Year in year out, through ownership changes and fights for survival, the repeat suggestion that fans must show why they 'deserve' a team in the NBL gets tiring.

More than that, as the only fanbase in the league to have supported a team through every NBL season to date, it's flat-out galling. The decision from league HQ to strip 'Illawarra' from the franchise last season was almost the final straw.

Hawks Brian Goorjian, who led the push to see 'Illawarra' reinstated, never bought that notion. Now in his second season at the helm of the Hawks, the mastercoach remains unequivocal when asked where the onus of proof lies.

"That it was up to the community to just get behind the team, I didn't buy into that at all," Goorjian said ahead of his side's home-opener against New Zealand on Friday.

"For me it was the flipside, it was about coming here and putting something together that's going to be the best ticket in town and people are going to want to come see.

"We were very uncomfortable as a group that we were just called the Hawks. We wanted to be Illawarra and we wanted to send a message to the community that we're serious about this, this is our town, this is our place, this is who we are.

"That was the message to the team all along. Talk's cheap, but I do think we accomplished that last year.

"With those first 15 games being on the road it took a long time to build that relationship between the team and the crowd but when we got to those games at home on the back stretch we built that environment we're now talking about."

It was achieved belatedly given the Hawks played 16 of their first 17 games on the road due to COVID and the scheduling of the Melbourne-based NBL Cup.

Friday's clash with the Breakers will be the Hawks only home outing in their first four games. That ledger swings dramatically following Sunday's away game against Brisbane, with the Hawks subsequently based solely in Wollongong for a month-long stretch.

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Having ridden a heavily back-ended home run to the playoffs last season, Goorjian wants to carry that momentum into his second campaign with a roster more than capable of claiming the ultimate prize.

In stark contrast to most other seasons, it brings expectation, but it's something the six-time championship-winner isn't shying away from.

"We've got a team where the pressure's on us to win. Period," Goorjian said.

"In the first year we put a team together that punched above its weight. This year we've added pieces, we've kept the guys we wanted and we also went out and got maybe the best player on the market in Duop [Reath].

"Obviously we've got to perform but, before that, you've got a get a team capable of performing and we've put a team together to bring a championship here.

"Talk's cheap, but the reality is that's what we've put together and brought back to the community.

It's not a shoo-in, none of the games here are easy. All the teams are tough, including the one we've got here (New Zealand). It's what's great about the league, but we've got a team that can legitimately play with anybody.

"It's in our court now to do that."

The Hawks have looked impressive ina 2-0 start, a strong jump given a disrupted preseason that saw a number of games scrapped.

"We haven't scratched the surface of who we can be," Goorjian said.

"Offensively in our systems, there's been breakdowns [that show] we're not totally comfortable together and what systems to run with which players.

"Getting those preseason games cancelled didn't help that. It slowed the process down but we're working through it and working through it and winning is a nice combination.

"We're definitely pleased with how we've come out of the blocks. Those two wins on the road they can't take away from us and hopefully we keep improving and keep getting better."