Cairns Taipans
2023–24 Cairns Taipans season
Cairns Taipans logo
LeagueNBL
Founded1999 (1999)
HistoryCairns Taipans
1999–present
ArenaCairns Convention Centre
Capacity5,300
LocationCairns, Queensland
Team colorsOrange, navy, white
     
Main sponsorCQUniversity
CEOMark Beecroft
PresidentTroy Stone
General managerMark Beecroft
Head coachAdam Forde
Team captainTahjere McCall
OwnershipTaipans Basketball Incorporated
Affiliation(s)Cairns Marlins
Championships0
Retired numbers1 (8)
WebsiteTaipans.com

The Cairns Taipans are an Australian professional basketball team based in Cairns, Queensland. The Taipans compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at the Cairns Convention Centre, known colloquially as "The Snakepit". The Taipans are the only not-for-profit club left in the league.[1]

History

Early years (1999–2008)

The Taipans were founded in 1999, entering the National Basketball League (NBL) for the 1999–2000 NBL season. Led by head coach Rod Popp, the Taipans' debut season ended with a 2–26 record.[2] The Taipans failed to qualify for the post-season in their first four seasons. In the 2003–04 NBL season, the Taipans defeated the Perth Wildcats 103–96 in an elimination final at the Cairns Convention Centre. In winning their first final, the Taipans moved on to the quarter-finals,[3] where they were defeated 110–88 by the West Sydney Razorbacks.[4] After missing the finals in 2004–05, the Taipans made three straight finals appearances between 2005–06 and 2007–08.

Financial difficulties (2008–2009)

In December 2008, the Taipans were placed into voluntary administration. As a result, coach Alan Black was sacked and imports Larry Abney and Dave Thomas were let go. The rest of the team had to agree to a blanket 45 per cent pay cut for the rest of the season.[5][6][7] Less than 12 months later, the Taipans were again in financial trouble – at the time, the club was almost $350,000 over budget and had only recorded a profit in one of the previous four months.[8] In response, Basketball Australia and Cairns Regional Council vowed to continue supporting the cash-strapped Taipans.[9]

NBL Grand Finalists (2011; 2015)

Cairns Taipans alternative logo

The 2010–11 NBL season saw the Taipans reach their first NBL Grand Final series behind star trio Ron Dorsey, Ayinde Ubaka and Daniel Dillon.[10] They faced the New Zealand Breakers and lost game one 85–67.[11][12] In game two, they tied the series with an 85–81 double-overtime win. It marked the first time in NBL history a play-off match was decided in double overtime. After Breakers guard C. J. Bruton hit a three-pointer in the dying seconds of regulation to send the match into overtime, Dorsey responded with a three-pointer at the buzzer at the end of the first overtime to force the match into double overtime. With momentum on their side, the Taipans were able to finish out the match on top.[13][14] The Breakers went on to win 71–53 in game three after import pair Ubaka and Dorsey shot 4-of-26 between them, as the Taipans finished the season as runners-up.[15] Following the season, Dorsey, Ubaka and Dillon all left Cairns to join the Melbourne Tigers, each departing the Taipans after just one season.[10]

The 2014–15 NBL season saw the Taipans clinch their first ever NBL minor premiership.[16] They finished the regular season in first place with a 21–7 record, becoming the first regional team to finish on top of the ladder since the Geelong Supercats in 1984.[17] The Taipans also made history by using the same starting five of Scottie Wilbekin (Point guard), Cameron Gliddon (Shooting guard), Stephen Weigh (Small forward), Alex Loughton (Power forward) and Matt Burston (Centre) all season.[18] They went on to reach their second NBL Grand Final series, where they once again faced the New Zealand Breakers. Despite having home court advantage, the Taipans were defeated 86–71 in game one and 83–81 in game two. Breakers forward Ekene Ibekwe hit a game-winning fade-away shot in game two to clinch the series.[19]

Honour roll

NBL championships: 0
Regular-season champions: 1 (2015)
NBL finals appearances: 9 (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2023)
NBL Grand Final appearances: 2 (2011, 2015)
All-NBL First Team: Chris Burgess (2005), Martin Cattalini (2007), Scottie Wilbekin (2015), Scott Machado (2020)
All-NBL Second Team: Nathan Jawai (2008), Jamar Wilson (2012), Melo Trimble (2019), D. J. Newbill (2020), Cameron Oliver (2020), D. J. Hogg (2023), Keanu Pinder (2023)
All-NBL Third Team: Ben Knight (2001), Chris Burgess (2006), Martin Cattalini (2006), Darnell Mee (2006), Alex Loughton (2011), Ayinde Ubaka (2011), Jamar Wilson (2013)
NBL Rookie of the Year: Nathan Jawai (2008), Cameron Gliddon (2013), Bul Kuol (2022)
NBL Most Improved Player: Gary Boodnikoff (2006), Keanu Pinder (2022, 2023)
NBL Coach of the Year: Aaron Fearne (2015), Mike Kelly (2020), Adam Forde (2023)
NBL Best Sixth Man: Cameron Tragardh (2015)
NBL Best Defensive Player: D. J. Newbill (2020)
NBL Next Generation Award: Sam Waardenburg (2023)

Season by season

NBL champions League champions Runners-up Finals berth
Season Tier League Regular season Post-season Head coach Captain Club MVP
FinishPlayedWinsLossesWin %
Cairns Taipans
1999–2000 1 NBL 11th 28 2 26 .071 Did not qualify Rod Popp Terry Johnson not awarded
2000–01 1 NBL 9th 28 6 22 .214 Did not qualify Rod Popp Anthony Stewart Ben Knight
Aaron Trahair
2001–02 1 NBL 11th 30 9 21 .300 Did not qualify Guy Molloy Anthony Stewart Jayson Wells
2002–03 1 NBL 8th 30 13 17 .433 Did not qualify Guy Molloy Brad Davidson
Jayson Wells		 Ben Knight
Anthony Stewart
2003–04 1 NBL 6th 33 16 17 .485 Won elimination final (Perth) 103–96
Lost quarterfinal (West Sydney) 88–110		 Guy Molloy Brad Davidson Marcus Timmons
2004–05 1 NBL 10th 32 11 21 .344 Did not qualify Guy Molloy Anthony Stewart Chris Burgess
2005–06 1 NBL 5th 32 18 14 .563 Won elimination final (Hunter) 88–80
Won quarterfinal (Adelaide) 106–103
Lost semifinals (Sydney) 0–2		 Alan Black Anthony Stewart
Darnell Mee		 Martin Cattalini
2006–07 1 NBL 6th 33 17 16 .515 Won elimination final (South) 118–97
Won quarterfinal (Perth) 82–78
Lost semifinals (Melbourne) 0–2		 Alan Black Anthony Stewart Martin Cattalini
2007–08 1 NBL 6th 30 16 14 .533 Lost elimination final (New Zealand) 78–100 Alan Black Martin Cattalini Nathan Jawai
2008–09 1 NBL 9th 30 11 19 .367 Did not qualify Alan Black
Mark Beecroft		 Martin Cattalini Martin Cattalini
2009–10 1 NBL 7th 28 11 17 .393 Did not qualify Aaron Fearne Phill Jones Dusty Rychart
2010–11 1 NBL 3rd 28 16 12 .571 Won semifinals (Townsville) 2–1
Lost NBL finals (New Zealand) 1–2		 Aaron Fearne Phill Jones
Alex Loughton
Ian Crosswhite		 Ayinde Ubaka
2011–12 1 NBL 5th 28 15 13 .536 Did not qualify Aaron Fearne Alex Loughton
Ian Crosswhite		 Jamar Wilson
2012–13 1 NBL 6th 28 11 17 .393 Did not qualify Aaron Fearne Alex Loughton Jamar Wilson
2013–14 1 NBL 6th 28 12 16 .429 Did not qualify Aaron Fearne Cameron Tragardh Cameron Gliddon
2014–15 1 NBL 1st 28 21 7 .750 Won semifinals (Perth) 2–0
Lost NBL finals (New Zealand) 0–2		 Aaron Fearne Cameron Gliddon Scottie Wilbekin
2015–16 1 NBL 6th 28 12 16 .429 Did not qualify Aaron Fearne Cameron Gliddon Cameron Gliddon
2016–17 1 NBL 2nd 28 15 13 .536 Lost semifinals (Perth) 0–2 Aaron Fearne Cameron Gliddon Travis Trice
2017–18 1 NBL 6th 28 11 17 .393 Did not qualify Aaron Fearne Cameron Gliddon Cameron Gliddon
Mitch McCarron
2018–19 1 NBL 8th 28 6 22 .214 Did not qualify Mike Kelly Alex Loughton Melo Trimble
2019–20 1 NBL 3rd 28 16 12 .571 Lost semifinals (Perth) 1–2 Mike Kelly Nathan Jawai
D. J. Newbill		 Scott Machado
2020–21 1 NBL 9th 36 8 28 .222 Did not qualify Mike Kelly Scott Machado Scott Machado
2021–22 1 NBL 9th 28 9 19 .321 Did not qualify Adam Forde Scott Machado Tahjere McCall
2022–23 1 NBL 3rd 28 18 10 .643 Lost seeding qualifier (Tasmania) 79–87
Won play-in game (Perth) 91–78
Lost semifinals (Sydney) 1–2		 Adam Forde Tahjere McCall D. J. Hogg
Regular season record 706 300 406 .425 1 regular season champions
Finals record 31 13 18 .419 0 NBL championships

As of the end of the 2022–23 season

All-time records

As of the end of the 2022–23 season

Statistic Wins Losses Win%
All-time regular season record (1999–present) 300 406 .425
All-time post-season record (1999–present) 13 18 .419
All-time regular and post-season record 313 424 .425

Summary

Years Chairman CEO Head coach Championships Finals appearances
1999-2001 Jeff Hopgood  ? Rod Popp
2001-2004 Brad Tassell Guy Molloy 2004
2004-2005 Juanita O'Brien
2005-2006 John O’Brien Alan Black 2006
2006-2008 Denis Keeffe 2007, 2008
2008-2009 Denis Keeffe Alan Black Mark Beecroft
2009-2011 Denis Donaghy Mark Beecroft Aaron Fearne 2011
2011-2014 Adrian Garrone
2014-2018 Troy Stone 2015, 2017
2018–2021 Mike Kelly 2020
2021–present Adam Forde 2023

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Cairns Taipans roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.
G 0 United States McCall, Tahjere (C & I) 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 86 kg (190 lb)
G 1 United States Miller, Patrick (I) 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 91 kg (201 lb)
G 2 Australia Armstrong, Taran 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 88 kg (194 lb)
F 3 New Zealand Mennenga, Sam 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 109 kg (240 lb)
G 6 Australia Antonio, Jonah 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 88 kg (194 lb)
F 7 Australia Dennis, Kian (DP) 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 83 kg (183 lb)
F 11 Australia Mayen, Lat 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 94 kg (207 lb)
F 13 Australia Gak, Akoldah 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) 102 kg (225 lb)
G 15 Australia Mudronja, Alex (DP) 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 88 kg (194 lb)
F 21 New Zealand Waardenburg, Sam 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 100 kg (220 lb)
F 23 United States Roberts, Josh (I) 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 99 kg (218 lb)
F 24 Australia Anderson, Lachlan 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 93 kg (205 lb)
F 34 Sweden Klintman, Bobi (NS) 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 102 kg (225 lb)
F 42 South Sudan Kuol, Bul 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 94 kg (207 lb)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Australia Sam Gruggen
  • Australia Kerry Williams
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (I) Import player
  • (TP) Training player
  • (SRP) Special restricted player
  • (NS) Next Star player
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 22 December 2023

All-time roster

Retired jerseys

Cairns Taipans retired numbers
No. Nat. Player Position Tenure
8AustraliaAaron GrabauSG1999–2013

Notable past players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club
  • Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time
  • Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

References

  1. ↑ Smith, Adam (11 October 2017). "Chargers eye $5m NBL budget". TheMercury.com.au. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  2. ↑ Chalmers, Steve (12 February 2015). "Year of the Taipan?". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  3. ↑ "Taipans end Wildcats' season". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 4 March 2004. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  4. ↑ "Pigs end Taipans' run". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 7 March 2004. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  5. ↑ Davis, Sam (11 December 2008). "Taipans to finish season but imports Abney and Thomas go". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  6. ↑ Davis, Sam (16 December 2008). "Taipans coach Alan Black sacked". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  7. ↑ "Cairns Taipans import Larry Abney has spoken out against dumped coach Alan Black". The Australian. 19 December 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  8. ↑ Davis, Sam (26 November 2009). "Snakes running out of venom: The Cairns Taipans in financial trouble again". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  9. ↑ Davis, Sam (27 November 2009). "Basketball Australia and Cairns Regional Council vow to support cash-strapped Taipans". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  10. 1 2 Wenzel, Murray (5 March 2015). ""Like it was yesterday," Taipan Ronald Dorsey remembers his NBL grand final heroics in Cairns". CairnsPost.com.au. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  11. ↑ "New Zealand Breakers on NBL title brink". Herald Sun. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  12. ↑ "Breakers prepare for torrid Taipans attack". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 April 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  13. ↑ Schwarten, Evan (24 April 2011). "Cairns Taipans force NBL Grand Final series decider in double overtime thriller". Herald Sun. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  14. ↑ "Taipans halt Breakers in double overtime". The Australian. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  15. ↑ "Breakers seal maiden NBL title". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 April 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  16. ↑ "Cairns Taipans claim NBL minor premiership with 81-77 win over New Zealand Breakers". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  17. ↑ "Cairns clinch NBL minor premiership". SBS.com.au. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  18. ↑ "R20 Report: Wilbekin leads Taipans to historic finish". Taipans.com. 22 February 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2015.
  19. ↑ "Taipans brave in quest for first NBL Championship". NBL.com.au. 12 March 2015. Archived from the original on 12 March 2015.
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