Taipans complete import line-up with Pedro Bradshaw

The Cairns Taipans have signed their third and final import for the 2024-25 season, recruiting American Pedro Bradshaw on a one-year deal. The 196cm small forward makes the move to Far North Queensland after playing with the Charlotte Hornets at NBA Summer League.

Raised in Kentucky, Bradshaw broke scoring records throughout his time at Russellville High School where he played across all five positions on the court, winning awards whilst averaging 22.1 points and 13.1 rebounds in his senior year.

Bradshaw began his collegiate basketball career with Eastern Kentucky University, before settling at Bellarmine University; where he averaged 9.2 points in his first season to help promote them to NCAA Division I with a 20-8 record. As a senior, he increased his scoring output to average 16 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, earning himself a spot on the All-ASUN First Team.

Selected by the Salt Lake City Stars in the 2021 G League Draft, Bradshaw suited up for the Stars, Sioux Falls Skyforce and Iowa Wolves, before landing at the Fort Wayne / Indiana Mad Ants in 2022.

The 25-year-old will be playing his first season overseas, where Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde expects him to make an immediate mark on the NBL.

“Pedro is going to have a big impact on the league. In college, he was an analytical darling. He had a healthy FIC (floor impact counter) and PER (player efficiency rating).

“In the G League he remained just as consistent, especially with his three-point shooting and rebounding. The plan for us is to greatly increase the volume of Pedro’s output. He’ll be one of our go-to guys. All he needs to do is continue on his trajectory and the rest will take care of itself,” he said.

“He is a 6-7 wing that picks up defensively full court. In the G League it wasn’t uncommon for him to pick up the point guards and use his length and speed to be disruptive."

Despite only being with the Mad Ants for three seasons, Bradshaw boasts multiple all-time records with the club: eighth for total rebounds, 11^th in single season three-point percentage, 22^nd for all-time double doubles. In the 2023-24 G League season, he averaged 8.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and shot over 40 percent from three.

Bradshaw also signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Indiana Pacers in 2023 and joined the Charlotte Hornets for the 2024 NBA Summer League. He totalled 12 points, four assists, two rebounds and two steals across 16.7 minutes on the floor, on a squad that won seven of their eight games.

“For Pedro, the appeal for him is we will provide a clear role for him to showcase his talent. The G League can be a tough landscape to navigate for a consistent role.”

“He had a stretch of games averaging a double-double, but then finds himself playing a reduced role in the next game when a few NBA guys on assignment suit up,” said Coach Forde.

“But from that, you learn about someone’s character. All the feedback from the club and the coaching staff was that he is the ultimate teammate and does whatever is needed. That speaks volumes about him and his professionalism.”

2024-25 TAIPANS ROSTER
Pedro Bradshaw*
Jonah Antonio 
Taran Armstrong 
Rob Edwards* 
AK Gak 
Kyrin Galloway 
Tanner Groves* 
Jackson Makoi 
Sam Waardenburg 
Dillon Stith 
Kody Stattmann**
Alex Higgins-Titsha**

*import player
**development player

Taipans memberships are on sale now! Click HERE to join the 2024-25 team.