He's better known for spinning rhymes than shooting hoops, but star rapper Briggs has been named a club ambassador for south coast basketball team the Illawarra Hawks.
The Yorta Yorta man, who is also a writer and social commentator, has long been a basketball tragic, and said he had been impressed by the Hawks meaningful engagement with First Nations communities.
“The Illawarra Hawks reached out to me back in the 2012-13 season when Tyson Demos (who has the Hawks' Indigenous round player of the game medal named after him) was building some momentum around recognition and the Indigenous round," Briggs said.
"Since then, being the loyal guy I am, I've followed the Hawks - once I commit to a team, that's my team for
life.
"Especially as the club continues to lead from the front in terms of the NBL's Indigenous round each year, which makes me really proud to be a part of the Hawks."
The 35-year-old, who has fostered and supported many rising Blak music stars with his label Bad Apples Music, drew comparisons between the sporting and performing industries emerging from COVID-19.
A performance during the round 20 NBL match between Illawarra Hawks and Adelaide 36ers Source: Getty Images AsiaPac
"It’s been a tough couple years for music and sport has had to navigate those obstacles too - we’re not out
of the woods yet but it definitely feels like we are on our way back," said Briggs.
"There's plenty of crossover between the industries and I'm excited to help both brands grow together to
the wider communities."
The Hawks were the first team in the NBL to stage an Indigenous game, in the 2018/19 season. Off the back of the game's success, the league launched its inaugural Indigenous Round the following season.
All nine NBL teams wear Indigenous uniforms designed by local Indigenous artists in Round 18, and include a Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country, while key members of Indigenous communities will be invited to all games.
