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2020/21
After finishing third with a 16-12 record and reaching the semifinals the previous season, Cairns entered NBL21 looking to build on its breakthrough year under coach Mike Kelly. The NBL reducing the import limit from three to two saw DJ Newbill (to Japan) depart, while Scott Machado and Cameron Oliver returned and Nathan Jawai re-signed on a two-year deal. Jordan Ngatai (via New Zealand) joined after six seasons with the Breakers, while NBA prospect Mojave King was added through the Next Stars program.

After spending the previous season as a development player, Tad Dufelmeier Jr remained with Cairns as a training player and travelled with the team for the NBL Cup. After Majok Deng suffered a partial tear of his left MCL and bone bruising against Melbourne in February, Dufelmeier Jr (6 points across 21 games) was elevated to the roster as Deng’s injury replacement from Round 7. Dufelmeier Jr did not suffer a reported injury during the season. After being elevated he recorded five DNPs while outside the regular rotation, before appearing in every game from March 28 through the end of the season as injuries opened further opportunities.

With Machado sidelined, Dufelmeier Jr (12 points, 2 rebounds, and 8 assists) produced one of his best games against Adelaide at the Cairns Pop-Up Arena on April 14. Oliver (25 points and 17 rebounds) and Ngatai (15 points) led Cairns in scoring, while Daniel Johnson (24 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) was Adelaide’s best as the Taipans recovered from 16 points down to win 91-88.

Dufelmeier Jr (14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) made his first NBL start against New Zealand at the Silverdome in Launceston on April 23 and hit the game-winning three-pointer with 7.3 seconds remaining. Jawai (21 points and 8 rebounds) and Machado (13 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists) provided support, while Finn Delany (23 points and 14 rebounds) led New Zealand. Cairns had surrendered a 19-point second-half lead before Dufelmeier’s three put the Taipans back in front and a late Breakers attempt missed as Cairns won 70-68. “Tad’s been working to get to this point, being in an NBL game and getting meaningful minutes, and been really good for us,” Kelly said.

Dufelmeier Jr’s best game of the season came against South East Melbourne at the Cairns Pop-Up Arena on May 28, where he finished with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal. Deng (22 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Cairns and Mirko Djeric (16 points) made four three-pointers in a three-minute fourth-quarter burst, while Yanni Wetzell (25 points and 8 rebounds) was South East Melbourne’s best. Cairns trailed by 12 points with seven minutes remaining before closing the game on a 23-4 run to win 94-87 and snap an eight-game losing streak.

Oliver (17.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 24 games) led Cairns in scoring and rebounding before being waived on compassionate grounds when complications with his wife’s pregnancy required him to return to the United States, with Venky Jois (6.4 points and 5.1 rebounds across 10 games, via Pirot) signed as his replacement. Machado (15.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 7 assists across 35 games) remained Cairns’ primary playmaker, while Deng (12 points and 4.5 rebounds across 20 games) missed 16 games following his MCL injury and Kouat Noi (10.1 points and 4.4 rebounds across 18 games) missed the final 18 games after suffering a PCL tear. Hyrum Harris (via Illawarra) was also added as a nominated injury replacement while Deng and Noi remained sidelined.

Djeric (8.6 points across 34 games) made a career-high 66 three-pointers, Jawai (8.3 points and 3.8 rebounds across 36 games) recorded four 20-point games for the first time since his rookie NBL season, while Ngatai (6.7 points across 36 games), King (6.2 points across 30 games) and Fabijan Krslovic (5.1 points and 3.4 rebounds across 32 games) were the other major contributors.

Cairns closed its season against New Zealand at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua on June 2, with Dufelmeier Jr (1 point, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) coming from the bench in Mike Kelly’s final game as coach. Machado (21 points, 4 rebounds, and 11 assists) and Jawai (14 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led Cairns, while Tai Webster (23 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) led New Zealand to an 84-78 win as the Taipans finished ninth with an 8-28 record.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2021/22
After finishing seventh with a 13-23 record the previous season, Adelaide lost Josh Giddey (to Oklahoma City), Jack McVeigh (to Tasmania) and Keanu Pinder (to Cairns), before adding Mitch McCarron (via Melbourne), Kai Sotto (via NBA G League Ignite), Tad Dufelmeier Jr (via Cairns), Mojave King (via Cairns), Emmanuel Malou (via Mackay), Dusty Hannahs (via Santa Cruz) and Todd Withers (via Bologna). Adelaide then surprisingly released coach Conner Henry despite a year remaining on his contract, with the club saying their directions were no longer ideally matched, and appointed CJ Bruton only weeks before the opening game. Bruton completed the roster by adding Hyrum Harris (via Hawke’s Bay) and Cam Bairstow (via Illawarra), while McCarron was named captain and positioned as Adelaide’s franchise player moving forward.

Signed to a one-year deal on July 22, the Canberra-born point guard joined Adelaide after receiving increased opportunities during his second season with Cairns. He was recruited to push the pace and provide minutes behind McCarron. “I’m keen to join the team and further my development as a player, especially around experienced players like Mitch McCarron, Sunday Dech, and DJ,” he said.

Adelaide opened at RAC Arena on December 3, where Dufelmeier (0 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists) played nine minutes from the bench as Perth defeated the 36ers 85-73. Daniel Johnson (22 points and 6 rebounds) and Bairstow (15 points and 7 rebounds) led Adelaide, while Victor Law (37 points and 4 rebounds) dominated for Perth.

Dufelmeier (4.3 points across 27 games) provided backcourt depth, started four consecutive games during March and scored in double figures three times. Adelaide briefly reached 2-2 and sixth place after round two, the team’s highest position of the season and the only point it did not have a losing record. Dufelmeier’s only absence came against Perth on January 18 because of a foot injury, with Gattorna added as his injury replacement, before he returned to the roster against Melbourne four days later and played every remaining game.

His best game and season-high scoring performance came against Perth at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on March 6, where Dufelmeier (12 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists) received his first start and played 23 minutes. Johnson (19 points and 12 rebounds) and Hannahs (10 points and 2 steals) provided support, but Bryce Cotton (27 points and 7 assists) led Perth to a 92-73 win.

Dufelmeier remained in the starting lineup against his former team at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on March 18, finishing with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists as Adelaide ended a five-game losing streak with an 83-57 win over Cairns. McCarron (21 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) and Bairstow (12 points and 6 rebounds) led the 36ers, while Pinder (15 points and 14 rebounds) was Cairns’ best.

Johnson (16.1 points and 7 rebounds across 28 games) led Adelaide in scoring and won his second consecutive Mark Davis Award as the club’s Most Valuable Player. Hannahs (13.6 points across 23 games), Sunday Dech (12.3 points and 4.2 rebounds across 23 games), Bairstow (11.4 points and 8 rebounds across 18 games) and Withers (8.3 points and 3.9 rebounds across 26 games) were the other leading scorers, although Adelaide received inconsistent production from its two imports. McCarron (7.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 2 steals across 27 games), Sotto (7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds across 23 games) and Isaac Humphries (7.7 points and 5 rebounds across 6 games) completed the main rotation. Humphries suffered a right knee injury that ended his season, while Bairstow received the Coaches Award after producing the best season of his NBL career before an ankle injury ended his campaign and ultimately his career. Harris (4.2 points across 22 games) was named Adelaide’s Most Improved Player.

Adelaide was 7-17 and out of playoff contention with a month remaining, but won three of its final four games and ended the season at MyState Bank Arena on April 24 with a 93-60 victory over New Zealand. Dech (19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals) and King (15 points and 2 steals) led Adelaide, while Chasson Randle (14 points) was New Zealand’s equal-leading scorer as the 36ers finished seventh for the third consecutive season with a 10-18 record. Dufelmeier (9 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) played 20 minutes.
two seasons with Cairns, Tad Dufelmeier Jr. joined the Adelaide 36ers for the 2021/22 season. Adelaide made several roster changes, bringing in Mitch McCarron, Kai Sotto, and a mix of young talent and seasoned veterans. Dufelmeier provided depth in the backcourt but faced strong competition for minutes. He contributed solidly off the bench, averaging 4.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists over the season. Despite some promising individual performances, Adelaide finished in seventh place (10-18) for the third consecutive season.

CAIRNS TAIPANS
2024/25
Entering the 2024/25 season, Cairns found themselves undergoing a significant roster reset following the exits of import stars Patrick Miller and Tahjere McCall. Additional losses included Bul Kuol (to Sydney), Lat Mayen (to Adelaide), Bobi Klintman (NBA Draft), and Josh Roberts, creating a number of vacancies across the lineup.

In response, the Taipans reloaded by signing imports Rob Edwards, Pedro Bradshaw, and Tanner Groves, promoting Taran Armstrong to team captain and lead guard, and adding veterans Kyle Adnam (Illawarra), Jackson Makoi (Sydney), and Kyrin Galloway (Adelaide). Sam Waardenburg returned to lead the frontcourt, while development players Alex Higgins-Titsha and Kody Stattmann (South East Melbourne) filled out the depth chart.

With a string of injuries impacting key players by the end of 2024—including Armstrong’s ankle and Groves’ calf—the Taipans turned to short-term reinforcements to maintain rotation depth. Sitting at 3–16, the team signed Tad Dufelmeier Jr, who featured in four games.

Dufelmeier brought energy and experience to the point guard position in limited minutes. He averaged 2.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists across his four outings, highlighted by a strong showing in the season opener against Illawarra, where he tallied 5 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 points in 14 minutes off the bench.

Despite a spirited 5–5 finish over their final 10 games, Cairns ended the campaign at 8–21, bottom of the ladder with the NBL’s lowest points percentage (92.49%). Head coach Adam Forde parted ways with the club following the conclusion of the season.

Sam Waardenburg (14.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists) was a steady contributor and swept the club’s MVP, Defensive Player, and Members’ Choice awards. Tanner Groves (13.5 points, 5.7 rebounds) and Pedro Bradshaw (10.7 points, 5.7 rebounds) held their own, while young talents Kyrin Galloway (7.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks), Akoldah Gak (6.3 points, 5.6 rebounds), and Alex Higgins-Titsha (6.2 points, 3.9 rebounds) made the most of their expanded roles.

BRISBANE BULLETS
2025/26
After missing the playoffs the previous season, Brisbane opened NBL26 with captain Mitch Norton suffering a knee hyperextension injury against New Zealand. Scans revealed a tibial plateau contusion that was expected to sideline him for approximately eight weeks, with Tad Dufelmeier added as Norton’s injury replacement player on September 25 after averaging 13.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.1 steals with the Knox Raiders.

Three days later, Dufelmeier (0 points, 0 rebounds, and 0 assists in 3:39) made his only appearance against Adelaide, missing his only three-point attempt as the 36ers defeated Brisbane 87-80 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Prather (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Harrison (17 points and 12 rebounds) led the Bullets, while Bryce Cotton (39 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists) starred for Adelaide.

Dufelmeier made no further appearances and Brisbane’s season ended on February 20 with a 117-77 home loss to Sydney, leaving the Bullets last on the ladder with a 6-27 record.

Tad Dufelmeier Jr currently plays for the Brisbane Bullets and has played 31 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 4.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2 assists since entering the league in 2019.