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".

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. 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, where they were defeated 110–88 by the West Sydney Razorbacks. 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. 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. In response, Basketball Australia and Cairns Regional Council vowed to continue supporting the cash-strapped Taipans.

NBL Grand Finalists (2011; 2015)

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. They faced the New Zealand Breakers and lost game one 85–67. 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. 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. Following the season, Dorsey, Ubaka and Dillon all left Cairns to join the Melbourne Tigers, each departing the Taipans after just one season.

The 2014–15 NBL season saw the Taipans clinch their first ever NBL minor premiership. 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. 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. 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.

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: Darnell Mee (2006), D. J. Newbill (2020) NBL Next Generation Award: Sam Waardenburg (2023)

Season by season

Summary Years Chairman CEO Head coach Championships Finals appearances 1999-2001Jeff Hopgood ? Rod Popp 2001-2004 Brad Tassell Guy Molloy 20042004-2005Juanita O'Brien 2005-2006 John O'BrienAlan Black 20062006-2008Denis Keeffe2007, 2008 2008-2009 Denis Keeffe Alan Black Mark Beecroft 2009-2011 Denis Donaghy Mark Beecroft Aaron Fearne 2011 2011-2014 Adrian Garrone 2014-2018Troy Stone 2015, 2017 2018–2021 Mike Kelly 2020 2021–2025 Adam Forde 2023

Current roster

All-time roster

Retired jerseys Cairns Taipans retired numbersNo.PlayerPositionTenure 8 Aaron Grabau SG 1999–2013

Notable past players

Kyle Adnam Taran Armstrong Pedro Bradshaw Shaun Bruce Matt Burston Martin Cattalini Torrey Craig / Majok Deng Rob Edwards Anthony Fisher Cameron Gliddon Aaron Grabau Devon Hall Nathan Jawai Phill Jones Jarrod Kenny Bobi Klintman / Mojave King / Bul Kuol Robert Loe Alex Loughton / Scott Machado / Lat Mayen Jack McVeigh Darnell Mee Sam Mennenga Mitchell McCarron James Mitchell Tony Mitchell / Andre Moore Cameron Oliver Kenny Payne Keanu Pinder Tony Rampton / Robert Rose Dusty Rychart Admiral Schofield Reyne Smith Nathan Sobey Clint Steindl Anthony Stewart Kody Stattmann Lindsay Tait Marcus Timmons Cameron Tragardh Aaron Trahair Travis Trice Melo Trimble Ayinde Ubaka Sam Waardenburg Jarrad Weeks Stephen Weigh Jayson Wells Scottie Wilbekin Jamar Wilson Mark Worthington Mitchell Young

References

External links