NBL legend Andrew Gaze calls for Snakes supporters to engage in private ownership discussions at town hall meeting

Cairns Taipans fans attending this week’s town hall meeting should pose serious questions about the prospect of private ownership with rumours swirling that an announcement is imminent, an NBL legend says.

Melbourne Tigers champion Andrew Gaze, pictured at home in Elsternwick, says the league has grown significantly as a result of private ownership in recent years. Picture: Michael Klein

Cairns Taipans fans attending this week’s town hall meeting should pose serious questions about the prospect of private ownership with rumours swirling that an announcement is imminent, an NBL legend says.

The Snakes will host the Orange Army faithful at the Pullman Hotel on Thursday night with the Taipans’ board and NBL CEO David Stephenson in attendance.

The community-owned club and league declined to comment when contacted by the Cairns Post prior to the meeting.

Cairns Taipans' forward Kody Stattmann will return to the club for NBL26, who won just eight games last season. Picture: Brendan Radke

But president Troy Stone announced last month it was on the hunt for a buyer in a bid to remain competitive with the league’s cashed-up top tier squads.

It is understood there will be no set agenda for the event with members and supporters given the chance to ask questions directly of its top brass.

Cairns Taipans president Troy Stone at the team's offices in Manunda. Picture: Brendan Radke

NBL Hall of Famer and commentator Andrew Gaze said the league had a strong track record with private ownership in recent years, helping the league grow since owner Larry Kestelman bought the competition in 2015.

“It all comes down to the detail,” the seven-time NBL MVP said. “What are the bona fides of a potential new owner.

“What’s their history and what are their plans. When we look at recent history we’ve attracted some incredibly ambitious owners that have done great things.

“We shouldn’t be scared of private ownership. It can be a good thing for the franchise.”

Sharpshooting big man Sam Waardenburg was a shining light for the Taipans last season. Picture: Emily Barker/Getty Images

The Taipans finished bottom of the ladder with just eight wins last season but Gaze backed head coach Adam Forde to develop unheralded young talent next season with the help of a potentially bigger budget.

“I think that they had some really good talent last season,” he said.

“The difference was that they had a smaller margin for error. They had to deal with significant injuries to key personnel.

“That’s going to impact a team like Cairns more than others. When they were fully healthy, I think that they were very competitive.”

The NBL has had a tumultuous off-season with the South East Melbourne Phoenix recently joining the Illawarra Hawks’ Supreme Court action against the league in NSW.

“Some of the owners are questioning the direction at the moment,” Gaze said.

“We’ve got to be very careful because those of us who’ve been around for a while, we know how quickly it can change.

“I was there in the early 80s and all teams were association based. There have been various community models.

“Right now, the league is based more so on what we see in the US and the NBA where it’s private ownership with wealthy people investing in the sport.

“There’s no right or wrong but I think it’s very hard to be competitive without it.”

Meanwhile, Forde has picked Cairns’ Alex Higgins-Titsha and former Taipans Jonah Antonio and Dillon Stith to play in the FIBA 3 x 3 World Cup in Mongolia later this month.

“3x3 is unforgiving if you think you can just ease into games and find your rhythm,” Forde said.

“But our group is smart and ready, we know we need to come out of the gates firing.”

Forde coached the Gangurrus to gold at the FIBA Asia Cup earlier this year.

Originally published as NBL legend Andrew Gaze calls for Snakes supporters to engage in private ownership discussions at town hall meeting