
16
Sep
Import Report
He's got the name but has this Taipan got the game?
How Andrew Andrews can help lead rejuvenated Cairns into NBL26
- Andrew Andrews is the latest import signing in the NBL, replacing Ashton Hagans at the Cairns Taipans
- He joins Admiral Schofield and Marcus Lee as the Taipans imports for NBL26
- Michael Houben's biggest comparison to Andrews is former Wildcat champion Jermaine Beal
The name’s Andrews. Andrew, Andrews.
Will this last minute roster change by the import to bond this Cairns Taipans group together?
With multiple last minute signings continuing to occur NBL-wide after the end of the preseason, season predictions are requiring revisions almost weekly, and the most recent switch for Cairns might have the biggest impact of all.
With visa issues befalling point guard recruit Ashton Hagans, the Taipans have called on the services of Andrew Andrews, and the change-up appears to have fundamentally altered the dynamics of their line-up.
Let’s find out more about the veteran guard and what he’s going to bring to Cairns this season.
BASKETBALL BACKGROUND
At 32-years-old, Andrews enters NBL26 as on the older side of the import spectrum, exceeded in age by only Casey Prather, Bryce Cotton, John Brown III and JaVale McGee.
He comes to Australia with a decade of professional experience under his belt, encompassing leagues across Turkey, Latvia, Israel, Greece, Spain and Lithuania.
Andrews is only one year removed from competing in the EuroCup and Spanish ACB for Joventut, where he played 24 minutes per game and averaged over 12 points per game across both competitions.
Andrews joins the Taipans after most recently competing for the Wolves Twinsbet in Lithuania, where he averaged 13.3 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists per game.
A proven veteran competitor across a myriad of competitions worldwide, Andrews appears to be a proven commodity, particularly as a shooter where he’s knocked down 37% of his threes across his international career.
AN INSIGHT INTO HIS GAME
As a scorer, Andrews’ primary threat is his jump-shot, which he can rise into quickly and with great elevation. Not only will he be a demanding threat spacing the floor, but there’s real volume to his shot-making game on the ball, hunting open shots out of pick and roll and isolation situations.
While average in size at the point guard position and lacking elite athleticism or ability to put heat on the rim, Andrews uses lots of hesitations and hang dribbles to leverage his pull-up threat into drives, and possesses the the strength to get to the line. Averaging 5.3 free throw attempts per game and knocking down an elite 89%, this helps make him more of a consistent scoring threat than banking on the volatility of his perimeter shot-making, similar to that of Rob Edwards last season.
One more historical comparison could be made to 2010s Perth Wildcat Jermaine ‘Dolla’ Beal, another player with deep range that hunted his pull-up jumper with confidence and created off the dribble as required.

These will be rough, dated and subject to team situations and style of play changes over the years, but in lieu of more recent advanced stats access, here’s some further side by side similarities

Like Harvey, Batemon, Edwards and Beal, Andrews appears more like a shooting guard in a point guard's body. Standing 6'2", Andrews is a limited creator for others, averaging just three assists per game last season in Lithuania.
Of course, this stands in contrast to original import signing Ashton Hagans — a shifty pick and roll maestro and one of the G League’s better playmakers.
Once again, we’ll be comparing apples and oranges somewhat, but compared to Andrews' three assists per game last season in Lithuania, Hagans' last season in the G League (23-24) saw him put up 8.9 assists per game. Hagans sported an impressive .400 assist percentage, while if we go all the way back to Andrews only available assist percentages (college), he averaged .190 across his four years at Washington.
Defensively, Edwards utilises his strength, and is considered to be a passable defender on the ball.
HIS FIT WITH THE TAIPANS
These differences between Hagans and Andrews feel extra important in the context of Cairns roster.
From everything assessed, I think it’s fair to have confidence in Andrews as a scorer that can play off others but also get his off the dribble when required. There’s also a clear point of emphasis across Cairns’ roster for quality outside shooting, and Andrews brings that in spades, with a line-up of Andrews, Smith and McVeigh likely to bring with it some elite floor spacing.

That floor spacing benefits primary offensive threats, and for what it’s worth, Andrews should simultaneously find room to operate as a driver and isolation/pick and roll scorer, and deter opposition teams from doubling off against him, giving McVeigh a little more of a chance to operate on an island in the low and mid post.
However, the Taipans number one concern this off-season has been ball-handling and creation for others, and in that respect, Andrews appears like a downgrade from Hagans.
Despite being able to run an offence, Andrews has not demonstrate the ability to be a prolific playmaker at any point in his career, and more lethal ‘complementary’ scorers like Smith and McVeigh operate best when acting as a foil to a primary initiator. In that respect, they may be asked to create something off their own bat more often, which may lead to more mixed results.
SUMMARY
At short notice, the Taipans appear to have done well in securing the services of Andrew Andrews, someone who is an established international import with evident scoring chops both on and off the ball. Does that mean he’s the point guard the Cairns Taipans need this season? We’ll have to find out.
With the initial signing of Ashton Hagans, the vision was clear — a primary ball-handler with the skills to manipulate defences, run an offence and set up key scorers like Jack McVeigh in their best spots. While Andrews may arguably be a better individual scorer, there’s a clear downgrade in facilitation, and on a team already lacking on serviceable ball-handlers, this may be the Taipans biggest concern with the fit.
MICHAEL HOUBEN'S IMPORT REPORTS
- MVP Jones the final piece for Perth Wildcats
- Belgian 'unicorn' SEM's point of difference
- Bucket-getter Bryce is nice for JackJumpers
- JaVale McGee signing no gimmick from Hawks
- United's flying Dutchman a blueprint to success
About the Author
Michael Houben is an Australian basketball writer and scout based in Melbourne, Victoria. As well as covering the game as a journalist, Michael supports US colleges to identify and recruit Australian talent as the owner of Airtime Scouting, and supports grassroots athletes through Airtime Basketball.
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