Actions speak louder than words for Illawarra Hawks defender Wani Swaka Lo Buluk. Photo: Supplied.
Sitting outside his favourite Wollongong cafe, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk looks initially a tad taken aback to learn some of his former teammates describe him as “a bit of an enigma”.
“Really?” the Illawarra Hawks basketballer responds. But then he reflects.
“Yeah, ever since I was a kid. When I was a kid, my parents used to be on me about how quiet I was. And you know, whether I do something good or bad, I’m just quiet about it.”
While his personality may not, Swaka Lo Buluk’s basketball resume speaks volumes.
At just 23, the Sudanese Australian is already a veteran of 147 games in the National Basketball League with three NBL titles under his belt.
Swaka Lo Buluk’s first titles came with his home state’s Perth Wildcats as a teenager in 2019 and 2020 and then he came of age as a defensive specialist under Chase Buford in the Sydney Kings’ 2022 championship before being actively recruited by the Hawks the following season.
Already this season he has been a barometer in the Hawks’ 3-1 start to the campaign as the NBL’s foundation club hunts for its elusive second national title under the guidance of coach Justin Tatum.
Noticeably, he has almost doubled his usual points output of recent seasons, adding another weapon to an arsenal that already sees him as one of the league’s best defensive players.
Basketball is a sport where at times words can speak louder than actions and in turn those that speak the loudest garner the limelight. Yet Swaka Lo Buluk just continues to go about his business quietly.
Former Kings championship assistant coach Fleur McIntyre, who is now the assistant general manager of the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA, met and began coaching Swaka Lo Buluk at the age of 14 in Perth.
Coincidentally, they joined the Kings in Sydney at the same time and McIntyre is not surprised he is still regarded as an enigma even by some teammates.
“He’s got a small circle, he keeps them close, he loves his family, his culture and he’s not one to showcase the different elements of himself,” McIntyre says, speaking from the US during a hectic WNBA playoff schedule.
“That’s just who he is. So I’m not surprised by that at all.
“He’s always been such a beautiful soul, such a kind soul, and he just has a quiet confidence and natural way about him that he knows who he is. Like, he never tried to be something that he wasn’t.”
It’s that quiet confidence and seeming calmness in the face of great pressure that has held him in good stead and high regard by coach Tatum, the Hawks and indeed the league.
“The way I think about the Hawks and Wollongong is their appreciation for the blue-collar worker a little bit, and I think that’s what Wani is,” McIntyre notes.
“He rolls his sleeves up and he’ll do whatever it takes. I think there’s an appreciation of that city, what they appreciate, and respect in their players. It’s a really nice fit for him. As well as playing for Tatum, someone who will challenge him, but really get behind him and put that faith in him.
“But don’t let the quietness fool you. He believes in himself, he believes in his work and what he’s about. He knows who he is.”
In the off-season, the Hawks signed the 198 cm wing for another three seasons and Wollongong’s lifestyle and beaches made it an easy signature for the boy from Perth.
“Wollongong’s home now, I think. I love it out here,” he says.
“It’s so peaceful out here. It’s the beaches and everything and the fans. It was a pretty easy call to make, to come back, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Playing under Tatum again was also an easy choice.
“When he’s coaching you, you want to play for him, he makes things fun,” Swaka Lo Buluk says.
“He brings a confidence out in you. And while he’s a positive coach, he will get on you, but he’s always finding ways to do what he can to help.”
And if anyone knows what a winning culture looks like, it’s Swaka Lo Buluk and he sees that in the current iteration of the Hawks.
“Under Gleeson [Swaka Lo Buluk’s Perth championship coach Trevor Gleeson], the guys just fit culturally, you know what I mean?” he says.
“The team culture was always just perfect and that’s why he won so many times, because he knew what guys to pick. It happened in Sydney too. It didn’t start that way, but we made it that way.
“It’s going to take all of us coming together as a group and be willing to sacrifice for a championship and I think we have the right pieces for all that.
“I think everybody has the same goal, and we all have that one goal that we’re going to win a championship.”
Individually, despite the growth of his offensive game, Swaka Lo Buluk is clear on his personal goals.
“I love playing defence. I do want to, obviously, take it to another level,” he says.
“I want to take that to another step and at least be in conversations of the defence player of the year, or stuff like that. So that’s the one thing I’m looking for. That’s my next goal.”
With that in mind, he still harbours ambitions beyond our shores.
“As a kid, everybody has those NBA dreams … still, you know, anything can happen,” he says.
“I still believe, still have belief in myself, whether it’s NBA or Europe. I’ve been in the NBL for a while now, but I wouldn’t mind experimenting.”
And who would doubt him?
Walking out of the cafe, you can tell Swaka Lo Buluk is still processing the “enigma” question.
“You know, man, I will say something when I need to. For sure. The time is coming,” he says.
All said with his trademark quiet confidence.
The Illawarra Hawks’ next home game is against the Tasmania JackJumpers at WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday, 12 October, at 5:30 pm.
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