"Excited for the road ahead": Mojave King Erupts for Career-High 32

Just over a week after officially returning to Cairns, Mojave King exploded for 32 points in the Taipans’ loss to the reigning champion Illawarra Hawks on Friday night.

The 23-year-old guard, who rejoined the club on October 29 to bolster an injury-hit roster, reminded the league precisely why the Taipans moved quickly to bring him back north.

His return followed Alex Higgins-Titsha’s season-ending wrist surgery, prompting Head Coach Adam Forde to target an athletic, defensive-minded perimeter player who could also stretch the floor.

King fit the prototype. His journey since leaving Cairns in 2021 has taken him through the NBA Draft, two G League seasons, a stint with the New Zealand Breakers and meaningful international experience — all of which surfaced on Friday night.

He was thrown straight into the action against Brisbane just 24 hours after signing, then played a key defensive role in the win over Tasmania, grabbing six rebounds and displaying the activity the Snakes desperately needed. But against Illawarra, everything clicked.

"The first two games I struggled a little bit, just trying to find my feet.

"But my teammates kept giving me confidence. They were telling me, ‘When you get the ball, shoot it. Do what you do and play your game.’ That really helped me settle in."

Mojave King

Inserted into the starting lineup for the first time this season — and with Reyne Smith (foot) and Kody Stattmann (hamstring) unavailable — King shouldered a major offensive burden. He set the tone immediately with a transition dunk and dropped 10 first-quarter points, attacking gaps and punishing the Hawks’ coverage by knocking down shots from long-range.

King finished 13-16 from the field and 6-8 from deep, eclipsing his previous Taipans career-high of 25 from his Next Star campaign.

He said the whirlwind return has felt grounding thanks to the Cairns community.

"Everybody has been super welcoming — the team, everyone in the organisation, the fans, the whole community. It’s been great to feel that support as soon as I got here.

"Sometimes a smaller community feels more like a family, and I’m seeing a lot of the same faces I saw a couple of years ago. It’s great to be back out there competing and trying to win for them."

King added that his reunion with the Taipans felt right from the outset.

“Even from the first phone call with Fordey, it sounded like everything I was looking for. I’d been sitting at home waiting for the right opportunity.

"Once he explained how he envisioned me being part of the team, I knew it was something I wanted to take advantage of. I stayed ready, stayed in shape, and when the call came, I couldn’t be more grateful. I’m excited for the road ahead."

Forde praised his young guard’s instincts and composure, noting King’s experience across multiple leagues allows him to read the floor naturally.

"Mojave stepped up and had an incredible game. When we talk about teaching reads — when to cut, when to push the break — for Mojave it comes naturally.

"For someone still learning the playbook, he showed how effective you can be off the ball and how purposeful you can be in your actions. Very impressive performance."

Head Coach Adam Forde

Cairns’ newest recruit may quickly become one of its most important weapons.

The Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans have a week to prepare for their next battle, with the schedule seeing them return to their home court. They'll host the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Friday, 14 November from 6:30pm - grab your tickets HERE.