had high hopes for Naar after a strong finish to his rookie season last year but the arrival of Brooks and Ball has seen him average just 12.2 minutes in the Hawks opening seven games.

Read more: Hawks import search begins but Boone staying put

It's down on the 16 he averaged last season, numbers that drastically increased as the season progressed. It can be a source of frustration, but Naar says his team-first mentality hasn't wavered.

"I think [frustration's] natural but we all believe in the team and each other," Naar said.

"If I'm not playing it means Sunday or Glover's playing more. Although I want to be out there as much as possible it's good to see those guys get their opportunity as well.

"You've got to try and take yourself out of it and be a bit selfless there because, at the end of the day, we are a team and we're all playing for the same result which is to get wins.

"That's the most important thing. They're all pretty much must-win games now, so we've got to get it rolling and reel off a few in a row."

The Hawks turned a corner of sorts in a brave loss at the hands of Perth last Sunday, but Naar said near enough won't be good enough to revive their season.

"There was a world of difference between the game New Zealand and Perth but that's got to translate to wins," Naar said.

"Obviously we're happy with the energy we played with but that's got to be the benchmark.

"We need to get wins more for ourselves to prove that we're not that bottom team in the comp and mix it with these other teams."