Justin Tatum: 'I want to coach in the NBA'

• NBL Coach of the Year Justin Tatum has NBA aspirations
• Justin Tatum is the father of NBA superstar Jayson Tatum
• The Hawks are on the verge of the NBL25 Grand Final Series

NBL25 Coach of the Year Justin Tatum's "big picture" goal is to coach in the NBA, Code Sports Basketball has revealed.

Illawarra Hawks head coach didn't rule out leaving the Hawks, on the verge of the NBL Grand Final, prematurely if he could secure an NBA opportunity.

Tatum, 45, still has has two years left on his Hawks contract. He is the father of NBA champion and Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum.

"The NBL is a place where I’ve put my stamp on, but at the end of the day I have aspirations of wanting to get on an NBA level to see how far I can push myself as a coach,” Tatum told Code Sports Basketball.

"I’ve just finished up my first season of a three-year contract, so we’ll see what happens."

Illawarra faces South East Melbourne Phoenix in the winner-takes-all Game 3 (Game Centre) on the New South Wales south coast on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 for a shot at the club's second NBL championship in its 46-year history.

"I’ve learnt from my mistakes last season and being able to communicate that with my players and what is expected of them," he said.

"I had a full training camp this season and I’ve been able to put my stamp on the team.

"I’ve had a blast and it has been an exciting year — now I get to contend for a title."

Read the Full Story at Code Sports Basketball

In Game 1, Trey Kell and Tyler Harvey showed why they were both featured in the All-NBL First Team after a dominant third quarter helped the Illawarra Hawks run over the top of the South East Melbourne Phoenix 101-94 (Game Centre).

The star Hawks backcourt both scored 24 points each, with Kell also grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out five assists, as Illawarra overcame a halftime deficit to go within one game of the championship series.

In Game 2, a record-breaking performance from big man Matt Hurt led the South East Melbourne Phoenix to a 101-94 win (Game Centre) the Illawarra Hawks in game two of their NBL semi-finals at John Cain Arena to send the series to a decider.

Hurt scored 30 points in the victory, on an efficient 11-from-19 shooting, which is a postseason record for the South East Melbourne franchise as they kept their season and chances of making their first grand final series alive.

Game 3 is sure to be a barn-burner.

Who is Justin Tatum

Justin Tatum was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, where he grew up with his mother, Rose Mary Johnson, and his younger sister, Kristen. His mother, an elementary school teacher, worked multiple jobs to support the family.

Initially he played football, baseball, and track and field, Tatum didn’t take up basketball until eighth grade. He began high school at Cardinal Ritter College Prep before transferring to Christian Brothers College High School. As a senior in 1997, he won a Missouri state championship alongside future NBA player Larry Hughes.

Tatum made his professional debut with Aris Leeuwarden in the Dutch Promotiedivisie during the 2003–04 season, helping the team secure the Promotiedivisie championship and earn promotion to the Dutch Basketball League (DBL).

In 2004, he played for the St. Louis SkyHawks in the United States Basketball League (USBL), averaging 13.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists over nine games. He then returned to Aris for the 2004–05 DBL season, where he played in the DBL All-Star Game and posted impressive averages of 15.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks across 31 games.

However, the extended time away from his family took a toll, leading Tatum to retire from professional basketball overseas to be closer to his son.

Tatum joined the Illawarra Hawks in February 2023 as a North American scout and special advisor to basketball operations. He was quickly elevated to assistant coach for the 2023–24 season in May.

Tatum was thrust into the head coaching role on an interim basis on November 14, 2023, after the Hawks parted ways with Jacob Jackomas following a disappointing 2–7 start. Under his leadership, the team saw an immediate turnaround, winning seven of their next nine games. He guided Illawarra to a 14–14 regular-season record and a fourth-place finish. He was runner-up for NBL Coach of the Year.

Ahead of the playoffs, Tatum secured his future with the Hawks, signing a three-year contract as the team’s permanent head coach. He led Illawarra to a crucial play-in victory over the New Zealand Breakers before falling 2–1 to Melbourne United in the semi-finals.

With momentum on their side, Tatum and the Hawks entered the 2024–25 season with high expectations. The team started strong at 6–2 before securing the club’s first-ever regular-season minor premiership with a 20–9 record. For his efforts in leading Illawarra to the top of the NBL standings for the first time in franchise history, Tatum was named NBL25 Coach of the Year.