Page 63 - Tropic Magazine Issue 29

TROPIC • SPORT

World-class dunk

BASKETBALL Cameron Oliver
Cairns Taipans’ Cam Oliver has “For me to do that and uplift the league FORWARD #0
made NBL history this season was breath-taking, honestly. DOB 7 November, 1996
achieving international acclaim “It showed that this is a real hard-nosed, HEIGHT 203cm
grown-man league and that you can use
WEIGHT 102kg
for a spectacular play. it as a platform to get wherever you want HOMETOWN Oakland, California
to go to.
Words: Annabel Bowles
a big part of the reason that we made the
Taipans fans already know how well
Cam Oliver carves up the court, but now, play-offs,” Coach Kelly said.
basketball fans across the globe know too. For me to do that and “He really fit in with our group, and it was
The 24-year-old made history earlier this uplift the league was great to see his family make a new home
season taking SportsCenter’s #1 Play with here and embrace the community.
an incredible dunk against Sydney Kings. breath-taking, honestly “Before Cam came to Cairns, I had
The ESPN program showcases the best Cam Oliver watched him on film for two years playing
plays across every corner of the sports Taipans in the G-League, so I knew what kind of
world, and incredibly, the NBL has only calibre player he was. But I didn’t know
achieved this title twice – and both times “I never thought I could do that but I’m how quickly he would get back to that
by players in orange. here to help put myself, my whole team level, coming off of an ankle injury.
Torrey Craig was the last one to do it in and Cairns on the map.” “But he exceeded our expectations and
2016, when his turnaround shot from After an incredible 2019/20 season has become a much more consistent and
half-court turned the scoreboard in the averaging 17.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and reliable player.
Taipan’s favour within the last second. tallying 50 blocks for the season – half “He knows how he fits in with our team
Space Camm’s dunk saw him soar above of the team’s total – the Taipans were and this league now, so he has high
two Kings players and set Cairns on a 6-0 thrilled to sign Cam on for a two-year expectations of himself and I’m expecting
run in the fourth quarter. contract. that he will be even stronger in the
Cam told Tropic it was a moment that will Reigning NBL Coach of the Year Mike season ahead.”
stick with him for life. Kelly said it was really significant for the
“I literally watched SportCenter every Taipans to retain Oliver, for the club, the
day growing up and I had never seen an city and most importantly the fans. MORE: taipans.com
Australian league on it,” he said. “Cam had a fantastic season and he was

63 • tropicnow.com.au