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
On November 16, 2020, Oliver re-signed with the Cairns Taipans on a two-year deal. On April 18, 2021, he left the Taipans to return home for personal reasons. He was later released from the final year of his contract with Cairns and shortly after signed a deal to play in the NBA. He finished the season shooting 50% from the field and averaging 17.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.4 blocks across 24 games.
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 currently plays for the Sydney Kings and has played 61 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 17 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists since entering the league in 2019.
CURRENT CONTRACT:
Sydney Kings – 3 Year Deal (2023-26)
3rd Year Team Option
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
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
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 | 4-2 (4) | 31 | 70.0 | 84 | 35 | 12 | 29 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 31 | 70 | 44% | 10 | 31 | 32% | 12 | 12 | 100% | 55% | 51% | 19 |
| 2020-21 | 25 | Cairns | 8-28 (9) | 24 | 770.0 | 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 | 61 | 1794 | 1038 | 576 | 80 | 154 | 422 | 44 | 86 | 118 | 164 | 405 | 786 | 51.5% | 101 | 293 | 34.5% | 127 | 177 | 71.8% | 60% | 58% | 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 | 4-2 (4) | 31 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 44% | 0.3 | 1.0 | 32% | 0.4 | 0.4 | 100% | 55% | 51% | 19 |
| 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 | 61 | 29.4 | 17.0 | 9.4 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 6.9 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 6.6 | 12.9 | 51.5% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 34.5% | 1.7 | 4.8 | 71.8% | 60% | 58% | 31 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 31 | 19 | 5 | 3 | 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.
-
September 4, 2018: Signed a contract with the Portland Trail Blazers
-
October 13, 2018: Waived by the Portland Trail Blazers.
-
May 10, 2021: Signed a 10-day contract with the Houston Rockets.
-
September 28, 2021: Signed a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
-
October 15, 2021: Waived by the Los Angeles Lakers.
-
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 | 88% | 65% | 70% | 97% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 31 | 5 | 3 | 6 | ||||||
| Total | 405 | 786 | 51.5% | 101 | 293 | 34.5% |
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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% | 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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 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% | 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)
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.
COLLEGE
Coming out of high school, he committed to Oregon State, but de-committed after a coaching change and eventually sat out the 2014/15 season.
He joined the Nevada Wolf Pack for the 2015-16 season, where he enjoyed a outstanding freshman year, averaging 13.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocked shots a game.
Oliver was a key part of a Wolf Pack squad that won the College Basketball Invitational that year.
He made the All-Mountain West Third Team as well as the All-Defensive Team and was named Freshman of the Year by the MW media.
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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