THE 2023/24 National Basketball League (NBL) season was one of the most entertaining in recent memory, with all teams performing at a high level and making a genuine run at some postseason action along the way.

All 10 teams were in the hunt for a spot in the finals and play-in until the penultimate round, demonstrating the impressive quality of the competition.

Given the season has concluded, Rookie Me Central will be dissecting each team’s campaign, and the key pieces that shaped it.

Today we will be taking a look at the Cairns Taipans, who fell one win shy of a play-in appearance despite remaining in the hunt until the final round of play.

Cairns Taipans

2023/24 record: 13 wins, 15 losses
Ladder position: 8th

How it happened

The Taipans could not truly build any momentum over the course of the 2023/24 fixture, unable to reach the lofty heights that saw them storm up the rankings in the season prior. Cairns struggled with inconsistency both within matches and the fixture itself, with wins often followed by losses in its next outing, and the trend costing the team a shot at making the postseason despite a strong performance in the final round, knocking off Melbourne United.

MVP – Patrick Miller

In his first season at NBL level, Miller impressed in a big way, leading his side to several wins on the back of some excellent offensive play. The point guard was highly touted prior to his debut in the league, and lived up to the hype with an excellent campaign. The Taipans could rely on him to produce some strong numbers each game, and he was far and away the most consistent factor in their campaign. Miller posted averages of 19.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists and was the brightest part of Cairns’ season.

The coach – Adam Forde

Forde managed to turn the Taipans’ fortunes around last season, leading the team to within one game of the Grand Final series. He did not have as much success in the 2023/24 season, with the team unable to return to postseason action. However, it was a much more even playing field this time around, and Cairns still produced some memorable results. Unfortunately, Forde was involved in an altercation with Brisbane Bullets big man Aron Baynes when the two teams clashed, which drew headlines, but he kept his focus on trying to get his team to the postseason.

Where to?

The Taipans will be losing the services of their Next Star Bobi Klintman as he recently declared for the NBA Draft, and has certainly done enough to warrant selection at the top level. Adding a talented youngster through the Next Star program paid dividends for the Taipans, so it seems likely they will look to add another player through the system. Miller expressed his excitement to return to the NBL at the team’s awards night, so he appears more likely than not to be suiting up for Cairns. The future of Tahjere McCall appears less certain after being benched late in the season, so another import could be on the way.