ILLAWARRA / WOLLONGONG
Bob Kubbinga #13
HAWKS ID: 1
Debut Season: 1979
Games Played: 40
Bob Kubbinga holds a special place in the history of the Illawarra Hawks as the team's first captain, a role that was crucial during the club's inaugural NBL season in 1979. Although the Hawks finished with a 5-13 record and placed eighth out of ten teams, Kubbinga's leadership helped establish a foundation for the club's future in the league.
Kubbinga’s journey in basketball began much earlier, during the 1960s, in the Illawarra region. He showcased his talent from a young age, representing New South Wales (NSW) in the Under 16 Australian Championships from 1962 to 1964 and the Under 18 Championships in 1966.
His skill and dedication saw him continue to represent NSW in the Australian Open Men’s Championships through the early 1970s and again in 1978 and 1979, marking a notable career at both the junior and senior levels.
Bob Kubbinga interview from 2010
In 1968, Kubbinga was a key member of the Illawarra Hawks team that competed in the NSW State Senior Championships, alongside other prominent players such as Alan Jones, Steve Tonkin, and Adrian Hurley. This period was instrumental in building the rich basketball tradition in the Illawarra region, to which Kubbinga contributed significantly.
Bob Kubbinga passed away in 2017, but his legacy as a pioneer of Illawarra basketball endures. As the first captain of the Hawks, his leadership and dedication to the sport set the stage for the team's future successes and helped lay the groundwork for what the Illawarra Hawks would eventually become in the NBL.
Bob Kubbinga in his role as Illawarra Basketball Development Officer | Photo by Illawarra Mercury