‘Humbling’: Taipans make history with NBA pre-season games

The Taipans confirmed on Thursday they will face the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors as part of the NBA pre-season in October.

In doing so, they become the first regional team in the NBL to be afforded the opportunity to play against clubs involved in the world’s biggest league.

Taipans CEO Mark Beecroft said it was “humbling” for all involved at the club to make history, in a year they celebrate 25 years in the NBL.

Beecroft praised the efforts of those involved in discussions throughout the process, including NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger, Cairns MP and Assistant Minister for Tourism Industry Development Michael Healy, and Tourism Events Queensland for their crucial roles in delivering the North American tour.

“It’s humbling for everyone involved in the club to be able write history, and this will certainly do that as we enter our 25th year in the NBL,” Beecroft said. “It’s important we pay a lot of gratitude to the stakeholders who have been involved in putting this together.

“With it being our 25th year, and to continue to work with Michael, the Queensland Government through TEQ to help support this trip, has been tremendous and we certainly couldn’t do it without that support.”

The actual figure of Queensland Government’s significant backing of the Snakes was not revealed, but Healy said it was “enough to get the deal done”.

He said a community club like the Taipans should not be disadvantaged by the lack of a cashed-up owner, and the genuineness about what this opportunity would mean for the club and the city formed a key part of the pitch.

“The reality is we’re not owned by a billionaire or a millionaire, we’re grassroots operation and it’s owned by the city,” Healy said. “We shouldn’t be disadvantaged.

“My job is to advocate on behalf of the community.

“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be doing what other wealthy clubs are doing, we should be travelling around the world.

“We have the best products in the world, we have a team which is absolutely outstanding and getting better, there is great enthusiasm, huge community support – it’s incumbent on us to get the taxpayers money back to ensure our only national team gets the same opportunities some of the bigger clubs in other cities and across our country will get. We shouldn’t be disadvantaged.

“That was the pitch, and you don’t get more genuine than that.”

Healy, a longtime supporter of the Taipans, said the club would represent the region when they compete in Washington and Toronto.

“ The Taipans are also the ambassadors and they will continue to travel and carry our name, and this will hopefully push more people to looking at the beautiful part of the world they come from,” Healy said.

“It’s spectacular win for our region, it’s a fantastic win for our national team.”

TAIPANS LOCKED IN FOR NBA

It will potentially be the biggest moment in the history of the Taipans when the Cairns NBL club faces off with two NBA clubs in October.

The Taipans were earlier this year confirmed as a team to be part of the NBLxNBA series, in which NBL clubs travel to North America to face NBA teams in their pre-season.

Cairns, who made a stunning run to the NBL semi finals last season, will in October become the first regional franchise to represent the league in the format as they prepare to face Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors.

The Taipans, NBL and NBA will officially confirm the schedule on Thursday morning, with Cairns’ participation in the monumental tour made possible with state government support, headed by Cairns MP Michael Healy.

Taipans CEO Mark Beecroft said it was a big moment not only for the city’s only national sporting franchise, but for Cairns itself.

“This is monumental for Cairns – not just for our club, but for our city,” Beecroft said.

“We cannot wait to take the Taipans franchise to the U.S. and Canada for the first time.

“Our team has a growing history of fostering NBA-quality talent, and we’re excited to have three players that will be declaring for next year’s NBA Draft participate in these games.

“They will represent Far North Queensland well, as will the rest of our roster.”

The Taipans will stand across from at least one familiar face with former Sydney Kings star Xavier Cooks currently at the Wizards.

Cooks was part of the Kings outfit which knocked Cairns out of the NBL semi finals last season on his way to a second championship and the NBL23 MVP award.

Taipans coach Adam Forde said it was a massive opportunity for his squad for different reasons, especially those eyeing a future in the NBA.

“We’ve got guys who are on potential draft boards so it’s a great opportunity for them, we have guys who have huge ambitions of wanting to play on an NBA stage, and we have guys that are at a different stage of their careers,” Forde said.

“Everybody is going to see this opportunity individually as something cool to do.

“But collectively as a team and for the community of Cairns, what a great opportunity to take a team which represents the city so well, and we get to do it on an international stage.”

Healy said the Taipans’ North American tour could play an important role in advertising the region to the world, and boost tourism in the Tropical North.

“The ability to re-enforce the Cairns brand in the US and Canadian Markets, which are strong traditional tourism markets for our region,” Healy said.

“In addition, we are providing our region’s only national team with the opportunity to play amongst some of the best teams in the world is such a positive things for out team.”

New Zealand Breakers, who the Taipans face in their first game of NBL24 on September 30, will also head to the United States with games against Portland Trail Blazers and the Utah Jazz.

NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said the games would attract immense interest, especially off the back of Adelaide 36ers’ defeat of the Phoenix Suns last year.

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“The connection and relationship between the NBL and NBA are constantly growing and evolving, and these preseason meetings are a definite highlight in the calendar,” Loeliger said.

“We can’t wait to see Cairns and New Zealand take on some of their very best in October.”

matthew.mcinerney1@news.com.au

Originally published as ‘Humbling’: Taipans make history with NBA pre-season games