Illawarra Hawks player Sam Froling. Photo: Illawarra Hawks.
The expression on Sam Froling’s face changes almost instantly to one of frustrated resignation.
After a couple of tough seasons of shooting from the free throw line, the Illawarra Hawks’ starting centre finds it difficult to admit who helped him the most in the NBL offseason at rectifying his shot during a stint in the NZNBL.
“I’ve had a lot of people helping me, but to be honest, man … it annoys me so much … but the person who knows my game the best and the best coach for me, is my dad,” he laments.
“He came over to New Zealand and just said, ‘You know, you are not jumping very high when you shoot …’
“I was thinking about it and then I thought, ‘I’m just going to try it and jump real high on every shot’ … and every shot went in. And I was like, ‘Oh God … guess you know what you are talking about Dad.’”
And it’s translated to the current NBL season, with the Hawks flying and Froling dominating, shooting 71 per cent from the foul line – a marked improvement on his 60 per cent career average.
So why does it irk Sam Froling so much that his dad was right about his shooting technique?
To understand that, you must understand the Froling family dynamic.
Sitting at the brewery behind the WIN Entertainment Centre which is adorned by a giant poster of his son Sam, Shane Froling reflects on what he believes is his son’s burning ambition – to be the best damn Froling there is and has ever been.
Now as a genuine superstar of the NBL at the tender age of 24, 153 NBL games already under his belt, national Boomers squad selection and NBA clubs sniffing around, you’d think he’s got it covered, right?
Yet the Frolings are not your ordinary family. Mum Jenny is a WNBL life member and was a star of the WNBL, while her husband Shane was a star of the NBL who played 256 games in the 80s to 90s.
Eldest child Harry Froling was a star of the NBL and Brisbane Bullets, amassing 154 games before a night out after a game in Wollongong and a brutal coward’s punch left him with a significant brain injury and cut short his career (hopefully temporarily).
Twin sisters Alicia and Keely are bona fide stars of the WNBL and have donned the green and gold. Then there is the 211-cm baby of the family, Sam.
“Sam growing up was always under a lot of pressure because the other three kids were making state teams, then Australian teams, and then getting NBL or WNBL contracts,” Shane reflects, having demolished a plate of chicken wings.
“And I remember when he made his first Australian team, he said (adding a sigh of relief for effect), ‘All right, I’ve done that’.
“So, the pressure was off a bit, and then virtually the next statement out of him was, I want to be the best Froling as a basketball player. He certainly has that as a goal. And he’s chasing that hard … much to everyone else’s disagreement. They [the Froling family] are all very competitive,” he adds with a chuckle.
Shane remembers the offseason advice to Sam around his shooting technique delivered in his usual way.
“I’m pretty blunt with all of the kids,” he said.
“With all the kids I watch every game and I’ll tell them you did this well or you need to fix this. Often, they’ll agree but sometimes they go, ‘Yeah, whatever’. But mostly they’ll go back and have a look at it.
“My kids always know they’re going to get honesty, not sensitivity. Sometimes I’ll sense it, I’ve got to be a bit nicer to them, but I’m usually pretty blunt.”
While many basketballers of his age are motivated by NBA ambitions, Sam’s driving ambition has always been to represent his country at the highest level. It’s not to say he doesn’t want the NBA opportunity, but he wants the Boomers jersey more.
“I feel like if you look at my NBL career, every year I’ve gotten a little better,” he said.
“I’ll keep chipping away, because ultimately, where I’m at now, if I can keep getting better and better, I go from cracking the Boomers squads to pushing for the team, making the Boomers team or pushing that NBA spot.
“My dream as a young fella has always been to play in an Olympics, a World Cup, one of these major tournaments. So, to be on the cusp these last two years has been good because I know it’s slowly getting there.
“But it’s also been difficult to be cut from those teams and miss out on those kinds of opportunities, but it serves as motivation for me. A lot of guys’ dreams are NBA, and I would love to get there, but the ultimate dream has always been making one of those Boomers teams.”
Now in his sixth season in Wollongong, he is in a contract year and is keen to remain a local while currently hunting the Illawarra real estate market.
A constant by Froling’s side in his time has been his teammate, good mate and housemate, Dan Grida.
“I’ve been with Grida for six years now, living together with one of my best mates,” he said.
“I’ve been lucky to have him, go through some stuff with him, and it’s been good for him as well. You know, he’s gone through a lot himself and his injuries … been in a rough place, having each other. Six years is longer than most relationships, right?”
As for a new contract?
“I would love to. I mean, I love Wollongong and it’s been a great place for me. Hopefully we can work something out,” he said.
The final word, as is often the case, falls to Shane.
So just how close is Sam to being the best Froling?
“He’s good, he’s good … but he hasn’t got 13 years under his belt yet,” he laughs.
The Illawarra Hawks are on top of the NBL ladder with a 4-1 win-loss record and take on archrivals Melbourne United at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Thursday 24 October at 7:30 pm.
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