Waardenburg committed to Cairns

The Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans have secured one of the most sought-after signatures in the league, signing Sam Waardenburg for his third contract with the team on a new one-year deal.

The University of Miami graduate first joined the Taipans in 2022 and has since become a core part of the Far North Queensland club. 

The versatile forward re-signs after another impressive season in orange for 2024-25, boasting 14.5 points, shooting 35.5 per cent from three, 6.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, on a team that was frequently depleted with lengthy injuries. 

His third year in the league was an improvement from award-winning rookie campaign in 2022-23 when he averaged 10.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists, growing to 14 points and 8.8 rebounds in Cairns’ post-season run. 

The 210cm big man continues on an exciting upward trajectory in his NBL journey, after completing his university career as a sixth-year redshirt senior. He averaged 8.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 blocks across Miami’s 35-game season before joining Cairns, his only NBL team since college.    

The inaugural Next Generation Award winner impressed during the NBA visit in October 2023, scoring 15 points against the Toronto Raptors before recording season-highs of 22 points and 14 rebounds in the opening rounds of the 2023-24 NBL season.  

Waardenburg struggled with an injury setback throughout his second season in FNQ, however still managed to average 9.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

Earlier this year, Waardenburg fell shy of the league’s first triple-double in Round 18 with 24 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, but his performances throughout 2024-25 earned him all the major club’s accolades: the Taipans Most Valuable Player honour, Defensive Player of the Year and Member’s MVP in February.  

Ahead of 2025-26, the New Zealand native has travelled to Puerto Rico to play with the Indios de Mayaguez and is expected to return to Cairns in July. He joins Kyrin Galloway, Alex Higgins-Titsha and Kody Stattmann on the Taipans roster. NBL Free Agency begins on Friday 4 April, 2025.