NBL EXPERIENCE

Alex Higgins-Titsha made his NBL debut with the Cairns Taipans at 24 years of age. He scored four points in his first game.

Heading into the 2024/25 season, Cairns began the season with a major roster overhaul following the departure of imports Patrick Miller and Tahjere McCall. Also exiting were Bul Kuol (to Sydney), Lat Mayen (to Adelaide), Bobi Klintman (NBA Draft), and Josh Roberts, leaving significant gaps in the roster.

To rebuild, Cairns brought in imports Rob Edwards, Pedro Bradshaw, and Tanner Groves, while naming rising point guard Taran Armstrong team captain and elevating him into the starting unit. Veteran guard Kyle Adnam (via Illawarra), athletic wing Jackson Makoi (via Sydney), and versatile forward Kyrin Galloway (via Adelaide) also joined the squad. Sam Waardenburg re-signed to anchor the frontcourt, while development players Alex Higgins-Titsha and Kody Stattmann (via South East Melbourne) added roster depth.

After a promising 3–1 start, Cairns slid into a prolonged slump. A heartbreaking home loss to Perth and a blowout in Sydney marked the beginning of a 10-game losing streak. Despite several competitive outings and individual flashes, the team struggled to defend and close out games.

By the end of 2024, the Taipans had fallen to 3–16 and sat at the bottom of the ladder. Injuries played a significant role—Taran Armstrong missed several games with an ankle sprain suffered during warmups in Round 3, and import Tanner Groves was sidelined for multiple weeks with a calf injury. In fact, Kyrin Galloway was the only player to appear in all 28 games, with the projected starting lineup missing a combined 25 games across the season. To plug holes, Cairns turned to short-term additions Deshon Taylor (3 games) and Tad Dufelmeier Jr (4 games).

One of the bright spots during this turbulent period was the emergence of development player Alex Higgins-Titsha. A mobile and athletic big man, Higgins-Titsha capitalized on Cairns’ injury struggles to carve out a steady bench role. He provided energy, physicality, and rebounding in limited minutes, and grew more confident as the season progressed.

January marked a turning point, with Cairns winning four of seven games. Edwards erupted for 30 or more points in key wins over Illawarra, Brisbane, and Perth, including a double-overtime classic in Perth where he tallied 30 points. Armstrong returned to form, posting a triple-double (28 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) in Cairns’ Round 28 win over Brisbane. Higgins-Titsha also delivered one of his best outings during this stretch with 13 points and 7 rebounds against Illawarra.

Despite a competitive finish—going 5–5 in their final 10 games—the Taipans closed the year at 8–21, finishing last with the league’s lowest points percentage (92.49%). On February 14, head coach Adam Forde parted ways with the club, ending a three-year tenure that included one finals appearance.

Alex Higgins-Titsha finished the season averaging 6.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.5 assists across 18 games. His best performance came in Cairns’ Round 10 clash against Brisbane, where he tallied 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 assists in an all-round effort. He followed that up with 13 points and 7 boards against Illawarra in January and closed his season with a 15-point game against Tasmania in Round 20. His contributions were timely and impactful in a year marred by injuries.

Sam Waardenburg (14.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists) was a steady two-way contributor all year, earning Club MVP, Defensive Player, and Members’ Choice MVP honours at the end of the season. Tanner Groves (13.5 points and 5.7 rebounds) and Pedro Bradshaw (10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds) were both servicable while youngsters Kyrin Galloway (7.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks), Akoldah Gak (6.3 points, 5.6 rebounds), and Alex Higgins-Titsha (6.2 points, 3.9 rebounds) delivered a breakout season, making the most of Cairns’ injury woes.

Alex Higgins-Titsha currently plays for the Cairns Taipans and has played 27 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 6.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.6 assists since entering the league in 2024.