Cairns Taipans
| Cairns Taipans | |||
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| League | NBL | ||
| Founded | 1999 | ||
| History |
Cairns Taipans 1999–present |
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| Arena |
The Snakepit Cairns Convention Centre |
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| Capacity | 5,300 | ||
| Location | Cairns, Queensland | ||
| Team colors | Orange, Navy, Tan and White |
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| Main sponsor | CQUniversity | ||
| CEO | Mark Beecroft | ||
| President | Troy Stone | ||
| Vice-president(s) | Ross Moller | ||
| General manager | Mark Beecroft | ||
| Head coach | Aaron Fearne | ||
| Team captain | Cameron Gliddon | ||
| Ownership | Taipans Basketball Incorporated | ||
| Championships | 0 | ||
| Retired numbers | 1 (8) | ||
| Website | Taipans.com | ||
| Uniforms | |||
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The Cairns Taipans are an Australian men's professional basketball team competing in the National Basketball League (NBL). The club is based in the North Queensland city of Cairns. The Taipans, named after a species of venomous snake native to Australia, entered the NBL in the 1999–2000 season. The Taipans play their home games at the 5,300 seat Cairns Convention Centre (CCC), known as "The Snakepit" within the NBL, and play in orange and white colours.
The first coach in franchise history was former Cairns Marlins ABA coach Rod Popp. Playing at the newly expanded Cairns Convention Centre, the Taipans played their first game against the Sydney Kings in front of 4,407 fans. However, there would be few highlights in their first season, finishing last with a 2–26 record.
With a large turn-over of players in their second season, expectations for Cairns were low. Headed by Guy Molloy, a former South-East Melbourne Magic and Australian women's national team assistant coach, the Taipans would improve to 6–22, sell out five of fourteen home games and attract over 4,963 spectators per match.
Midway through the 2001/02 season, Taipans released import forward Matt Garrison replacing him with the exciting Jayson Wells, who made an immediate impact on the team averaging over 22 points and 10 rebounds per game including a season high 40 points against Canberra Cannons and 39 points against reigning NBL champions Wollongong Hawks. During the season the club registered their first ever wins against North Queensland rivals Townsville Crocodiles, Wollongong Hawks, Adelaide 36ers and Victoria Titans. The club also recorded their biggest winning margin in a match against Canberra and won the best of head to head battles against reigning title holders Wollongong and the Victoria Titans. The club again showed significant improvement to earn nine victories.
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