Taipans off-season action - March 2025

Keep up to date with the off-season activities of the Taipans, with the team spread across America, Europe and Asia.

TARAN ARMSTRONG - Golden State Warriors/Santa Cruz Warriors (two-way contract)

Fresh off his second season in the NBL, Taran Armstrong has moved stateside and signed a two-way deal with the Golden State Warriors.

The guard suited up for the Warrior’s clashes against the Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers but did not hit the floor, and has averaged 9.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists across his seven games for the Santa Cruz Warriors.

AK GAK - Mexico City Capitanes

Signing his first international contract, AK Gak has joined the Mexico City Capitanes in the NBA G League, where he has already faced his former teammate when the Capitanes went down to the Warriors 107-118.

First hitting the court in early March, the forward appeared for 21 minutes in his first matchup to contribute eight points and five rebounds, with the forward shooting perfectly from inside the arc across four attempts.

Gak has now reached seven games for Mexico City, and is averaging six points, 3.7 rebounds and an assist across 21 minutes per game, with five games remaining in their schedule.

ADAM FORDE, ALEX HIGGINS-TITSHA, DILLON STITH, JONAH ANTONIO - Australian Gangurrus

Hitting the international stage for the FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup, the Australian Gangurrus called in the Taipans for the inaugural competition, with the side consisting of Alex Higgins-Titsha, Dillon Stith, Jonah Antonio, former-Taipan Josh Davey, and led by Adam Forde.

Despite Antonio and Forde both making their debuts in the format and Higgins-Titsha and Stith returning to the half-court for the first time in several years, the side was a force in the competition consisting of the bext 3x3 sides in the world.

After finding their groove, the side took down the United States twice en route to the bronze medal after falling a single point short of the gold medal game in overtime.

Forde will remain at the helm for the Gangurrus' next international competition at the 3x3 FIBA Asia Cup from the 26th-30th of March, with the trio of Higgins-Titsha, Stith and Antonio joining him in Singapore.

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ROB EDWARDS - Xinjiang Flying Tigers

After averaging 19.8 points across his first NBL season, Rob Edwards was signed by the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association after his release, with former Taipans Cameron Oliver, Kouat Noi and Keanu Pinder joining him in the league.

Hitting the court for the inaugural CBA Club Cup, Edwards found his touch quickly – putting up 19- and 29-point performances to push Xinjiang into the finals, before they fell short to the Shanghai Sharks.

With the Club Cup over, Edwards will now help the Flying Tigers in their push towards the end of the regular season, with Xinjiang currently sitting 3^rd and only five games remaining.

TANNER GROVES - Nagasaki Velca

Making the move from Cairns to Japan, Tanner Groves has joined the Nagasaki Velca in the B.League just over halfway through their regular season.

Currently sitting 5th of eight teams in the west conference, Groves had joined the side with 18 games remaining, with the center linking up with former-NBL players Yudai Baba and Jarrell Brantley – both of whom joined Nagasaki direct from the NBA – and former New Zealand Breaker’s Head Coach Mody Maor.

Hitting the court four times since touching down in Japan, Groves has averaged 10.3 points at an efficient 88.9% from inside the arc, alongside 3.5 rebounds and an assist across 13 minutes per game.

KYRIN GALLOWAY - Iwate Big Bulls

Joining Groves in Japan, Kyrin Galloway has signed with the Iwate Big Bulls in the B3 League where he instantly moved into the starting unit.

Hitting the court strongly, the forward has averaged 13 points and nine rebounds per game – including passing 12 boards in half of his games – with Iwate looking to work their way back into the B2 League.

Currently sitting 4th out of 17 teams, with a 28-14 record, Iwate have nine games left across the regular season with their final game on the 18th of April.

SAM WAARDENBURG - Indios de Mayagüez

After donning the Tall Blacks uniform for the World Cup Asian Qualifiers in 2021 and the Asia Cup Qualifiers last year, Sam Waardenburg once more represented New Zealand across the latest FIBA break.

With New Zealand sealing impressive wins over Hong Kong and the Philippines, the forward’s attention now turns to the Indios de Mayagüez in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional after signing his first contract outside of Australia since signing with BG Ludwigsburg in 2023.

Appearing in two games since flying into Puerto Rico, Waardenburg has averaged nine points, six rebounds and 1.5 steals, with the forward leading his side on the glass - tied with teammate Tyrell Harrison who was the leading rebounder across the 2024-25 NBL season.

PEDRO BRADSHAW - Rostock Seawolves

Following his first season in Australia, Pedro Bradshaw has commenced his first season in Europe after joining the Rostock Seawolves in the German Basketball Bundesliga.

Currently sitting 11th out of the 17 sides in Rostock’s third season in the BBL – two spots shy of their best result in the top division – Bradshaw has suited up for three games so far with 10 games remaining in their season.

Putting up five points, four rebounds and three assists in his first outing, the American has since averaged 14 points, seven boards and four assists – including a double-double in his last game – and was recently named in the Basketball Bundesliga's Starting Five of the Week.