Taran Armstrong has no fear

Growing up in Burnie in North West Tasmania, Taran Armstrong and his brothers were exposed to basketball from before they could walk. Father Ben played semi-professionally for the Wynyard Wildcats in the NWBU (North West Basketball Union) along with their uncle, Ben’s brother Sam.

For Taran, his earliest childhood memories were in basketball stadiums watching his dad play or train and there was never any doubt that he would follow in those footsteps.

“I just remember always watching his games, always being at practice, shooting on the side rims,” Armstrong told NBL Media recently.

“That’s probably my earliest memories, just being around the game since I was born really. It was part of my life the whole time, so it was always just what I did, what I thought I was going to do, what I wanted to be.”

He started playing organised basketball at around five or six years old and was heavily influenced by watching his dad and uncle play together. They also played with another set of brothers, Scott and Lee McGaffin, and the chemistry the two sets of brothers shared is something that Taran fondly remembers and learned a lot from.

“I’d probably say that group of four was big-time,” he said.

“Just in the sense of getting to see it up close, getting to see – you have a team with two sets of brothers and you can imagine the chemistry, the genuine love for each other that they had and the ability to hold each other accountable and go at each other, coming together come game time.

“So, I was exposed to a high level of teamwork and mateship at an early age. And those four were really the inspiration.”

Fast forward to 2024 and Armstrong, now 22 years old, may be one of the most talked about young talents in the NBL.

Coming off a standout two-year college run at Cal Baptist under coach Rick Croy, a rookie NBL season with the Cairns Taipans in which he started 13 of his 23 games and showed flashes of the talent he has, plus a Boomers call-up for the February FIBA window, Armstrong went through the NBA draft process earlier this year.

He worked out for multiple teams and had some second-round buzz, but ultimately went undrafted. He’ll have to wait to realise his NBA ambition, but he knows he’s in the right place to continue to accelerate his growth and development as a player.

And that is in large part a credit to Adam Forde and the Taipans’ coaching staff who Armstrong entrusted with his professional pathway when he decided to forego the final two years of his college eligibility.

6’5 Freshman point guard Taran Armstrong @taranarmstrong1 is leading the nation in assists and is averaging 12.3pts 7.7reb 8.8ast. Already drawing Josh Giddey comparisons. Could be the next Australian point guard to make it to the NBA pic.twitter.com/rPI6aLEhlD

— Swish Cultures (@swishcultures_) December 10, 2021

Despite Tasmania boasting a thriving NBL franchise, Armstrong ultimately decided that Forde was the right coach for him at this stage.

“I’ve had to make a lot of decisions on where to take my career and I’ve always done it in a sense of what’s going to benefit me the most, where am I going to improve the most, and where am I going to have the opportunity to be the best player,” Armstrong explained.

“Something that’s really important to me is playing for a coach that’s a fan of your game. Especially Coach Croy (Richard Croy at California Baptist University), same with Fordey, when I was making my decision, they were fans, but respectfully. And when you have people that do have an appreciation for your game, it’s easy to trust them.

“So I’d encourage, especially kids making their college decision, I know not everyone has a great deal of choice, but go to the school that wants you the most, regardless of the level. And I think if you’re good enough, you’ll get to the right spots. That was probably the main thing. I felt like Cairns wanted me more, Fordey wanted me more ... so it was a pretty easy choice.”

After what he described as a “disappointing year” as a rookie, where he felt he was capable of a lot more than he produced, Armstrong started his second season with a bang.

Despite missing the first two rounds with a calf injury, he led the Taipans to back-to-back Round 3 wins over last season’s Grand Finalists – Tasmania and Melbourne – in the same weekend.

He put up 20 points, five assists and four rebounds, including several key baskets down the stretch versus the JackJumpers, followed by 14 points, four assists and six rebounds in an injury-interrupted game in Melbourne.

Armstrong has made 14/20 field goals overall and 4/7 three-pointers (57 per cent) to start NBL25.  Unfortunately, he's missed the last four rounds with an ankle injury.

Taran Armstrong showed out in his #NBL25 debut: 20 points (9/10 FG, 1/2 3pt), 4 rebounds, 5 assists (4 TOV), and a +22 on the night; had these two high-level finishes to close out the win. He’s added strength, handle looks tighter, and that elevates the already-elite vision. pic.twitter.com/klbQmjZBDx

— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) October 4, 2024

But, as good as he looked in his two games earlier this season, his biggest growth may have come away from the basketball court.

Armstrong has learned to find meaning in other things. Besides trying a spot of fishing with his friends back home in Tasmania on occasion, he enjoys simple things like eating out, grabbing a coffee or just chatting with friends or family. But it has made a big difference to his mental wellbeing in terms of not letting basketball be all-consuming.

“It’s interesting. I think my personal development has been accelerated a lot in probably only the last year and a half,” said Armstrong.

“Up until that point, I think I was really fixated on basketball and didn’t really allow myself to have any interests away from the game. I was stuck in sort of a weird mentality, where if I had a game on Friday, I wouldn’t want to do anything at all for the entire week until the game. I’d feel a little bit guilty about it. I’d feel like maybe I wasn’t taking it seriously enough.

“As I’ve grown up and matured, I’m actually just finding a lot of appreciation for basic things that I never used to do. Like, I really like to just go out and get meals, whether it’s with people, by myself. I love going to get a coffee. I’ve spent a little bit of time out in Palm Cove this season, which I didn’t really explore at all last season and I enjoy spending time down there, going to the beach.

“But I think the biggest thing for me away from basketball, is investing in my family and my friends. It sounds a little bit weird, but I have a genuine interest for the people that are in my life that care about me, and I spend a lot of time talking to my friends on the phone, texting. That does a lot for me.”

It’s been a big shift for Armstrong and has certainly made a difference in his ability to relax more and decompress when he’s away from basketball; something he credits with easing his mental load.

“I definitely think I’ve had a mentality shift in the last year. You realise that basketball isn’t the most important thing.

“That’s not to say I don’t care about it, I care about it deeply and invest more time than I ever have into it, but I value the people in my life more than basketball. And that’s a really important thing for me.

“It actually helps your basketball a lot when you’re not so fixated on it, and you take a lot of pressure off yourself by investing in other people.”

That shift has meant that when he is on the court, he’s much freer and it has resulted in a different mindset when he sets foot on the floor.

If you thought Armstrong looked a lot more confident this season compared to last, you’d be right. Even coming into his opening game versus Tasmania, without having played for a few weeks following the calf injury, Armstrong had no hesitation and certainly no fear.

“Last year versus this year, I’m not afraid of failure,” he elucidated.

“I don’t fear missing shots, I don’t fear turning the ball over, I don’t fear not being good enough. Partly because of all the personal development I’ve had away from the game, it makes that stuff a bit easier.

“But, I’m just not afraid. I don’t fear it. So, I was coming in there and felt super comfortable on the court, enjoying all of it, enjoying being on the stage, playing with my teammates and doing all that stuff. It’s honestly just no fear of failure.”

Last weekend @AndrewGaze10 suggested Taran Armstrong could be a future Boomer. By the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, Armstrong would be 26 years old and in the prime of his career. Here's Gazey exapanding on some further thoughts about the Cairns point guard. pic.twitter.com/DDtabDu70F

— Kane Pitman (@KanePitman) October 11, 2024

Adam Forde knows he has something special in Armstrong, which is why, for the first time in his head coaching career, he handed the keys to his offence to an Australian point guard – when Armstrong was healthy.

Forde, who called Armstrong “tough” after their 90-78 win over Melbourne United in Round 3, likened his ability to impact a game to that of Damian Martin who Forde worked with in Perth.

“He’s a unique 22-year-old,” Forde said of Armstrong.

“He’s really just cut from a different cloth. It’s kind of cool to see what that’s going to blossom into.”

Another coach who is a fan of Armstrong is JackJumpers’ assistant, Mark Radford. Radford coached Ben Armstrong back in the day, so has known Taran basically his whole life. He then started working with Taran formally as part of Tasmania’s state development programs when he was around 12 years old.

But Radford knew even before then that Taran, blessed with great athleticism and length, was talented and could be special. Couple that with the work he puts in and Radford is excited at how good Armstrong could be.

He recalled Armstrong’s determination to improve his shooting when he came back from college.

“He wanted to change his shot and he had the courage to actually do that, knowing that over a 12-month period – which was last NBL season – there was going to be some failure. And he was very comfortable with that,” Radford said.

“And I think that is the overriding factor that he has a long-term vision of what his development looks like and where he wants to get it to, and he knows that it’s not linear and there’s gonna be some ups and downs. Mentally, he’s in a really good space to keep evolving and I think that through the work he puts in, that builds the confidence.”

Radford of course saw this firsthand as Armstrong willed his Taipans to that win over Tasmania in Round 3, with the two sharing a nice moment of mutual recognition post-game. Armstrong credits Radford as one of his two most influential coaches growing up, along with dad Ben.

“He was massive and he really introduced me to the deeper understanding of basketball and the things you need to do to be good,” said Armstrong of Radford.

And Radford knows that there is a lot more to come from Armstrong.

“The growth in the last 12 months with his body, his shooting – the trajectory is positive. He’s just got to keep putting one foot in front of the other in the NBL. Hopefully he doesn’t do it against us again!”

Armstrong also has some newer influences by his side this season. One of those is a veteran of 225 NBL games and an NBL champion (2018), in Kyle Adnam. Armstrong has enjoyed getting to know his new teammate, but has also utilised their time together by picking Adnam’s brain.

The two chat about basketball but also life away from basketball, and Armstrong has already benefited from this.

“We talk about a lot of stuff,” Armstrong said.

“We went and got breakfast together ... and that was nice just to connect with a guy that I enjoy spending time with.”

Armstrong has picked Adnam’s brain on certain moves and finishes offensively, recognising that the veteran – who he respectfully said was not blessed with “physical advantages” – has had to be crafty. Adnam has little tricks and tips with timing, steps, bounces etc, a lot in pick and roll sets, that Armstrong finds valuable and can turn into weapons with his length and athleticism.

Taran Armstrong getting tricky with it!! 👀

Taran Armstrong puts Jordon Crawford in jail after the PNR and throws the no-look dime!

Watch the #NBL LIVE on ESPN! 📺 pic.twitter.com/3W4qEkMv56

— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) October 4, 2024

“We’ve spent quite a bit of time working on these specific finishes and footwork, hanging and slowing down steps. Really simple stuff, but effective. He’s a guy that’s had to do it the hard way, so I’m more than willing to listen to him,” Armstrong said of Adnam.

Adnam said last month that he’s been really impressed with how Armstrong thinks the game, how he applies what he’s learning so quickly and also how he works amongst the group.

“He’s picking my brain then going out and having 20, six and five, and making two dunks, which I’ve never been able to do,” Adnam said.

“So, for me, it’s his humbleness, it’s his ability to work – he comes in early and works, helps everyone. And for me, that’s where it starts. I think we all know the talent there is awesome, but for me the head on his shoulders has impressed me most.”

But the two have also connected about non-basketball things and with Armstrong’s recent mental shift in terms of embracing simple things, he’s enjoying chatting with Adnam who seems to have a similar perspective on life.

“Away from basketball, he’s a different energy,” Armstrong said of his teammate.

“He’s a guy who I think shares a bit of the similar life perspective stuff that I was talking about before. So, it’s good to talk to him about that. You know how basketball is just a game, there’s so much more to life, and how short your basketball window is and all these sorts of things.

“Having an appreciation for other things away from the game is super-important and knowing who you are. There are a lot of things we talk about and he’s a really good dude. We’re very grateful to have him [and] I’m glad he’s a part of the team as that leader, that veteran that we do need in this group because we’re super young.”

The lack of fear, the life perspective, the newfound mental approach and embracing those who can help him. Armstrong seems to have figured out what works for him and how to keep himself moving in the right direction.

Armstrong, who has missed the last four rounds, is due to return to the Taipans lineup on Sunday when Cairns faces the Phoenix in Melbourne. And when he hits the court, he’ll look to build on his early season success and help his team win again (the Taipans are yet to lose with Armstrong active).

He’ll play with no fear and believe in himself, because that’s just how he approaches his basketball at this stage. And given he’s in the second year of a two-year deal, he’ll continue to garner interest from rival NBL teams as well as overseas suitors.

Armstrong may not have been drafted this year, but at just 22, his basketball window is still wide open and there will surely be more NBA opportunities in his future. But his focus is on the Cairns Taipans and what’s immediately ahead of him, as opposed to what might be coming his way later.

“I don’t even really think about that, at least not right now,” he explained.

“It’s important to have things you’re working towards, but I think if you can narrow your focus a bit and take care of each individual day, look at it as its own thing and just keep improving. You’ll look up and you’ve had a week of good work and now you’ve had two weeks of good work and then you’ve had two months.

“And it adds up and then things take care of themselves, so there’s no point in putting energy into things that I have no control over right now. The things I can control is what I’ll take care of and those things will roll around when they happen.”

Of course, it’s nice to know that his story is far from written. If he could take himself back to those basketball stadiums in Burnie when he was five or six years old and tell his younger self that in 15 or 16 years’ time he’d be a starting point guard in the NBL, had already played for the Boomers and had a shot at making the NBA, he thinks that young boy would be pretty pleased, but also not surprised because of the belief he’s had in himself for such a long time.

But if he could give his younger self some advice, it would be this.

“I’d probably just tell him to stay with it. Keep believing in yourself, endure all the storms. It’s going to be far from the perfect journey that you might have envisioned, but keep doing the right things and you’ll get to the right spot. That’s what I’d probably say.”