Cairns Taipans standout Taran Armstrong makes history as the first Tasmanian to secure an NBA contract

It’s quite a journey from the warm climate of tropical North Queensland to San Francisco, but that’s the path Cairns Taipans point guard Taran Armstrong is about to embark on, having reportedly inked his first NBA contract.

The 23-year-old from Tasmania is said to have signed a two-way deal with the Golden State Warriors.

This season, Armstrong has made a significant impact in 23 games with the Taipans, averaging 17.1 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per match.

The 198cm product of Burnie is the first Tasmanian to secure a contract in the NBA, potentially giving him the opportunity to play alongside Steph Curry, regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history and the all-time leader in three-pointers.

A two-way contract allows a player to alternate between the main NBA team and its affiliate in the second-tier G-League, which in Golden State’s case is the Santa Cruz Warriors.

Last week, during an appearance on ESPN’s Aussie Hoops Hour podcast, esteemed journalist Olgun Uluc highlighted that Armstrong is one of three Australian players attracting interest from NBA teams.

Uluc noted that Armstrong, alongside Will Magnay and Matt Hurt, are names to watch as they could potentially secure short-term (10-day) contracts or even two-way deals by the end of the season.

Armstrong honed his skills during two seasons of college basketball in the US, where he averaged 10.9 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game. Notably, he set a record in December 2021 by dishing out 15 assists in a single game against North Dakota.