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Cairns Taipans

Sam Waardenburg

NBL Team

Sam Waardenburg

 

2025-2026 Averages


(Cairns Taipans)
Full Stats
Points

14.5

PPG

Assists

3.4

APG

Rebounds

6.4

RPG

Field Goals

50

FG%

Statistics
The Latest
Forward
# 21
Date of Birth
21st February, 1999
Height
208 cms
Weight
100 kgs
Hometown
Auckland, NZ
College
University of Miami
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Biography

The big Kiwi has made a home for himself in the Tropical Far North and is now coming into a third season with the Cairns Taipans looking to lead the way with his combination of size and versatility.

The 6'10 25-year-old grew up in Auckland and after being MVP for Rangitoto when they won the SAS Secondary Schools National Championship, began his journey at the University of Miami which was a great success both in terms of basketball and academically.

The best of his four seasons with the Hurricanes was as a sixth year redshirt senior when he delivered 8.5 points and 4.3 rebounds a game while shooting the three ball at 41.8 per cent and going at 52.8 overall from the field.

Also earned his bachelor's degree majoring in geography with a minor in sociology before adding a master's in sports administration and undertaking a second master's in liberal studies.

Started his professional career in the NBL with Cairns and was tremendous winning the Next Gen Award in NBL23 on the back of averaging 11.3 points and 5.6 rebounds while proving himself a terrific shooter for someone at his size and position.

Backed that up with another 9.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in almost 27 minutes a game in NBL24 as he now prepares to go up a gear again in this third season with the Snakes.

â–  Season vs Career

Date Gp Mins FG% FT% Reb Ast Blk Stl To Pf Pts SC
2025-2026
26 30.1 50 74 6.4 3.4 1.0 0.8 2.3 2.1 14.5 18.0
Career
81 27.6 49 73 5.8 2.0 0.8 0.7 1.9 0.0 11.8 0.0

â–  Full Career

Year Team GP Mins FG% FT% Reb Ast Blk Stl To Pf Pts SC
2024-2025
26 30.1 50 74 6.4 3.4 1.0 0.8 2.3 2.1 14.5 0
2023-2024
25 26.1 43 79 5.2 1.8 0.7 0.4 1.6 2.2 9.7 0
2022-2023
30 26.8 53 70 5.6 1.1 0.8 0.8 1.7 2.1 11.3 0

â–  Latest News

Player Signing

Taipans retain Sam Waardenburg

10 April 2024

The Gazeys

Taipans takeover NBL Awards

7 February 2023

FEATURE

From Master's to Main Man - Super Snake Sam's Full-Circle NBL Journey

5 November 2022

Roster News

Taipans secure Sam Waardenburg

9 June 2022

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