2023–24 Cairns Taipans season

2023–24 Cairns Taipans season
Head coachAustralia Adam Forde
CaptainUnited States Tahjere McCall
ArenaCairns Convention Centre
NBL results
Record12–16 (42.9%)
Ladder8th
Finals finishDid not qualify
Stats at NBL.com.au
Player records
PointsUnited States Miller
5.3
ReboundsNew Zealand Waardenburg
5.2
AssistsUnited States Miller
5.7
All statistics correct as of 18 February 2024.

The 2023–24 Cairns Taipans season was the 25th season of the franchise in the National Basketball League (NBL).

Roster

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

2023–24 Cairns Taipans roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
G 0 United States McCall, Tahjere (I & C) 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 30 – (1994-08-17)17 August 1994
G 1 United States Miller, Patrick (I) 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 91 kg (201 lb) 32 – (1992-05-22)22 May 1992
G 2 Australia Armstrong, Taran 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 22 – (2002-01-15)15 January 2002
F 3 New Zealand Mennenga, Sam 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 109 kg (240 lb) 23 – (2001-12-12)12 December 2001
G 6 Australia Antonio, Jonah Injured 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 27 – (1997-04-04)4 April 1997
F 7 Australia Dennis, Kian (DP) 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 23 – (2001-04-09)9 April 2001
F 11 South Sudan Mayen, Lat 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 94 kg (207 lb) 26 – (1998-08-16)16 August 1998
F 13 South Sudan Gak, Akoldah Injured 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 22 – (2002-07-12)12 July 2002
G 15 Australia Mudronja, Alex (DP) 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 25 – (1999-09-03)3 September 1999
F 21 New Zealand Waardenburg, Sam 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 25 – (1999-02-21)21 February 1999
F 23 United States Roberts, Josh (I) 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 99 kg (218 lb) 25 – (1999-07-15)15 July 1999
F 24 Australia Anderson, Lachlan 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 27 – (1997-10-17)17 October 1997
F 34 Sweden Klintman, Bobi (NS) 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 21 – (2003-03-06)6 March 2003
F 42 South Sudan Kuol, Bul Injured 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 94 kg (207 lb) 27 – (1997-01-10)10 January 1997
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: 16 February 2024

Depth chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Development
PG Taran Armstrong Patrick Miller Alex Mudronja
SG Tahjere McCall Jonah Antonio Kian Dennis
SF Bul Kuol Lat Mayen Lachlan Anderson
PF Sam Waardenburg Bobi Klintman
C Sam Mennenga Josh Roberts Akoldah Gak

Standings

Ladder

Pos 2023–24 NBL season
Team Pld W L PCT Last 5 Streak Home Away PF PA PP
1 Melbourne United 28 20 8 71.43% 3–2 W1 11–3 9–5 2615 2454 106.56%
2 Perth Wildcats 28 17 11 60.71% 2–3 L2 10–4 7–7 2630 2563 102.61%
3 Tasmania JackJumpers 28 16 12 57.14% 4–1 W4 8–6 8–6 2564 2378 107.82%
4 Illawarra Hawks 28 14 14 50.00% 3–2 L1 8–6 6–8 2547 2518 101.15%
5 Sydney Kings 28 13 15 46.43% 2–3 W1 7–7 6–8 2672 2602 102.69%
6 New Zealand Breakers 28 13 15 46.43% 3–2 L1 8–6 5–9 2498 2480 100.73%
7 Brisbane Bullets 28 13 15 46.43% 2–3 L1 8–6 5–9 2458 2534 97.00%
8 Cairns Taipans 28 12 16 42.86% 1–4 W1 7–7 5–9 2506 2589 96.79%
9 Adelaide 36ers 28 12 16 42.86% 3–2 W1 9–5 3–11 2457 2563 95.86%
10 S.E. Melbourne Phoenix 28 10 18 35.71% 1–4 L4 7–7 3–11 2425 2691 90.12%

Updated to match(es) played on 18 February 2024. Source: NBL.com.au

The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win–loss record, the overall points percentage will determine order of seeding.

Ladder progression

Leader and qualification to semifinals
Qualification to semifinals
Qualification to play-in games
Last place
2023–24 NBL season
Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920
Adelaide 36ers9101097888910101010101099999
Brisbane Bullets12676576667996545657
Cairns Taipans86343767776679767888
Illawarra Hawks10891091010101088885686444
Melbourne United31111111111111111111
New Zealand Breakers475610999899768978766
Perth Wildcats65888654353222222222
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix5975234553555781010101010
Sydney Kings23234222442434454575
Tasmania JackJumpers74425433224343333333
Updated to match(es) played on 18 February 2024. Source: NBL.com.au

Game log

Pre-season

Main article: 2023 NBL pre-season
2023 NBL Blitz game log
Total: 1–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–1)
September: 1–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 17 September Perth L 95–102 Lat Mayen (17) Taran Armstrong (8) Taran Armstrong (7) Gold Coast Convention Centre
n/a 		0–1
2 20 September S.E. Melbourne W 100–95 Patrick Miller (21) Akoldah Gak (7) Taran Armstrong (5) Gold Coast Convention Centre
n/a 		1–1
3 22 September @ Illawarra L 108–90 Akoldah Gak (21) Lat Mayen (9) Taran Armstrong (7) Gold Coast Convention Centre
n/a 		1–2

NBLxNBA games

Main article: NBLxNBA
2023 pre-season game log
Total: 0–2 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–2)
October: 0–2 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 10 October @ Washington L 82–145 Akoldah Gak (17) Josh Roberts (10) Taran Armstrong (8) Capital One Arena
6,856 		0–1
2 15 October @ Toronto L 93–134 Patrick Miller (22) Josh Roberts (9) Elfrid Payton (7) Scotiabank Arena
18,141 		0–2

Regular season

Main article: 2023–24 NBL regular season
2023–24 game log
Total: 12–16 (Home: 7–7; Road: 5–9)
September: 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 30 September @ New Zealand L 98–87 Sam Mennenga (17) Lat Mayen (6) Patrick Miller (6) Spark Arena
6,400 		0–1
October: 3–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
2 5 October S.E. Melbourne W 87–80 Patrick Miller (23) Sam Waardenburg (14) Patrick Miller (8) Cairns Convention Centre
3,906 		1–1
3 7 October @ Brisbane W 86–89 Patrick Miller (21) Sam Waardenburg (7) Kuol, Miller (5) Nissan Arena
4,023 		2–1
4 26 October @ Illawarra L 84–83 Patrick Miller (24) Bobi Klintman (7) Patrick Miller (7) Wollongong Entertainment Centre
1,923 		2–2
5 28 October Sydney W 87–80 Bul Kuol (24) Bobi Klintman (8) three players (3) Cairns Convention Centre
4,587 		3–2
November: 1–4 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
6 3 November @ New Zealand L 91–81 Kuol, Mayen (18) Mayen, Mennenga (7) Mayen, Waardenburg (5) Christchurch Arena
4,909 		3–3
7 5 November @ S.E. Melbourne L 91–78 three players (12) Tahjere McCall (10) Bul Kuol (4) John Cain Arena
7,511 		3–4
8 11 November Illawarra W 81–71 Bul Kuol (19) Gak, Mayen (8) Taran Armstrong (4) Cairns Convention Centre
4,614 		4–4
9 16 November @ Perth L 88–80 Tahjere McCall (19) Taran Armstrong (6) Patrick Miller (6) Perth Arena
9,976 		4–5
10 18 November Tasmania L 87–90 (OT) Patrick Miller (26) Taran Armstrong (7) three players (4) Cairns Convention Centre
4,194 		4–6
December: 5–5 (Home: 2–4; Road: 3–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
11 1 December Brisbane L 79–84 Tahjere McCall (29) Bul Kuol (6) Patrick Miller (7) Cairns Convention Centre
4,007 		4–7
12 3 December @ Melbourne W 103–115 Patrick Miller (32) Josh Roberts (5) Patrick Miller (10) John Cain Arena
9,384 		5–7
13 7 December Sydney L 83–86 Patrick Miller (22) Tahjere McCall (6) Patrick Miller (7) Cairns Convention Centre
4,126 		5–8
14 9 December @ Adelaide W 101–116 Patrick Miller (26) Sam Waardenburg (9) Tahjere McCall (15) Adelaide Entertainment Centre
8,954 		6–8
15 15 December New Zealand L 82–111 Taran Armstrong (15) Sam Waardenburg (6) Patrick Miller (5) Cairns Convention Centre
3,584 		6–9
16 17 December @ Brisbane W 101–102 Tahjere McCall (25) Armstrong, Waardenburg (7) Tahjere McCall (9) Nissan Arena
4,722 		7–9
17 22 December S.E. Melbourne W 94–75 Sam Waardenburg (20) Tahjere McCall (8) Patrick Miller (9) Cairns Convention Centre
3,651 		8–9
18 26 December Perth L 102–105 Bobi Klintman (24) Sam Mennenga (10) Patrick Miller (7) Cairns Convention Centre
4,050 		8–10
19 29 December @ Sydney L 101–82 Patrick Miller (18) Sam Waardenburg (8) McCall, Miller (6) Sydney SuperDome
12,783 		8–11
20 31 December Melbourne W 95–78 Patrick Miller (31) Sam Mennenga (11) Tahjere McCall (10) Cairns Convention Centre
4,802 		9–11
January: 2–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
21 6 January @ Tasmania L 103–86 Tahjere McCall (20) Sam Mennenga (8) Tahjere McCall (6) Derwent Entertainment Centre
4,340 		9–12
22 13 January Adelaide W 111–101 (OT) Tahjere McCall (30) Akoldah Gak (14) Tahjere McCall (9) Cairns Convention Centre
4,659 		10–12
23 18 January @ Illawarra W 92–93 Tahjere McCall (28) Akoldah Gak (11) Armstrong, McCall (6) Wollongong Entertainment Centre
3,711 		11–12
24 21 January Brisbane L 84–102 Bul Kuol (19) Tahjere McCall (6) Patrick Miller (5) Cairns Convention Centre
4,601 		11–13
25 27 January @ Adelaide L 88–71 Lat Mayen (15) Lat Mayen (9) Tahjere McCall (7) Adelaide Entertainment Centre
9,741 		11–14
February: 1–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
26 1 February Tasmania L 86–94 Patrick Miller (31) Patrick Miller (7) Taran Armstrong (6) Cairns Convention Centre
3,645 		11–15
27 10 February @ Perth L 117–88 Patrick Miller (25) three players (4) Patrick Miller (5) Perth Arena
12,895 		11–16
28 16 February Melbourne W 97–88 Tahjere McCall (23) Tahjere McCall (9) Tahjere McCall (10) Cairns Convention Centre
4,378 		12–16
2023–24 season schedule

Transactions

Re-signed

Player Date Signed Contract Ref.
Lat Mayen 27 March 2023 1-year deal [1]
Bul Kuol 9 June 2023 1-year deal [2]

Additions

Player Date Signed Contract Former team Ref.
Sam Mennenga 6 April 2023 2-year deal Davidson Wildcats [3]
Akoldah Gak 10 April 2023 2-year deal Illawarra Hawks [4]
Taran Armstrong 17 May 2023 2-year deal California Baptist Lancers [5]
Bobi Klintman 13 June 2023 1-year deal (next star) Wake Forest [6]
Patrick Miller 16 June 2023 1-year deal Brose Bamberg [7]
Lachlan Anderson 8 July 2023 2-year deal (club option) TFT Skopje [8]
Josh Roberts 4 August 2023 1-year deal Manhattan Jaspers [9]
Kian Dennis 8 August 2023 2-year deal (club option) Southern Districts Spartans [10]
Alex Mudronja 8 August 2023 2-year deal (club option) Illawarra Hawks [10]

Subtractions

Player Reason left Date Left New Team Ref.
Mirko Đerić Mutual release 27 March 2023 TBC [1]
Keanu Pinder Free agent 1 April 2023 Perth Wildcats [11]
Shannon Scott Free agent 28 April 2023 Brisbane Bullets [12]
Ben Ayre Club option declined 2 May 2023 S.E. Melbourne Phoenix [13]
D. J. Hogg Free agent 26 May 2023 Sydney Kings [14]
Majok Deng Declined player option 28 June 2023 Tasmania JackJumpers [15]
Gabe Hadley Free agent 18 July 2023 Brisbane Bullets [16]

Awards

Club awards

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "2023 Taipans Free Agency". Taipans.com. 27 March 2023. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  2. ^ "NBL24: Bul Kuol on why he chose to return to the Cairns Taipans". CairnsPost.com.au. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Taipans welcome Sam Mennenga". Taipans.com. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  4. ^ "NBA Aspirant Gak Signs in Cairns". NBL.com.au. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Australian college basketball star Taran Armstrong joins Cairns Taipans". ESPN.com.au. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  6. ^ "TAIPANS SECURE SWEDISH SENSATION". Taipans.com. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Cairns welcomes Patrick Miller". Taipans.com. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Taipans lure another Marlin". Taipans.com. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Collegiate forward joins Taipans' young core". NBL.com.au. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Taipans announce development players". Taipans.com. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Wildcats welcome Keanu Pinder home to Perth". Wildcats.com.au. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Bullets welcome import point guard Shannon Scott". BrisbaneBullets.com.au. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  13. ^ "The formidable charm of Ben Ayre". TheInnerSanctum.com.au. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Sydney Kings land DJ Hogg as Xavier Cooks replacement". CanberraTimes.com.au. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  15. ^ "JackJumpers land NBL Veteran Majok Deng". JackJumpers.com.au. 28 June 2023. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Bullets add sharpshooter Gabe Hadley". BrisbaneBullets.com.au. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  17. ^ @cairnstaipans (24 February 2023). "MVPAT ⭐️". Retrieved 25 February 2023 – via Instagram.