Coach Jacob Jackomas insists the Illawarra Hawks are happy with American young gun AJ Johnson but says it will take time for him to earn extended minutes.
Johnson, 18, pulled out of Big 12 school the University of Texas to join the NBL's Next Star program designed to prepare elite prospects to nominate for the NBA draft.
Bobi Klintman (Cairns Taipans), Alexandre Saar (Perth Wildcats) and Alex Toohey (Sydney Kings) are among the Next Stars to have already become staples of their new teams' rotations.
But Johnson, projected to be a higher draft pick than any other Next Star in 2024, has been used sparingly by the ninth-placed Hawks.
The 198cm-tall combo guard has averaged just over five minutes of game time across the Hawks' first six games this season, sitting out of their first two altogether.
He came on for an early cameo in the second quarter of Thursday night's one-point win over Cairns, hitting a three-pointer that sent the Wollongong crowd crazy.
But Jackomas substituted him out midway through the period and he did not return as the game went down to the wire.
It came as fellow American guards Justin Robinson (three of 12 shots) and Tyler Harvey (seven from 19) had inconsistent nights from the field, though the latter eventually won the game with a clutch three-pointer late.
"It's slow steps for him, he's a young man," Jackomas said of Johnson.
"He's doing what he can to play right now, he's doing everything we ask, he's working out, he's good.
"He's good on the court, he's no trouble that way. He's getting better."
But Jackomas urged patience, insistent Johnson's time was coming.
"This thing's a long season," he said.
"There's going to be an opportunity at some stage and then when he takes that thing, he takes it. But we're trying to ease him in.
"(It's) no different to what I say to Biwali (Bayles) or 'Davo' (William Hickey) or someone else who doesn't play: 'There'll be a time for you to shine'.
"He is tracking the right way but I believe by the end of this thing, he's going to be as good as he gets and everyone won't be asking these questions.
"He just needs to keep doing what he's doing to get what he wants."
