Harvey makes it official, becomes an Australian citizen

Tyler Harvey will always remember Saturday, August 29, 2026 - the day he officially became an Australian citizen.

It is also a landmark moment for his Hungry Jack's NBL team, the Illawarra Hawks.

With NBL champion Harvey now considered a 'local' player, it gives the Hawks roster flexibility not just this season, but in future seasons, allowing them to sign an extra import.

This season alone, it has seen Justin Tatum's side sign NBL champions Darius Days and Milton Doyle, as well as reported recruit forward Kelan Martin, to a core that already consists of Harvey, Sam Froling, Will Hickey and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk.

The enormity of the news isn't lost on ESPN's Olgun Uluc.

"[This] is a game-changer for the Hawks front office, and a game-changer for the NBL," Uluc said on The Marketplace, presented by Paywise.

"All of a sudden, the Illawarra Hawks have another really high-level local player that they can start, and then they can go and pursue three imports. It changes everything.

"Obviously, his contract is now marqueeable, which means that you can pay him a certain amount. You can pay him his contract, and it'll be a lower fixed price on their cap.

"But [the real benefit is] the flexibility they have with the imports now."

This induction follows in the footsteps of Adelaide's six-time MVP Bryce Cotton, who became an Australian citizen in September 2025.

The induction ceremony on Saturday afternoon for Harvey, who is now eligible to represent the Boomers, was attended by Hawks duo Joe Tertzakian and Alex Moore, Lord Mayor of Wollongong, Tania Brown and Harvey's family.

Fans will get to see the Hawks in action this week at the 2026 CODE Sports NBL Blitz, playing against Adelaide (Thursday, September 3) and Melbourne (Sunday, September 6).

The Hawks open their Hungry Jack's NBL27 campaign against New Zealand at Spark Arena on Sunday, September 20.

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