"They're lacking spirit": NBL champ challenges Hawks

The defending champion Illawarra Hawks sit eighth in the standings, with just five wins from 15 games during the Hungry Jack's NBL26 season.

Now former champion Damon Lowery, who won the title with the Hawks during the 2000-01 season, is sending a message.

“I’m challenging their spirit, it’s not a light switch you can just turn on and off,” Lowery said on NBL Overtime.

The Hawks had another rollercoaster round, following an impressive win over South East Melbourne on Thursday with a disappointing loss to an undermanned Cairns team on Saturday.

“I’m looking at these guys, they beat Melbourne United who was first but then they lose to the bottom team,” Lowery added.

“They beat the second placed team, but then they get beat by 40 against the New Zealand Breakers.

“Who are you?”

While Will Hickey and JaVale McGee have continued to put up impressive numbers, the 17-point loss to an undermanned Taipans outfit has left many questions for Justin Tatum’s team.

“As a collective, I’m saying this team right now is lacking the right attitude, they’re lacking the spirit,” Lowery said.

“Remember when they first lost to Melbourne United that year in the semi finals and we thought they’d come back hungry? Then they came back the next year and you could see that they wanted it.”

Of their 10 losses, six of those have been by double figures, including two 40-point defeats earlier in the season. However, sprinkled in between those performances have been impressive wins, including against Melbourne United in Round 8.

“We see right now that their best, is more than capable of being a top four team, but the problem is that their worst is really, really bad,” Pete Hooley said.

“They need to find that consistency… it’s all about consistently showing up every single day.”

The Hawks will aim to return to the winner's circle on Thursday, when they host Brisbane from 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.