ONE OF Australia’s best young basketballers has reached the pinnacle of the sport, with Taran Armstrong signing a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors in the NBA after emerging as a star on his home shores over recent seasons.

Armstrong was the best player for the Cairns Taipans in a tough National Basketball League (NBL) season for the competition’s northernmost team. Having played his college basketball with the California Baptist Lancers, the point guard returned to Australia and joined the Taipans under Adam Forde.

While the Taipans finished in 10th spot, they finished the season strongly, knocking off some of the biggest threats to the championship. Their turnaround in form coincided with the return of Armstrong to the lineup, with the young gun missing patches of the season through injury.

The 23-year-old finished the season averaging 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, and really improved his scoring as the season went on. He can score from all three levels, but does his best work attacking the basket, and does not shy away from bigger opponents.

He capped off his season with a 28-point triple-double to lead his side to a 12-point win over the Brisbane Bullets in the final round of the fixture, truly showing his capabilities and how bright his future is shaping.

Armstrong was also a finalist for the NBL’s Most Improved Player award at the end of the 2024/25 season, having made the leap from promising youngster to star of the competition.

The point guard will join the most successful NBA team of the last decade in the Warriors, with the likes of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green all set to provide valuable insight for the Aussie for the remainder of the season. On a two-way contract, Armstrong will split his time between the Golden State Warriors and their G-League affiliate in the Santa Cruz Warriors.

Armstrong also breaks new ground by becoming the first Tasmanian to reach the NBA, with the Ulverstone-native making a name for himself both at college and NBL level over the past five years.

His manager, Daniel Moldovan said Armstrong’s success is a testament to his improvement over the past couple of seasons in the NBL.

“Taran’s stellar season saw him receive interest from multiple NBA teams towards the end of the NBL season. Golden State is the perfect program for him to develop from within. He has a very bright future,” Moldovan said.

The Golden State Warriors currently sit ninth in the Western Conference with a record of 30 wins and 27 losses, and are engaged in a fight to make the postseason in the remaining weeks of the NBA season. Armstrong’s playing time is still yet to be determined, but if he can impress for the rest of the 2024/25 fixture, he may remain a Warrior next season.