Taipans star Taran Armstrong attracting significant NBA interest as a potential deal beckons

There’s no doubt that Cairns Taipans captain Taran Armstrong is a star, now the NBA is taking notice, MATT LOGUE reports.

Cairns Taipans coach Adam Forde has confirmed he is fielding significant NBA interest for gun guard Taran Armstrong.

Armstrong continued his standout season for the last-placed Taipans in Sunday’s two-point loss to the Sydney Kings.

The Burnie-born guard dropped 22 points against the Kings, including four of seven from the two-point range (57.1 per cent).

Armstrong’s polished performance came in a week when he signed with Lighthouse Sports under prolific Australian agent Daniel Moldovan.

Taran Armstrong is attracting NBA attention. Picture: Mark Kolbe Photography/Getty Images

Leading Boomers NBA stars Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels are represented by Lighthouse Sports, which has become a proven stable for talent.

Armstrong linking with Moldovan’s agency will only enhance his chances of securing an NBA deal.

Code Sports understands multiple NBA scouts have travelled to Australia to watch the Taipans star in person and to evaluate his performance.

Armstrong is giving himself every opportunity to secure a deal post NBL25 based on his elite season to date.

He is averaging 17 points on 45 per cent shooting from the field, while adding 4.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists a game.

ARMSTRONG 😤

22 points for Taran after the and-one!

📲 @cairnstaipans | 📺 @espnpic.twitter.com/p5rcvYZyLx

— Cairns Taipans (@CairnsTaipans) January 12, 2025

In December, the proud Tasmanian became the first Australian point guard to have at least 28 points in consecutive NBL games since CJ Bruton for the Sydney Kings in 2005.

The 22-year-old possesses the playmaking skills, the poise under pressure carrying the ball and the shooting to make an impact in the NBA.

Officials within the Cairns franchise are preparing to lose Armstrong to overseas at season’s end, including coach Forde.

“I never want to be someone that impacts someone’s opportunity and I’m fielding a lot of phone calls about two-way (NBA/G League contracts) and what his (Taran’s) work ethic is like and what he is like as a teammate,” Forde said.

“There is an exciting prospect that we don’t see him next season and for a great reason.”

Forde compared Armstrong’s rise to former Tasmania JackJumper Jack McVeigh, who used the NBL as a platform to the NBA.

Jack McVeigh earned an NBA deal off the back of his NBL championship. Picture: Linda Higginson / Tasmania JackJumpers

After guiding the JackJumpers to the NBL24 championship as the grand final series MVP, McVeigh secured a two-way deal with the Houston Rockets.

The two-way deal means the ex-Tasmania star devotes his time between the NBA and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the second-tier G League.

McVeigh made his NBA debut for Houston on November 6 last year, while he scored his first points with a trademark three-pointer versus Oklahoma City two days later.

He has also excelled in the G League for the Vipers, recently dropping a career-high 29 points.

Forde can see Armstrong following in McVeigh’s footsteps and joining the NBA in the near future.

“Like McVeigh, for example, he is crushing it over there and he it is a great opportunity and life experience whatever happens following on from that two-way,” he said.

“I think Taran has done so much to work on that.”