Page 63 - Tropic Magazine Issue 13

TAIPANS 20 TH SEASON ANNIVERSARY

No. 15 – NATHAN JAWAI COACHING STAFF

HEIGHT: 209cm MIKE KELLY
WEIGHT: 140kg HEAD COACH
DOB: 10-10-86
Cairns’ very own Nathan Jawai took up Mike Kelly debuts as an NBL Head
his player option with the Taipans this Coach with the Taipans this season
season, affirming his commitment to his and was selected over applicants
home town and his very first NBL club. with coaching experience in the
The 32-year old came through the Cairns NBA, NBA G-League, NBL and
Basketball system, winning the 2007 ABA European Leagues. Kelly boasts a
title with the Marlins ahead of signing tremendously rich NBL history,
with the Taipans and being named the recently assisting Melbourne United
2008 NBL Rookie of the Year. He went on to their first Championship, along
No. 25 – DJ NEWBILL to become the first Indigenous player to with assistant roles in Wollongong
be selected in the Draft and play in the and Townsville and the American
HEIGHT: 193cm NBA, had a successful stint in Europe college system with Vanguard
WEIGHT: 98kg and won a Championship with the University and Utah Valley
University. As a player, Kelly won
Wildcats in 2016.
DOB: 22-5-92 a Championship with the South
East Melbourne Magic in 1996-97
Devonte “DJ” Newbill was the first and was named the NBL’s Best
import Coach Kelly recruited, after No. 40 – ALEX LOUGHTON Defensive Player twice.
admiring the combo guard’s abilities last
season with the Breakers. He averaged
13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists HEIGHT: 206cm
across 30 games and a semi-finals WEIGHT: 106km
appearance with New Zealand, and signs DOB: 3-5-83
up for his second consecutive year in
the NBL. The popular Penn State alum The NBL veteran enjoyed a stellar 2017-
put up a 20.7 points and 5.2 rebounds 18 campaign and returns to the Snakes
average in his senior year, and played after stepping up in his starting role to
across Europe in France, Turkey and improve to an average of 12.6 points per
Belgium (winning both the Belgian game – his best in his previous seven
League title and Belgium Cup crown) seasons in orange. The Old Dominion He also suited up for the Victoria
before heading down under. product hit a career-high in three-
pointers made (46) and career-high in Titans, the Townsville Crocodiles
free-throw percentage (92.2%) while and the Wollongong Hawks during
finishing the year third in NBL scoring his career. Coach Kelly brings a new
at the four position, only behind Nick era to the club, building a brand new
Kay and Tai Wesley. He is the last Taipans team as only two players
remaining player that has been part were signed (Kuany, Jawai) when he
of the Taipans’ two trips to the Grand took on the role in April.
Final, in 2011 and 2015.

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