Illawarra Hawks' NBL resurgence a Tatum family affair

Only 12 hours earlier, Tatum will have been gracing the court at TD Garden as the star player on the NBA's Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics.

But as Massachusetts sleeps, Tatum will turn from NBA icon to basketball fan.

Most of all, he'll be a son.

Across the seas, Tatum's father Justin will be wide awake in Hobart, ready to guide the Illawarra Hawks on the biggest step yet of their NBL resurgence.

The Hawks have posted a 12-7 record since former assistant coach Tatum took over from the ousted Jacob Jackomas in November.

At the time, they had won only five of their previous 32 games.

Fourth-placed Illawarra are now deserving owners of a spot in the NBL Play-In Tournament and can lock up a Play-Off date with Perth Wildcats by beating Tasmania on the road on Wednesday.

Ever since Tatum earned his first professional head-coaching job at the Hawks, questions about Jayson have been inevitable.

At his first media call, Tatum Sr beamed recounting the moment he told his son of his promotion. Jayson had been in a post-game ice bath at the time.

The Celtics superstar has been quick to shower "Pops'' with praise when quizzed by American reporters.

But from 16,000km away, Jayson has made his presence felt more keenly than just in media storylines.

Without experience from another professional head-coaching job to draw on, Justin Tatum has had to lean on his experience mentoring high school teams and his brief playing career.

But his role in the development of an NBA superstar has counted for a lot as well.

"I've learned from the do's and don'ts in the atmosphere I created for him at a time, how to translate that over to (Hawks players) Justin Robinson or AJ (Johnson) now," Tatum told AAP.

At 201cm tall and with a booming American baritone, Tatum's ability to hold the room is unsurprising. He is a big presence.

But if the Hawks are listening, they're doing so with the knowledge of their coach's family links.

"They know who I helped develop and how he's gotten to where he's at, so when I speak or when I show or when I do things, it speaks volumes," Tatum said.

"It has helped me to be able to relate to these guys and talk a bit.

"At the end of the day I've grown from that and I've matured from that time, helping Jayson. But all those things have come in, helping me with this group."

As they prepare for the biggest game of their season to date, Illawarra players are quick to confirm personal development as perhaps Tatum's strongest suit.

"He's done a good job of reaching me on a personal level," big man Lachlan Olbrich told AAP.

"Him telling me what he wants me to do puts confidence in me to be able to go do that. Good communication from him, a clear role, it just helps."

There'll be plenty of confidence in Tatum, too, as his son watches from half a world away.

"He's very proud of how I was able to turn this group around," Tatum said.

Australian Associated Press