Cairns Taipans: Difference between revisions
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{{player3 | pos = C | num = 33 | nat = USA | first = Stephen | last = Zimmerman | m = 2.11 | kgs = 109 | note = I }} |
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Revision as of 08:46, 23 December 2021
Cairns Taipans | |||||
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League | NBL | ||||
Founded | 1999 | ||||
History | Cairns Taipans 1999–present | ||||
Arena | Cairns Pop-Up Arena Cairns Convention Centre | ||||
Capacity | 5,300 | ||||
Location | Cairns, Queensland | ||||
Team colors | Orange, navy, white | ||||
Main sponsor | CQUniversity | ||||
CEO | Mark Beecroft | ||||
President | Troy Stone | ||||
General manager | Mark Beecroft | ||||
Head coach | Adam Forde | ||||
Team captain | Scott Machado | ||||
Ownership | Taipans Basketball Incorporated | ||||
Affiliation(s) | Cairns Marlins | ||||
Championships | 0 | ||||
Retired numbers | 1 (8) | ||||
Website | Taipans.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) in place of the outgoing Newcastle Falcons for the 1999/2000 season. Led by head coach Rod Popp, the Taipans made their debut with a dismal 2–26 season record.[2] The Taipans failed to qualify for the post-season in their first four seasons. In 2003/04, the Taipans played finals basketball for the first time. On 3 March 2004, 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)
The 2010/11 season saw the Cairns Taipans create history as they finished the regular season in third place with a 16–12 record and advanced through to the 2011 NBL Grand Final series, reaching the championship deciding round for the first time behind star trio Ron Dorsey, Ayinde Ubaka and Daniel Dillon.[10] There they faced the New Zealand Breakers, and after being thrashed in the series opener in Auckland, going down 85–67,[11][12] the Taipans responded in Game 2 at home. They notched up a nail-biting 85–81 double-overtime win against the Breakers to send the series into a decider. It marked the first time in NBL history a play-off match was decided in double overtime. Cairns had looked set for a three-point win in normal time before a three-pointer from Breakers guard C. J. Bruton in the dying seconds sent the match into overtime. However, revenge came five minutes later when Dorsey wiped out the Breakers' three-point lead with no time to spare 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] Dorsey's miraculous long three-pointer to send the game into double overtime has a special place in the club's history.[10] The Breakers went on to win the 2010/11 NBL Championship with a 71–53 win in the decisive Game 3 in Auckland. The Taipans lacked the same spark in Game 3, with import pair Ubaka and Dorsey shooting 4-of-26 between them.[15] Despite ultimately losing the series, Dorsey's heroics in Game 2 went down in Taipans folklore.[10]
During the 2011 off-season, the star trio of Dorsey, Ubaka and Dillon all left Cairns to play for the Melbourne Tigers, each departing the Taipans after just one season.[10] As a result, over the ensuing three seasons, the Taipans failed to return to the finals.
In February 2015, the Taipans clinched their first ever NBL minor premiership.[16] They finished the 2014/15 regular season in first place with a 21–7 record, marking the first time since the now defunct Geelong Supercats in 1984, that a regional team has topped the regular season log.[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 the 2015 NBL Grand Final series, where they once again faced the New Zealand Breakers. Despite having home court advantage, the Taipans were easily defeated by the Breakers in Game 1, losing 86–71. They went on to lose at the buzzer in Game 2 in Auckland after a game-winning fade-away shot by Ekene Ibekwe lifted the Breakers to an 83–81 win.[19]
Honour Roll
NBL Championships: | 0 |
---|---|
NBL Finals Appearances: | 8 (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2020) |
NBL Grand Final appearances: | 2 (2011, 2015) |
All-NBL First Team: | Chris Burgess (2005), Scottie Wilbekin (2015), Scott Machado (2020) |
NBL Rookie of the Year: | Nathan Jawai (2008), Cameron Gliddon (2013) |
NBL Most Improved Player: | Gary Boodnikoff (2006) |
NBL Coach of the Year: | Aaron Fearne (2015), Mike Kelly (2020) |
NBL Best Sixth Man: | Cameron Tragardh (2015) |
NBL Best Defensive Player: | D. J. Newbill (2020) |
Season by season
NBL champions | League champions | Runners-up | Finals berth |
Season | Tier | League | Regular season | Post-season | Head coach | Captain | Club MVP | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finish | Played | Wins | Losses | Win % | |||||||
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 |
2023–24 | 1 | NBL | 8th | 28 | 12 | 16 | .429 | Did not qualify | Adam Forde | Tahjere McCall | Patrick Miller |
Regular season record | 734 | 312 | 422 | .442 | 1 regular season champions | ||||||
Finals record | 31 | 13 | 18 | .419 | 0 NBL championships |
As of the end of the 2023–24 season
All-time records
As of the end of the 2020–21 season
Statistic | Wins | Losses | Win% |
---|---|---|---|
All-time regular season record (1999–present) | 273 | 377 | .420 |
All-time post-season record (1999–present) | 11 | 15 | .423 |
All-time regular and post-season record | 284 | 392 | .413 |
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 | ? | 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 |
Players
All-time roster
Current roster
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
Cairns Taipans roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Updated: 18 December 2021 |
Retired jerseys
Cairns Taipans retired numbers | ||||
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No. | Nat. | Player | Position | Tenure |
8 | ![]() |
Aaron Grabau | SG | 1999–2013 |
Notable past players
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
Criteria |
---|
To appear in this section a player must have either:
|
Gary Boodnikoff
Troy Boundy
Shaun Bruce
Matt Burston
Martin Cattalini
Torrey Craig
Ian Crosswhite
Tim Duggan
Anthony Fisher
Cameron Gliddon
Aaron Grabau
Devon Hall
Damon Heuir
Nathan Jawai
Phill Jones
Jarrod Kenny
Ben Knight
Robert Loe
Alex Loughton
Scott Machado
Darnell Mee
Mitchell McCarron
James Mitchell
Tony Mitchell
/
Andre Moore
Kane Oakley
Cameron Oliver
Kenny Payne
Tony Rampton
/
Robert Rose
Dusty Rychart
Matt Smith
Nathan Sobey
Clint Steindl
Anthony Stewart
Lindsay Tait
/
Melvin Thomas
Marcus Timmons
Cameron Tragardh
Aaron Trahair
Travis Trice
Melo Trimble
Ayinde Ubaka
Dwayne Vale
Jarrad Weeks
Stephen Weigh
Jayson Wells
Scottie Wilbekin
Jamar Wilson
Kerry Williams
Mark Worthington
Mitchell Young
References
- ^ Smith, Adam (11 October 2017). "Chargers eye $5m NBL budget". TheMercury.com.au. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- ^ Chalmers, Steve (12 February 2015). "Year of the Taipan?". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ "Taipans end Wildcats' season". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 4 March 2004. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ "Pigs end Taipans' run". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 7 March 2004. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ Davis, Sam (11 December 2008). "Taipans to finish season but imports Abney and Thomas go". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ Davis, Sam (16 December 2008). "Taipans coach Alan Black sacked". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ "Cairns Taipans import Larry Abney has spoken out against dumped coach Alan Black". The Australian. 19 December 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ Davis, Sam (26 November 2009). "Snakes running out of venom: The Cairns Taipans in financial trouble again". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ Davis, Sam (27 November 2009). "Basketball Australia and Cairns Regional Council vow to support cash-strapped Taipans". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ "New Zealand Breakers on NBL title brink". Herald Sun. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ "Breakers prepare for torrid Taipans attack". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 April 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ Schwarten, Evan (24 April 2011). "Cairns Taipans force NBL Grand Final series decider in double overtime thriller". Herald Sun. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ "Taipans halt Breakers in double overtime". The Australian. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ "Breakers seal maiden NBL title". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 April 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ "Cairns Taipans claim NBL minor premiership with 81-77 win over New Zealand Breakers". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ "Cairns clinch NBL minor premiership". SBS.com.au. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ "R20 Report: Wilbekin leads Taipans to historic finish". Taipans.com. 22 February 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2015.
- ^ "Taipans brave in quest for first NBL Championship". NBL.com.au. 12 March 2015. Archived from the original on 12 March 2015.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)