BIO: Shannon Scott was born in Alpharetta, Georgia (USA) and attended Milton High School. There, he averaged 14 points, 4.3 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.7 steals as a senior helping the Eagles to a 29-3 record, including 12-0 in the conference. In his final three seasons with Milton, he helped squad go 82-15 with a state title and three championship game appearances. He was named a McDonald’s All American in 2011.

FAMILY: He is the son of Charlie and Trudy Scott and has two siblings, Simone and Shaun. His father played professional basketball in the ABA and NBA after a collegiate career at North Carolina.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Shannon Scott made his NBL debut with the Cairns Taipans at 29 years of age. He scored 16 points in his first game.

CAIRNS TAIPANS
2022/23
After Adam Forde’s first season as head coach ended with Cairns finishing ninth with a 9-19 record, the Taipans retained Tahjere McCall, Majok Deng and Mirko Djeric. Rookie of the Year Bul Kuol and reigning Most Improved Player Keanu Pinder both took up mutual options to return for a second season. Kouat Noi (to Sydney) departed, Nathan Jawai was not re-signed despite wanting to continue playing, and imports Scott Machado and Stephen Zimmerman were replaced.

Forde added Sam Waardenburg (via Miami) on a two-year deal, Lat Mayen (via Nebraska), Jonah Antonio (via Czech League) and promoted injury replacement player Ben Ayre to the main roster. DJ Hogg (via Cholet) was also signed, leaving one import position available to complete the youngest roster in the league.

On August 12, Shannon Scott (via Bamberg) signed a one-year deal as Cairns’ final import. The pass-first point guard arrived with experience in the NBA G League and across Europe, with Forde believing his defence and decision-making would complement the Taipans’ existing scorers. “Shannon has built a reputation for himself as a defensive-minded, pass-first leader that operates on a high-level of thinking,” Forde said.

Cairns opened the season at MyState Bank Arena on October 3, where Shannon (16 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals), Deng (26 points and 5 rebounds) and Hogg (17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks) led the Taipans to a 106-84 win over Tasmania, while Rashard Kelly (15 points and 4 rebounds) was the JackJumpers’ leading scorer. Cairns scored 39 points during the third quarter, its highest-scoring period of the 40-minute era, and the victory began a 5-1 start for a team widely predicted to finish near the bottom of the ladder.

Scott (10.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.6 steals across 31 games) played all 28 regular-season games and Cairns’ first three postseason games. He began the season from the bench before moving into the starting lineup when McCall suffered a partial tear in his right hip, remaining as the starting point guard after McCall returned in a sixth-man role and leading the Taipans in assists.

His first start came at Qudos Bank Arena on October 14, where Scott (16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals), Pinder (16 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) and Hogg (15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) led Cairns to an 83-78 win over the previously unbeaten Sydney Kings. Dejan Vasiljevic (20 points) and Derrick Walton Jr. (14 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists) led Sydney, but Scott’s ball control and defence helped the Taipans recover from a slow opening and improve to 3-1.

Scott produced another strong all-round performance at John Cain Arena on October 20, finishing with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, and 1 steal as Cairns defeated Melbourne 81-77. Pinder (26 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) led the scoring and Hogg (13 points and 5 rebounds) provided support, while Xavier Rathan-Mayes (21 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Rayjon Tucker (19 points and 10 rebounds) led United. Cairns finished the game with an 11-1 run during the final four minutes and improved to 4-1.

When McCall returned from injury against Brisbane on November 19, Scott remained in the starting lineup and finished with 3 points, 4 rebounds, and a season-high 10 assists as Cairns defeated the Bullets 90-82 and ended their three-game winning streak. Pinder (25 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) and Hogg (20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) led the Taipans, while DJ Mitchell (21 points and 8 rebounds) was Brisbane’s leading scorer.

Scott’s best game of the season came against Adelaide at the Cairns Convention Centre on December 31, where he made 11-of-15 field goals and five three-pointers to finish with 31 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block. Cairns trailed by 18 points with less than seven minutes remaining and remained 16 behind with five minutes to play before scoring 22 of the game’s final 25 points. Scott made his fifth three-pointer with 31 seconds remaining to give Cairns the lead, while McCall (19 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals) and Hogg (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) provided support as the Taipans won 86-83. Antonius Cleveland (16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists), Ian Clark (15 points) and Anthony Drmic (14 points and 6 rebounds) led Adelaide.

Two days later, Scott (18 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals), Hogg (16 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Ayre (15 points) led Cairns to a 96-89 victory over Illawarra at the WIN Entertainment Centre. Sam Froling (25 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Tyler Harvey (21 points) led the Hawks, but the victory was Cairns’ first in Wollongong in more than six years and improved the Taipans to 12-7.

With Pinder sidelined by an ankle injury, Scott (19 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals), McCall (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Hogg (16 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 blocks) led Cairns to a 94-85 win over South East Melbourne on January 8. Mitch Creek (25 points and 7 rebounds), Ryan Broekhoff (17 points) and Alan Williams (16 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the Phoenix, but the Taipans produced a 22-5 run and made six three-pointers during the second quarter to collect their fourth consecutive win without Pinder.

Cairns eventually won six consecutive games, including the final five without Pinder, and remained in contention for a top-two finish. Scott continued directing the offence alongside McCall while also taking responsibility for defending opposing guards and creating transition opportunities for one of the league’s fastest teams.

Cairns completed the regular season at RAC Arena on February 3, where Scott (9 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) played through a finger injury as the Taipans defeated Perth 84-71. Kuol (15 points and 9 rebounds), Deng (14 points and 11 rebounds) and Hogg (14 points and 4 rebounds) led Cairns, while Bryce Cotton (28 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists) and TaShawn Thomas (23 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led the Wildcats. The win briefly moved Cairns into second place, but New Zealand’s final-round victories left both teams with an 18-10 record and the Breakers claimed second on percentage, leaving Cairns third and requiring it to enter the inaugural play-in tournament.

Hogg (18.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks across 33 games) led Cairns in scoring, won the club MVP and Members’ Choice awards and earned All-NBL Second Team honours. Pinder (16.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across 19 games) joined him on the Second Team and became the first player in league history to win consecutive Most Improved Player awards. McCall (16.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2 steals across 25 games), Waardenburg (11.3 points and 5.6 rebounds across 30 games), Kuol (10.3 points and 3.7 rebounds across 33 games), Deng (6.4 points and 3.9 rebounds across 32 games) and Ayre (5.8 points across 32 games) completed the main rotation. Scott received the Taipans’ Players’ Player award, Waardenburg won the league’s inaugural Next Generation Award and Forde was named Coach of the Year.

Cairns opened the postseason against Tasmania in the Seeding Qualifier at the Cairns Convention Centre on February 9, where Scott (17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals), McCall (24 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Hogg (13 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block) led the Taipans. Milton Doyle (25 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals), Isaac White (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Jack McVeigh (13 points and 9 rebounds) powered Tasmania to an 87-79 win, while McCall partially dislocated his shoulder during the loss and joined the injured Pinder on the sidelines.

The sudden-death Play-In Game remained at the Cairns Convention Centre, where Scott (7 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists), Hogg (32 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks), Kuol (23 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Waardenburg (15 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 block) led the undermanned Taipans to a 91-78 win over Perth. Cotton (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists), Thomas (14 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Corey Webster (14 points and 4 rebounds) led the Wildcats, but Hogg set a Taipans postseason scoring record and moved Cairns into the semifinals.

Game one of the semifinals moved to Qudos Bank Arena, where Scott (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists), Hogg (24 points) and Antonio (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) helped Cairns build a nine-point halftime lead. Sydney responded by outscoring the Taipans 27-10 during the third quarter, with Xavier Cooks (27 points and 14 rebounds), Walton Jr. (21 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Tim Soares (14 points and 4 rebounds) leading the Kings to a 95-87 win. Scott suffered a right-hamstring injury late in the game and did not play during the final minute.

Scott was unavailable with the hamstring injury when game two moved to the Cairns Convention Centre. Hogg (25 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block), McCall (20 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals) and Waardenburg (15 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks) led Cairns to a 93-82 win, while Walton Jr. (22 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) and Justin Simon (19 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals) led Sydney. Kings coach Chase Buford was ejected, Cooks suffered an ankle injury, Noi and Waardenburg left the court after hits to the head and Soares was charged with striking.

Scott remained sidelined for the deciding third game at Qudos Bank Arena, where Ayre (20 points, 4 assists, and 1 steal), Waardenburg (17 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) and McCall (9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) led Cairns, while Vasiljevic (15 points and 5 rebounds), Cooks (11 points and 11 rebounds), Noi (11 points and 11 rebounds) and Walton Jr. (10 points and 9 assists) led Sydney to a 79-64 win.

BRISBANE BULLETS
2023/24
Brisbane rebuilt its point guard rotation around Shannon Scott and Mitch Norton when Justin Schueller took charge of a team that had finished ninth with an 8–20 record. Jason Cadee (to Adelaide), Tanner Krebs (to Melbourne), Gorjok Gak and Kody Stattmann (both to South East Melbourne), Rasmus Bach (retired) and Tyler Johnson departed, while Schueller recruited Scott (via Cairns), Norton (via Perth), Isaac White and Sam McDaniel (both via Tasmania), Josh Bannan (via Montana), Chris Smith (via Chiba Jets) and Next Star Rocco Zikarsky (via the Centre of Excellence).

Scott signed a two-year deal with Brisbane on April 28, 2023, after helping Cairns reach the semifinals the previous season. He was brought in to share the point guard duties with Norton and allow captain Nathan Sobey to spend more time away from the ball.

“From the outset we have wanted a high iq pass first guard that can create their own when needed, Shannon is that guy,” Head Coach Justin Schueller said upon signing Scott.

“He had an outstanding season last year and has shown he can impact the game at both ends of the floor.”

Scott (9 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) started at point guard in Brisbane’s season opener at Nissan Arena on September 29, helping the Bullets recover after Adelaide scored the opening 15 points to win 86–71. Sobey (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Smith (15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Brisbane’s scoring, while Humphries (17 points and 7 rebounds) was Adelaide’s best.

Scott (4.9 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 steals across 22 games) started 15 times and led Brisbane in assists per game and steals. He averaged 10.2 points and 6 assists through his opening five games, but a hamstring injury suffered in his sixth appearance kept him out until December, and Scott later admitted it took time to fully trust his body after returning.

Scott produced his best all-round game at Spark Arena on October 5, finishing with 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals as Brisbane defeated New Zealand 89–84 and opened a season 2–0 for the first time in four years. Sobey (24 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) and Harrison (12 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) supported Scott, while Jackson-Cartwright (20 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal) led the Breakers.

His best scoring game came against Melbourne United at John Cain Arena on October 15, where Scott (19 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 4 steals) made six of 10 shots and all three three-point attempts. Scott hit three consecutive three-pointers late in the third quarter and helped Brisbane score 33 points during the fourth, but Melbourne won 89–78 behind Goulding (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists), while Sobey (16 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Smith (15 points and 2 steals) provided support for the Bullets.

A hip injury requiring surgery ended the season of Mitchell (5 points across 15 games), leading Brisbane to sign Casey Prather (via Hapoel Eilat) as an import injury replacement in December. Prather (6.7 points and 3 rebounds across 7 games) returned after spending more than two years out of professional basketball with knee injuries.

Sobey (20.1 points and 4.4 rebounds across 27 games) led Brisbane’s offence, earned All-NBL Second Team honours and received the Leroy Loggins MVP Award. Bannan (11.9 points and 7.2 rebounds across 19 games), Smith (11 points across 27 games), Harrison (9.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 27 games) and McDaniel (9 points and 4 rebounds across 28 games) were the other main contributors, while Baynes (7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds across 23 games), Norton (7.1 points across 28 games) and White (7 points across 28 games) remained in the rotation. Norton received the H.A.B.I.T.S Player of the Year award, McDaniel was named Defensive Player of the Year, Bannan received the Youth Player of the Year award and Smith’s winning three-pointer against Tasmania was voted Members Moment of the Year.

Brisbane entered its final game needing a win to guarantee a play-in position, but New Zealand defeated the Bullets 103–87 at Spark Arena on February 16 behind Jackson-Cartwright (27 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block). Bannan (29 points and 4 rebounds) and Sobey (16 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 block) led Brisbane, which finished seventh with a 13–15 record and missed the postseason on percentage. Scott (0 points and 1 rebound) played 6:13 off the bench in the loss.

Scott (to Kaohsiung) and Brisbane later mutually agreed to part ways ahead of NBL25, ending his two-year contract after one season with the Bullets.

Shannon Scott played two seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Cairns Taipans and the Brisbane Bullets. He averaged 8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 53 NBL games.