BIO: Sam Waardenburg was born and raised in Auckland (NZ) where he attended Rangitoto School.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Sam Waardenburg made his NBL debut with the Cairns Taipans at 23 years of age. He scored four points in his first game.

After being one of the most sought-after NBL rookies, Sam Waardenburg signed a three-year deal with the Cairns Taipans ahead of the 2022/23 season, enticed by the promise of a starting role from head coach Adam Forde. The Taipans, coming off a disappointing season, retained key players such as leading scorer Tahjere McCall, Majok Deng, Bul Kuol, Mirko Djeric, and reigning Most Improved Player Keanu Pinder, while adding Waardenburg and fellow recruits Lat Mayen and Jonah Antonio to their youthful roster.

Cairns defied pre-season predictions of a last-place finish by opening the season with an impressive 5-1 record, including victories over Tasmania (106-84), South East Melbourne (85-76), and reigning champions Sydney (83-78). Their only loss in that stretch came against Perth (76-105). Waardenburg quickly became an integral part of the team, showcasing his ability to impact both ends of the floor.

One of the season’s standout performances came against Melbourne United, where Cairns outscored their opponents 11-1 in the final four minutes to secure an 81-77 win, moving into second place on the ladder. Waardenburg played a pivotal role throughout the season, combining with teammates like DJ Hogg and Keanu Pinder to establish Cairns as one of the league’s surprise contenders.

Cairns consistently disrupted opponents’ momentum, snapping Brisbane’s three-game win streak in November (90-82) and ending Sydney’s record-setting 17-game road win streak (94-88) in an overtime thriller. Despite losing Pinder to an ankle injury in December, the team maintained their form with a five-game winning streak that included victories over Adelaide (86-83), Illawarra (96-89 and 89-84), Brisbane (107-81), and South East Melbourne (94-85).

In the final weeks of the regular season, Cairns battled New Zealand for second place. A late-season loss to Adelaide (96-99) hurt their chances, despite Waardenburg and Hogg both scoring 26 points. Cairns rebounded with a win over Perth (84-71), briefly moving into second place before New Zealand’s back-to-back victories relegated them to third due to a lower points percentage. Cairns finished with an 18-10 record, securing a spot in the NBL’s inaugural play-in tournament.

Waardenburg played a key role in Cairns’ playoff campaign, which began with a history-making performance from DJ Hogg, whose 32 points helped secure a 91-78 victory over Perth. In the semifinals against Sydney, Waardenburg’s resilience was tested during a chaotic series. Despite injuries to McCall and other teammates, Cairns forced a decisive game three with a 93-82 victory in game two, fueled by Hogg’s 25 points and McCall’s 20-point, 7-assist effort. Ultimately, Sydney’s defense held firm in game three, defeating Cairns 79-64 and advancing to the Championship Series.

Waardenburg capped off his rookie season with averages of 11.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists across 30 games. His stellar performances earned him the NBL’s Next Generation Award, replacing the Rookie of the Year accolade, and cementing his place as one of the league’s brightest young talents.

2023/24
In his second NBL season, Sam Waardenburg continued to build on his strong rookie campaign, averaging 9.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists across 28 games. Despite his consistent performances, the Cairns Taipans endured a challenging year, finishing in eighth place with a 12-16 record.

Waardenburg played a key role in the Taipans’ frontcourt, displaying his versatility and ability to contribute on both ends of the floor. Though the team struggled to find consistent form, Waardenburg remained a reliable presence, frequently stepping up in crucial moments and showing flashes of the potential that earned him the NBL’s Next Generation Award the previous season.

While Cairns was unable to replicate the playoff success of the prior season, Waardenburg’s development as a player continued, solidifying his role as a cornerstone for the Taipans’ future.

2024/25
Heading into NBL25, 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.

Waardenburg entered his second full season with the Taipans as one of the few returning players and quickly reaffirmed his importance to the team’s structure. A versatile frontcourt piece, he provided defensive presence, rebounding, and offensive versatility, and was regularly relied upon as a stabilizer in lineups constantly disrupted by injuries.

After opening the season 3–1 with strong wins over Tasmania and Melbourne United, Cairns struggled to maintain momentum. A narrow home loss to Perth and a blowout in Sydney triggered a 10-game losing streak through November and December. During this period, Waardenburg delivered several strong two-way performances, including 22 points and 9 rebounds in Sydney, 16 points against South East Melbourne, and a 14-point, 14-rebound double-double in the overtime clash with Adelaide.

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).

Despite the adversity, Waardenburg remained a consistent contributor. His ability to rebound, stretch the floor, and initiate offense from the high post made him a key piece throughout the team’s midseason struggles. In November, he posted double-digit rebounds against Brisbane and Sydney, and in January, he had another standout 22-point game against South East Melbourne. In the double-overtime thriller against Perth, he added 9 rebounds in a critical road win.

January marked a turning point, with Cairns winning four of seven games, including a dominant 111–80 road victory in Brisbane and a gritty home win over Illawarra. Rob Edwards went on a scoring tear, and Taran Armstrong recorded the season’s only triple-double in Round 28. Waardenburg continued to anchor the frontcourt, contributing 16 points and 6 rebounds in the narrow loss to New Zealand in February.

Despite a more competitive finish—going 5–5 over 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.

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 serviceable 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.

Sam Waardenburg currently plays for the Cairns Taipans and has played 89 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 12.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists since entering the league in 2022.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Cairns Taipans – 3 Year Deal (2026-29)
3rd Year Mutual Option