Tim Coenraad's career has always been more understated than the two other Illawarra Hawks players to have reached the 300-game milestone.
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Glen Saville played at two Olympics and was MVP in the 2001 championship team.
Mat Campbell was captain when the Hawks won their only NBL title in 43 years and carries the enormous legacy of saving the club from collapse.
But if Sunday's performance is anything to go by, Coenraad is going to have a big say in the Hawks pursuit of another NBL crown.
Coenraad retired at the end of 2020, but answered Brian Goorjian's call to return. If at first it seemed he'd just add depth and some shooting arsenal outside the arc, Coenraad's involvement this season has proven so much more.
On Sunday he had 11 points in 22 minutes of game time, as well as seven rebounds, two assists and a steal, helping Illawarra to one of their biggest win of the Goorjian era, beating Melbourne United 92-77 on the road.
Among those numbers, he had a crucial tip-in and worked hard on the defensive end, denying the reigning champions any sniff of a comeback.
Assistant coach Jacob Jackomas, who was in charge at John Cain Arena while Goorjian was resting up in Wollongong while recovering from COVID, held high praise for the 36-year-old Coenraad's contribution.
"He gives us that stretch four capability and the league's changed a lot," Jackomas said. "There's a lot of small ball, a lot of NBA influence with some of the American coaches that are coming in and Timmy helps us fill that role, that small alignment and it doesn't hurt us defensively.
"He's pretty cool to have around, he's been in it a long time and he's been through a lot of change at Illawarra.
"He did retire, Goorj has said we probably should have kept him last year.
"He's not retired now, he's playing, he's doing a pretty good job, he's probably got another couple of years in him."
THE RUN HOME
Hawks remaining games
Thursday v BRISBANE at WIN Entertainment Centre (7.30pm)
Saturday v MELBOURNE UNITED at John Cain Arena (5.30pm)
April 9 v BRISBANE at Nissan Arena (5.30pm)
April 14 v SYDNEY at WIN Entertainment Centre (7.30pm)
April 22 v PERTH at RAC Arena (9.30pm)
April 24 v SYDNEY at Qudos Bank Arena (3pm)
NBL ladder: MELBOURNE UNITED 15-6, SYDNEY 14-7, PERTH 14-8, ILLAWARRA 14-8, South East Melbourne 12-10, Tasmania 12-10, Brisbane 8-14, Adelaide 7-13, Cairns 6-14, New Zealand 5-17.
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