NBL: Taipans secure versatile power forward
Taipans have confirmed the signing of former Sixer on a two-year contract.
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Taipans have confirmed the signing of former Sixer Kyrin Galloway on a two-year contract.
The 203cm (6ft 8in) power forward joins the Taipans for his fifth season in the league following stints in New Zealand and Adelaide.
Galloway stunned in his second year with the Sixers, working his way into the starting line-up late in the season under then-interim Head Coach Scott Ninnis.
He finished his 2023-24 campaign averaging 5.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and finished seventh overall in the NBL for blocks, earning himself the club’s Most Improved Player award.
Galloway said his long relationship with Taipans coach Adam Forde pushed the move to the Far North.
“The development (I’ve seen) in Cairns with Keanu Pinder and Lat Mayen last year, I’m really comfortable with the development Forde has (achieved) with the guys over here,” he said.
“Even before I spoke to Fordey, just looking at the league, (the Taipans high-intensity play style) was one of my top targets.
“I like to play in transition fast, get out early, shoot threes and play defence. Cairns was just a perfect fit basketball-wise”
Galloway is currently playing for the Townsville Heat, averaging 25 points, nine rebounds and two blocks a game.
He dropped 30 points and eight rebounds in a 89-66 victory against the Cairns Marlins in NBL One over the weekend.
Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde said that ”KG’s’’ impressive back half of the season demonstrated his enormous potential.
“To close out last season, KG showed in a small sample size what he is capable of,” he said.
“In their last nine-game stretch, Adelaide went 6-3. KG averaged a little over eight points and 4.5 rebounds in 25 minutes of game time, but I was most impressed by his shot-blocking. He registered a block or more in all but one of those games.
“We regularly struggled with rebounding and rim protection last season, especially in pick and roll coverage. So, part of the recruitment of KG is to help fix that.
“On the other end of the floor, he is both a stretch big and lob threat which creates scoring opportunities for himself as well as creating space for his teammates.”
His 208cm (6ft 10in) wingspan and athleticism are key factors to his game with his ability to switch on defence.
Defensively, Galloway said Lakers’ champion Anthony Davis is someone he looks to base his game style off.
A knockdown shooter, he will be a particularly dangerous pick and pop shooter with his quick and fluid release.
The 24-year-old also has international experience, representing Australia at multiple international tournaments, linking up with Taipans sharpshooter Jonah Antonio to win Bronze at the 2019 Summer Universiade.
Originally from Honolulu, the American-Australian is the older brother of Milwaukee Bucks forward Jaylin Galloway.
He joins Taran Armstrong, AK Gak, Sam Waardenburg and Jackson Makoi on the 2024-25 Taipans roster.
Elsewhere, Sydney Kings announced the signing of former Taipan and lockdown defender Bul Kuol on a three-year deal.
Taipans secure dynamic point guard
Taipans have confirmed the signing of Anyiarbany ‘Jackson’ Makoi as the first fresh face of the 2024-25 roster, with the 196cm (6ft 5in) point guard joining on a one-year contract.
The former Kings development player spent two years in Sydney and was part of their 2023 NBL Championship.
He played 15 games in 2022-23 before suffering a season-ending injury in Perth.
Makoi required a knee reconstruction and spent the following six months in rehab, managing to return to the Kings line-up earlier this year with the Taipans not dissuaded by his injury past.
The 23-year-old has since signed with Northside Wizards, and has averaged 20 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists in his first three NBL1 North games.
Taipans coach Adam Forde said Makoi had made the trip to Cairns to meet with club officials.
“Jackson will come in to be our backup point guard this season,” he said.
“He suits us and what we want to do. We probably had too many square pegs in round holes previously, so it was really important to find the pieces that suit what we want to do.
“Like Taran Armstrong, Jackson is a talented point guard who has a good ability to navigate screens on the defensive end and attack downhill on offence.
“He’ll contribute to the pace and speed in which we want to play at.
“He has experience playing internationally in Croatia, won a championship with Sydney and is now preparing to represent South Sudan on an Olympic stage in Paris. Pretty impressive for a guy at only 23.”
He now joins Armstrong, Sam Waardenburg and AK Gak on the roster, as the Taipans continue to build their new-look side for the upcoming season.
Taipans will search to sign capable shooters to build around the playmaking ability of their new signing Makoi and starting point guard Armstrong.
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