Next up on Hoops Heaven's Basketball Hustle is a fascinating conversation with Illawarra Hawks 310-game NBL stalwart Tim Coenraad.

As we keep saying, it might be the NBL off-season but there remains plenty to talk about and this week's guest provides plenty of evidence of that as he catches up with NBL Writer Chris Pike and Perth Wildcats legend, The Scoring Machine Shawn Redhage.

There is so much covered in the discussion starting off with the constant rejection Coenraad received early in his career before finding a college home and then even from a rival NBL coach before settling at the then Wollongong Hawks.

Coenraad then talks about what an honour it was to him to play for Australia with the Boomers and the shock he had when some players turned down the chance, and why he gained an enormous amount of respect for Mitch Creek.

He also talks playing 3x3 basketball for Australia and gives an impassioned plea for Basketball Australia to rethink their decision to not fund the teams playing in the Asia Cup which can provide automatic World Cup qualification.

Coenraad then discusses the current ownership situation with the Illawarra Hawks and also provides an update on his own situation. He is currently out of contract and while he'd love to stay at the Hawks, is prepared to go anywhere to continue his NBL career because he has no doubt he still has plenty left to give.

Coenraad also goes on to talk about his impressions of LaMelo Ball, the growth of the NBL during his career and why the Perth Wildcats will also be his fiercest rivals in the league.