Globetrotting Guard Heads to Far North Queensland

The Cairns Taipans now have just one more import spot to fill, following the signing of veteran point guard Patrick Miller to a one-year deal.

Miller, 31, has joined the Taipans off the back of a strong season in Germany with Brose Bamberg, where he helped lead his side to a tenth-place finish in the regular season.

Prior to heading to Germany, Miller’s globetrotting journey had taken him to Turkey, the NBA G-League, the Dominican Republic, Serbia, France, Israel, Lithuania and China.

The Chicago-born guard completed a full four-year collegiate career at NCAA Division I side Tennessee State, and in the 2013/14 season he averaged 23.7 points per game – enough to rank fifth across all conferences.

Miller’s signing comes just days after Cairns coach Adam Forde revealed he expected to make an import signing announcement in the immediate future.

"Pat is going to be a gamechanger for us - he's a closer that lives for the big moments," Forde said.

"He has played for years in the European circuit and their high-level leagues. He brings a wealth of experience especially in high pressure situations and clutch moments, which we will rely on throughout our season.

"Pat doesn’t just influence the game on the offensive end with his ability to score and make plays, but he is also an elite defender. I could talk at lengths about his game and how he’ll impact our team, but he’s done so much in his career already it’s no secret.

"I love that he’s bringing his family out too. Cairns is the best environment to bring your young family and I know the community will embrace the Miller’s with open arms."

Miller has joined Tahjere McCall as an import for the Taipans heading into NBL24. The pair will be joined by a largely youthful side including Taran Armstrong, Sam Mennenga, Bul Kuol, Sam Waardenburg, Lat Mayen, AK Gak and Next Star Bobi Klintman.