Jonah Bolden to bolster Taipans

The Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans are excited to announce the signing of Jonah Bolden on a one-year contract, who will join Australian basketball superstars Keanu Pinder and Jack McVeigh in Cairns’ front court for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

The 2017 NBA Draft pick played in the NBA, G League and Europe before returning home to Australia in 2023, signing with the Kings. He recorded a season-high of 28 points and multiple performances with 15 rebounds on a Sydney line-up that had the best offensive rating in the league.

Bolden went on to sign in New Zealand and Illawarra, playing in Puerto Rico during both off seasons, but only appeared in eight games throughout the Hawks’ 2025-26 campaign after suffering separate foot and Achilles injuries.

The 30-year-old has spent this NBL off-season rehabbing and reflecting on his career, with a perfectly timed conversation with Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde turning the tides.

“I believe it's a blessing in disguise. These injuries gave me a window to re-evaluate my approach, who I want to be as a player, as a teammate and what I’ve got to do to get to a certain level. I didn’t hit the mark the past few seasons,” said Bolden.

“I got really good energy from Fordey, and so many people have told me great things about him. I’m excited for the opportunity to be coached by him.

“He sold me on Cairns as a whole and the team as a fit. It’s a known organisation for player development but it’s also known for the opportunities they give to guys that have that chip on their shoulder.

“The Taipans tick all the boxes in terms of what I need to get back to where I want to be, but they have a team that share a similar vision. I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys, to be honest.

“I’m excited to get out there, be part of the community and obviously I’m also excited to hit the floor again.”

Melbourne-born and Sydney-raised, Bolden grew up playing with the Bankstown Bruins, represented New South Wales Metro at the U18 National Championships and played one collegiate season with UCLA in 2015-16.

Opting to launch his professional career in 2016, Bolden signed with KK FMP in Serbia and won the league’s Top Prospect award ahead of the 2017 NBA Draft.

The Australian forward was selected with the 36th pick by Philadelphia, but continued his European stint with Maccabi Tel Aviv and averaged 7.5 points and 6.8 rebounds for the Israeli side before joining the 76ers in 2018.

He became a crucial part of the Philadelphia team that advanced to the Eastern Conference semi-finals in 2018-19, featuring ten starts during the regular season. He appeared in 70 games for Philadelphia and their G-League affiliate Delaware over the next two years.

In 2020, Bolden joined the Phoenix Suns and debuted with six points, seven rebounds and a plus-minus of +17 in 26 minutes and played two more games during his 10-day contract.

Memorably, Bolden retired from basketball at just 25-years-old to pursue cryptocurrency. He spent three years away from the game, only to return and follow in his father’s famous NBL footsteps.

The son of Bruce Bolden will make the move to Cairns this weekend, joining McVeigh, Pinder, Sunday Dech, Reyne Smith, Kyrin Galloway, Shaun Bruce and Luke Paul on the Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans’ 2026-27 roster.