Lifelong Dream Achieved for New Taipan

Photo: Gordon Greaves / Cairns Basketball

Almost every season, without fail, there are new NBL players who have taken the hard road to the league. For NBL24, that player is new Cairns signing Lachlan Anderson.

Anderson will turn 26 later this year, but will suit up as an NBL player for the first time after years of trying to prove his ability, all over the globe.

Following a full four-year collegiate career at EKU, Anderson has embarked on a journey across Europe, testing out his basketball credentials in Lithuania and North Macedonia.

“Growing up I was like ‘I’d love to play in the NBL’, but I didn’t know how that was going to happen,” Anderson said. “Then my goal shifted to play college, I played college, and then after college I still didn’t think I was going to be a professional.

“Thankfully I got that opportunity and every off-season I’ve been working to be back here in the NBL, to be back home with friends and family and things like that, so that was the biggest thing for me. That was my goal and whenever I told people they knew that was the goal.

“I’m a great teammate. I’m always on the bench swinging towels – the first two years I didn’t play in college so I was the best high-fiver, the best clapper. I’ve archived it all on my Instagram, but that was my highlight reel so I’m just a great teammate.

“If I play or don’t play, it doesn’t matter. I’m here to lift guys up and get us some wins.

Anderson’s deal with the Taipans will run for two seasons, with the second season being a team-option.

Outside of his stints in Eastern Europe, Anderson has been a strong performer at NBL1 level. Last season he played with the Bankstown Bruins in NBL1 East, while this season he’s been representing the Cairns Marlins in NBL1 North, alongside now Taipans teammate Jonah Antonio.

He says his time spent in NBL1 – in both the East and North conferences – acted as something of a job interview for an NBL opportunity.

“I played in the East last year and had a decent year, spoke to some teams and worked out with some teams but it didn’t really come to anything,” he said.

“I knew this year when I came back from Europe I needed to play North, South – somewhere to get my face out there a bit more. It was perfect and right under the nose for Cairns.

“It ended up being a great job interview so that was the perfect part for me. I got the opportunity to play North, and I got the opportunity to play under the Taipans as well.”

Cairns’ opening game of the NBL24 season will come against the New Zealand Breakers on Saturday, September 30.