Recounting William Hickey’s journey from fringe NBL player to playoff series starter

Hickey’s late season breakout has been one of the best storylines of the playoffs.

Credit: May Bailey Photography

“I want to congratulate Davo Hickey on the series that he had,” said United coach Dean Vickerman after game three of their semi-finals matchup. Rewind to last year, or even halfway through the current season - unprompted William (aka Davo) Hickey praise from an opposition coach after a tight playoff series was not something we could have anticipated.

Whilst Hickey’s breakout as a player has been stunning, he has been on the radar for quite a while now, with his athletic profile really piquing the basketball community’s interest in 2019 when he made the move to play NBL1 for the Melbourne Tigers. At that point, it was a wait and see on how the rest of his game would round out over time. Whilst it’s been a bit of a slow burn, the Hawks have now started to reap the benefits of both his and their perseverance.

Among guards across the league this season, Hickey ranks first for cut frequency. Working the baseline or ducking into the paint when a teammate draws extra attention has been an effective way for him to contribute to the half-court offence and build some confidence and trust.

Hickey also ranks first in both offensive rebounding rate and block percentage for guards, highlighting his athletic tools and desire to make the effort plays.

“Once Gary put the ball up, it was just instinct [to go and get that rebound],” said Hickey after his overtime forcing play in game two. "Got the ball, took my time and made the layup… it was just a knack to get to the ball I guess."

As a 20-year-old in 2019, Hickey showcased some of these same athletic plays at NBL1 level, with chase down blocks, transition slams, and dunks attacking baseline.

With some added buzz generated at the NBL’s Next Gen camp in July of that same year, Hickey signed as a development player with South East Melbourne for NBL20. Hickey’s first shot at the higher level gave him a chance to gain reps against better quality players and highlight the limitations of his game that he needed to work on. Whilst he was dangerous in the open floor, and had good feel as a cutter, the inexperience paired with unproven play as a ball-handler and shooter meant that he was an awkward fit at guard. He found himself out of the league for NBL21.

“We see Davo as an athletic guard who excels in transition but can also attack the paint and play above the rim,” explained Vickerman ahead of NBL22. “Combined with his length, intensity, and activity, he can really step up on the defensive end as well. He’s also a great rebounder for his size.”

Hickey’s signing with United gave him another development player chance, not expected to see game time, but allowing him more opportunity to work on his game in a high-level environment. There were certainly tools there to try and mould, but he remained very green as a prospect still. United eventually declined the second year team option on his contract but Illawarra swooped, remaining a believer in his potential and the benefits of investing more time into him.

“Davo is a player we have watched with interest over the years,” noted Hawks coach Jacob Jackomas prior to the 2022/23 NBL season. “He is an exciting talent with a unique feel for the game, and we look forward to continuing to develop and refine his skillset.”

Injuries to key personnel opened up a chunk of playing time last season, giving Hickey his first crack at an NBL rotation — he went on to play 24 games and 342 minutes. It was a difficult introduction, with some improvement visible, but also some obvious struggles as a ball-handler and scorer on a struggling team.

With an unproven outside shot and a susceptibility for turnovers, the jury was out on if Hickey would improve quickly enough to stay in the league and not be passed over for the next group of young and up and coming players. The league’s Indigenous player rule helped.

The Hawks saw enough to persevere and whilst there was the odd highlight early this season, it has only been in the back half of NBL24 where Hickey has really leaned into his strengths as a cutter, defender, and athlete to crack the rotation and then become a meaningful playoff contributor.

After focusing on his strengths, Hickey’s confidence grew, along with an expanded role. Some of his pick and roll play in the playoffs was very encouraging and a clear step forward from year one with the Hawks.

Across five play-in or playoff games, Hickey played the fifth most minutes on the team, averaging 10.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.8 steals. For the season, he led Illawarra in ON-OFF court differential, highlighting his ability to make impact plays on both ends.

"I’m just [trying to stay on an] even keel man,” said Hickey after game two against Melbourne. “That's the thing that’s getting me through this, because when the times were bad, I had to sort of do my best to keep with it… I'm enjoying it so much"

Illawarra have a team option on Hickey for next season, something that when picked up will make him one of the bargain contracts in the league if he can maintain this current production. An extension would have to be discussed as well, with Hickey’s camp keen to capitalise from his breakout and land some stability with a guaranteed multi-year deal under coach Justin Tatum.

“I could speak all day on the patience, resilience, and toughness that he has,” said Tatum mid-series. “I’m really proud for him right now, because we wouldn’t be sitting here [ahead of game three] with a smile on our face if it wasn’t for him. He’s a true competitor, someone who doesn’t want to lose, who works before and after practice, and was waiting for his shot… I love big guards [like him]…”

Hickey remains a unique player type, given his low three-point rate for his position. Continuing to lean into his off ball scoring, transition play, and all the effort areas will continue to be key as he gathers more pick and roll reps. It is still difficult to see him becoming a full-time point guard, instead settling in as that combo option.

As a defender, he’s got all the physical tools to be one of the better guys at his position in the league, though his inexperience does come to the fore at times still. There’s been moments with iffy reads helping too much off of the wrong guy, or losing concentration off the ball. With only around 700 pro minutes on his resume, that’s unsurprising.

Running the floor, Hickey glides like Nathan Sobey, as good athletically as almost any local in the league at the moment. A very loose player comparison to Tahjere McCall floated by Olgun Uluc certainly makes you think. McCall is far more advanced as a passer, ball-handler, and scoring threat at this point, but the quirks in both players games as limited shooters, great athletes, players with cutting instincts, and an ability to make stuff happen on the defensive end reveals some similarities.

It will be fun to watch how much more improvement Hickey can show next season and beyond.