Taipans duo arrive in Cairns to complete Forde’s first Snakes list
THE final pieces of the Taipans’ playing puzzle have arrived in the Far North, and centre Stephen Zimmerman has wasted little time in outlining his high goals for the upcoming NBL season.
The biggest goal? To win.
“Of course, that’s all I know,” Zimmerman said. “I’m trying to come here and win as much as possible, and that’s what I’m doing.”
Zimmerman, who along with development player Brayden Inger arrived in Cairns on Monday, was the last signing announced by the Taipans, but the 213cm centre is now out of quarantine and ready to hit the court with his new teammates ahead of the NBL Blitz in Tasmania from November 13.
“Touching a basketball again would be fantastic,” Zimmerman said. “I feel like I was working out every day and feeling well and stuff like that before I came out here, so going two weeks without playing basketball at all is tough. So getting back to that is going be fun.”
That three letter word – fun – will form a key piece of the centre’s motivation, with it being the key to him not enjoying his basketball, but finding the form he needs to achieve his other key goal of winning the Defensive Player of the Year award.
“I’ve played in situations and places where it’s not, and that’s a huge part for me,” he said.
“I love to play this game. When I have fun, I’m at my best.
“After that, I want to win as much as possible and try to get Defensive
Player of the Year. That’s my personal goal.”
Inger, a projected future Tall Blacks player, crossed paths with new Cairns coach Adam Forde during the NZNBL season and is looking forward to the chance to not only meet again, but to impress.
“The easiest way to judge is how many opportunities I get to get on the court,” Inger said.
“That’s what I’m aiming for; to show everyone what I can do. Try to impress the team, and staff.”