NBL: Machado announces Taipans departure days after Tahj signing
One of Cairns’ most prolific players of the last three years has announced he will not return to the team for the upcoming season.
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Taipans superstar point guard Scott Machado announced he will not be returning to the team for its next season.
The 31-year-old import announced his departure via social media, showing his gratitude for both Cairns as a franchise and the Orange Army itself.
“It has been real, both on & off the court,” Machado said in his post.
“Through all the ups and downs, I am forever grateful.
“You have allowed me to set foot in the land down under (Australia) and I had a chance to call the north east Queensland (Cairns) home.
“I got to learn what ‘mate’ truly means and realised Vegemite wasn’t my thing, no matter how much you add. Nonetheless, the country itself is absolutely astonishing.”
The Brazilian-born baller took the league by storm when he joined the Taipans for NBL19.
The following season, Machado got even hotter, averaging more than 15 points and seven assists per game and leading his team to a semi-finals berth.
His efforts resulted in him being the runner up MVP to Bryce Cotton.
Machado’s NBL22 campaign was hampered by two seperate heel injuries at the start and end of the season.
He averaged about 10 points and five assists across the games he did play.
Machado’s stats also took a hit after the addition of fellow playmaker Tahjere McCall, with both players splitting duties in transition and orchestrating Cairns’ offence.
The former’s announcement that he will not come back comes days after the Taipans re-signed McCall to a two-year deal.
It is unknown where Machado will next play, however his post appears to indicate it will not be in Australia.
“I want to thank the people that have been around from the beginning to the end (real ones),” he said.
“The ones that made it enjoyable to stay an extra two years (if you know, you know) and even the ones that didn’t come along on the full ride (had to come up).
“I appreciate you all, especially the fans #OrangeArmy I love you. Leaving the same way I walked in.”
Taipans CEO Mark Beecroft said the organisation wished Machado the very best for his future.
“We’ve really enjoyed having him here in Cairns and he’s been a favourite amongst the fans and front office,” he said.
“He’ll always be a friend of the club.”
‘I couldn’t leave after the year we had’: what brought McCall back
A sense of unfinished business has led baller Tahjere McCall to slither back to the Cairns Taipans in an attempt to guide them back to NBL relevance.
The 27-year-old said his desire to reinstate pride in the Orange Army and bring a winning culture back to the Snake Pit are what made him ink a two-year deal with Cairns.
“I couldn’t leave after the year we just had, it doesn’t feel right” McCall said.
“I care about the team, the coaches and the fans … I just feel like I owe them more and we can get it done if we go in the right direction and just build, that’s the biggest thing.”
McCall’s leadership was a defining reason for the Taipans pursuing him in the off-season, according to coach Adam Forde.
Philadelphia-born McCall – was humble at the prospect of being a team leader in Taipans’ 2022-23 locker room.
“I just be myself, wherever that takes it, it takes it,” he said.
“Whatever I’m saying, I genuinely believe in it and it’s coming from a good place all the time. I guess that resonates with people who understand me and get to know me.”
Forde was visibly giddy when discussing having his defensive weapon causing havoc for teams in the upcoming season.
“His personality is larger than life, he will kill you with a smile – he’s that type of dude,” the second year Snakes coach said.
“Being here and understanding the things the Taipans fans do appreciate is the one percenters, the hustle and the desire to actually really care about the uniform.
“He’s genuine and you can see that by the way he interacts with teammates and the way he interacts with the fanbase.
“He’s got a great smile, he’s got a great work ethic, I can’t speak highly enough of him.”
McCall ranked in the top three in the league for both assists and steals.
One stat he was less than ideal on was his three point shooting, something Forde said he noticed improvement on after watching McCall play in the NZNBL for the Otago Nuggets.
“I’ve watched every game, that’s one thing we’ve done a great job of at the end of the season is we’ve tracked all the NBL1 and NZNBL games,” he said.
“The one thing he’s working one – which has been the only criticism of Tahj – is his three point shooting.
“The cool thing about it is he’s working on it, he’s acknowledged it … but that’s also something we can coach.
“The attributes he brings, the ones we can’t teach, are why we really value him.”
Tahj’s top five moments
McCall’s magical 42-point night
If there was anything that would give the Orange Army hope for a brighter future, it was McCall’s wild night against the Brisbane Bullets in which he dropped an absurd 42 points.
The razzle dazzle of McCall made Cairns’ Sunshine State rivals look like a practice squad, cutting through the Bullets at every turn.
His massive night made McCall the highest scoring player in the NBL22 season.
Emergency meeting after 36ers loss
McCall’s leadership was on full display after the team’s gruelling 82-71 loss to the Adelaide 36ers.
After the game, McCall was one of the players to call an impromptu, closed door, players only meeting.
Later on, he said the team cleared the air about the lacklustre effort in recent games, stating that “it’s a blessing to do this job and we’re taking it for granted.”
Making it rain against Bullets
Fans got a true taste of what was to come from McCall when he lit up the scoreboard against the Bullets in the NBL Blitz.
McCall scored 11 points in the first quarter, finishing with 17 as well as three assists in the 94-86 loss.
Double up against Adelaide
Double-doubles were aplenty for Tahj in his debut season with the Taipans, but his first was certainly memorable.
The assist machine was a key reason behind the 93-67 absolute trouncing the Taipans laid on the 36ers, scoring 13 points and 10 assists in the win.
Blue swish shoes
Aside from his fine collection of sneakers, McCall appears most comfortable in his pair of blue crocs.
Whether it be training, resting on the sideline or chatting to media, McCall and his pair of crocs appear nigh on inseparable during the season.
EARLIER: Taipans lock in star for two more years
THE Taipans have locked in one of the NBL’s most exciting talents - and one of the most important men in their locker room - with star import Tahjere McCall locked in for the next two years.
McCall was among the stars of a tough NBL22 campaign, leading the both on the stat sheet - scoring (16) assists (5.6) and steals (1.9) per game - and when he took the reins of an injury-ravaged outfit.
He was the only player in the league to finish in the top three for assists and steals.
Taipans coach Adam Forde had described McCall as the “type of player you build a team around”, and that proved true for this NBL club, who started negotiations with the 27-year-old early in the year.
“He embodies everything we’re trying to build towards, and we love his work ethic, grit and enjoyment of the game,” Forde said.
“We had a very memorable, positive conversation back in February and we knew that moving forward we could count on Tahj and that he saw his future here in Cairns.
“He’s agreed to a two-year deal which demonstrates that he’s just as invested in this as we are invested in him, which I think is really significant.
“And just as importantly, Tahjere’s best basketball is still yet to come and he’s going to help us win. He’s got that natural born leadership and charisma that makes everyone around him better.”
In his final game of the season, McCall made history as the only NBL player in the 40-minute era to have 40+ points and 10+ assists in an unforgettable display against the Bullets, with his 42 points the highest score in NBL22.
McCall is currently playing for the Otago Nuggets in the New Zealand NBL and will return to Far North Queensland for the Taipans pre-season in late August.
The deal will keep McCall in orange until 2024.
Orange Army memberships will be available tomorrow.
matthew.mcinerney1@news.com.au
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Originally published as NBL: Machado announces Taipans departure days after Tahj signing
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