Cam Oliver explains how playing for Cairns helped him reach the NBA and potentially returning to the NBL
April 17, 2024
Cameron Oliver
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 11/07/96
- Place of Birth: Sacramento, California (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 203
- Weight (KG): 102
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Nevada (2015–2017)
- NBL DEBUT: 4/10/19
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 17/04/21
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 24
- NBL History: Cairns 2020-21 | Sydney 2025
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Cameron Oliver was born in Sacramento, California (USA) and attended Grant Union High School where he met his Wife Alecia Ashford and the mother of his son King Jaleel Oliver. He missed his junior year at due to a ACL injury, before averaging 21.5 points and 10.0 rebounds as a senior.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Cameron Oliver made his NBL debut with the Cairns Taipans at 23 years of age. He scored 14 points in his first game.
On July 26, 2019, Oliver signed with Cairns for the 2019/20 season, going on to the named to the All-NBL Second Team after averaging 17 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 54 percent from the field.
2020/21
Following a breakthrough year, Cairns entered NBL21 with optimism, but the campaign quickly turned sour. As a result of the NBL reducing the import limit from three to two due to COVID-19 restrictions, Cairns lost star guard DJ Newbill to Japan in the offseason. Nathan Jawai and Scott Machado both re-signed on two-year deals, Machado being named team captain, while and Jordan Ngatai (via New Zealand) was added to the roster.
The Taipans opened the season with high hopes but were soon hampered by a string of injuries and inconsistent performances. Under head coach Mike Kelly, Cairns never fielded their full-strength roster in any game throughout the season. Majok Deng (12 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists) began the season as a starter but was ruled out for six weeks after suffering a partial MCL tear on February 24. Deng missed 16 games between February and May, and though he returned for the final 10 games, the Taipans managed just one win during that stretch.
Kouat Noi (10.1 points and 4.4 rebounds) also delivered a career-best season before missing ten games due to injury.
Cameron Oliver (17.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks) was the team’s most dominant presence before parting ways with the club after 24 games. Oliver was released to returned home to the United States for personal reasons and was later released from the final year of his contract. Oliver went on to sign with the Houston Rockets. Reflecting on his time in the NBL, Oliver said, “It was an honour to suit up and play in front of the Orange Army and I’m certainly going to miss it.”
Scott Machado (15.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 7 assists) led the team in assists and served as the offensive engine once again. His leadership earned him the Taipans MVP award for the second consecutive year. Nate Jawai (8.3 points and 3.8 rebounds) showed flashes of his early career form, recording four 20-point games for the first time since his rookie season in 2008.
Despite individual improvements, Cairns failed to find consistency and closed the season with an 8–28 record, finishing in ninth place and missing the playoffs.
SYDNEY KINGS
2023/24
Oliver signed a one-year deal to play with the Kings in 2023, getting the chance to play for Australian national team coach Brian Goorjian, who had keep an eye on Oliver for quite some time.
“Cam is a real important piece to this team, we wanted a dynamic rim-protecting big man, someone who had also played in the league before.” Goorjian said after signing Oliver.
“We had seen him play in the Philippines during a scrimmage with the Boomers and held his own. From then on, he was always somebody we had in mind as we were putting this team together. A previous all-NBL second team who’s dynamic, athletic who can shoot the ball and score, we see him as a real important signing of this group. He’s a proven competitive product”.
Cameron Oliver played three seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Cairns Taipans and the Sydney Kings. He averaged 15.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 84 NBL games.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Cam Oliver's hops were something serious 😈
Check out his best dunks in the NBL 💥 pic.twitter.com/OsSq5xpeAn
— NBL (@NBL) April 30, 2024
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 28 | Sydney | 16-13 (5) | 29 | 559.2 | 350 | 204 | 46 | 174 | 30 | 22 | 23 | 37 | 57 | 137 | 290 | 47% | 27 | 91 | 30% | 49 | 59 | 83% | 55% | 52% | 26 |
| 2020-21 | 25 | Cairns | 8-28 (9) | 24 | 769.7 | 416 | 241 | 29 | 59 | 182 | 20 | 33 | 40 | 65 | 162 | 326 | 50% | 38 | 118 | 32% | 54 | 78 | 69% | 57% | 56% | 27 |
| 2019-20 | 23 | Cairns | 16-12 (3) | 31 | 933.0 | 538 | 300 | 39 | 66 | 234 | 19 | 50 | 71 | 85 | 212 | 390 | 54% | 53 | 144 | 37% | 61 | 87 | 70% | 62% | 61% | 31 | Totals | 84 | 2262 | 1304 | 745 | 114 | 299 | 446 | 61 | 106 | 148 | 207 | 511 | 1006 | 50.8% | 118 | 353 | 33.4% | 164 | 224 | 73.2% | 59% | 57% | 31 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 28 | Sydney | 16-13 (5) | 29 | 19.3 | 12.1 | 7.0 | 1.6 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 4.7 | 10.0 | 47% | 0.9 | 3.1 | 30% | 1.7 | 2.0 | 83% | 55% | 52% | 26 |
| 2020-21 | 25 | Cairns | 8-28 (9) | 24 | 32.1 | 17.3 | 10.0 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 7.6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 6.8 | 13.6 | 50% | 1.6 | 4.9 | 32% | 2.3 | 3.3 | 69% | 57% | 56% | 27 |
| 2019-20 | 23 | Cairns | 16-12 (3) | 31 | 30.1 | 17.4 | 9.7 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 7.5 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 6.8 | 12.6 | 54% | 1.7 | 4.6 | 37% | 2.0 | 2.8 | 70% | 62% | 61% | 31 | Total | 84 | 26.9 | 15.5 | 8.9 | 1.4 | 3.6 | 5.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 6.1 | 12.0 | 50.8% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 33.4% | 1.4 | 4.2 | 73.2% | 59% | 57% | 31 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 31 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
After going undrafted in 2017 NBA draft, Oliver spent the NBA Summer League and preseason with the Houston Rockets, but a hand injury in early October led to his release.
Oliver then joined the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G League for the 2017/18 season.
On January 26, 2018, Oliver was traded, alongside Shannon Brown, to the Delaware 87ers in exchange for James Blackmon Jr. and the returning player rights to Russ Smith. In July 2018, Oliver played for the Philadelphia 76ers during the NBA Summer League.
After a training camp stint with the Portland Trail Blazers, Oliver re-joined the Delaware Blue Coats for the 2018/19 season but had his season cut short after fracturing his right ankle (30 Jan 2019).
On May 10, 2021, Oliver signed a 10-day contract with the Houston Rockets. He averaged 10.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in the teams final four games of the 2020/21 season.
The following season, Oliver joined the Golden State Warriors for the 2021 NBA Summer League, earning an Exhibit 10 contract with the Los Angeles Lakers as a result of his high level of play. The opportunity was shortlived and he was waived on 15 Oct 2021.
Oliver played out the rest of the 2021/22 season with the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League as an affiliate player.
On December 29, 2021, Oliver signed a 10-day contract with the Atlanta Hawks and played in two games. Once his 10-day contract with the Hawks expired, Oliver returned to the South Bay Lakers.
Oliver played 6 games in the NBA. He averaged 11 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game over his NBA career.
NBA TRANSACTIONS:
- July 8, 2017: Signed a multi-year contract with the Houston Rockets.
- October 14, 2017: Waived by the Houston Rockets.
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September 4, 2018: Signed a contract with the Portland Trail Blazers
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October 13, 2018: Waived by the Portland Trail Blazers.
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May 10, 2021: Signed a 10-day contract with the Houston Rockets.
-
September 28, 2021: Signed a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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October 15, 2021: Waived by the Los Angeles Lakers.
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December 29, 2021: Signed a 10-day contract with the Atlanta Hawks.
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 84% | 65% | 69% | 96% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 31 | 5 | 6 | 6 | ||||||
| Total | 511 | 1006 | 50.8% | 118 | 353 | 33.4% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 25 | Atlanta | SF | 2 | 0 | 43 | 23 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 67% | 1 | 3 | 33% | 2 | 3 | 67% | 70% | 70% |
| 2020-21 | 24 | Houston | SF | 4 | 0 | 87 | 43 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 19 | 33 | 58% | 4 | 13 | 31% | 1 | 4 | 25% | 62% | 64% | Total | 6 | 0 | 130 | 66 | 27 | 8 | 7 | 20 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 29 | 48 | 60% | 5 | 16 | 31% | 3 | 7 | 43% |
NBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 25 | Atlanta | SF | 2 | 0 | 21.5 | 11.5 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 5.0 | 7.5 | 67% | 0.5 | 1.5 | 33% | 1.0 | 1.5 | 67% | 70% | 70% |
| 2020-21 | 24 | Houston | SF | 4 | 0 | 21.8 | 10.8 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 4.8 | 8.3 | 58% | 1.0 | 3.3 | 31% | 0.3 | 1.0 | 25% | 62% | 64% | Total | 6 | 0 | 21.7 | 11.0 | 4.5 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 2.7 | 4.8 | 8.0 | 60% | 0.8 | 2.7 | 31% | 0.5 | 1.2 | 43% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Israel - Ironi Nes Ziona (2020) | Spain - Unicaja Malaga (2022) | Puerto Rico - Leones de Ponce (2022) | Phillipines - TNT Tropang Giga (2022-2023) | France - Leones de Ponce (2023) | China - Zhejiang (2023-2024), Liaoning (2025)
On May 14, 2020, Oliver signed with Ironi Nes Ziona of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.
On February 25, 2022, Oliver signed with Unicaja Malaga of the Liga ACB.
In August 2022, he signed with the TNT Tropang Giga of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as the teams import for the 2022/23 PBA Commissioners Cup.
Oliver spent the 2023/24 season playing in China with the Zhejiang Lions.
During the 2025 NBL offseason, Cam Oliver played in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) for Liaoning, where one of his top performances included 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 assists while shooting 8/12 from the field (66.7%) in a 116–90 win over Shandong.
Played in Spain with Unicaja Malaga in 2022, teaming with NBL alumni Matt Mooney.
COLLEGE
Coming out of Grant High School in Sacramento, Cameron Oliver originally signed a National Letter of Intent with Oregon State for the 2014–15 season, but after a coaching change he de-committed and didn’t play basketball in his first year out of high school before eventually landing at Nevada.
Oliver arrived at Nevada in 2015–16 and immediately became one of the Mountain West’s biggest problem-solvers, starting 33 of 38 games and putting up 13.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 50.8% from the field.
That freshman season turned into a stack of hardware and school records, with Oliver earning Mountain West media Freshman of the Year, making the All-Mountain West Third Team and All-Defensive Team, and producing a Nevada record 99 blocks that also set the Mountain West freshman record.
He was at his nastiest late in the year, posting a Mountain West record 24 rebounds (with 20 points) against Fresno State to earn Mountain West Player of the Week, then helping Nevada win the 2016 College Basketball Invitational as the program became the first MW team to claim a postseason championship.
In that CBI run, Oliver’s numbers jumped again, averaging 19.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks across six games, then finishing the finals series at 15.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.0 blocks while shooting 53.1%, including a six-block title game.
Oliver levelled up again as a sophomore in 2016–17, starting 33 of 35 games and averaging 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 38.4% from three, and his impact was recognised with All-Mountain West Second Team honours and another spot on the league’s Defensive Team.
He also made the All-Mountain West Tournament Team for a second straight year, averaging a double-double at the Mountain West Championships (16.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game), and during the season he crossed 1,000 career points against Utah State as one of the quickest Wolf Pack players to hit the mark.
AWARDS
- 1x All-NBL Second Team
- CBI champion (2016)
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Second-team All-MWC (2017)
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Third-team All-MWC (2016)
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2× MWC All-Defensive team (2016, 2017)
Related
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