Former NBL import Tanner Groves went from being cut by his first professional team in Poland to waiting in a Warsaw hotel, unsure of what his future held.
But a random Instagram message set him on a journey that would take him across the globe, eventually landing him in Cairns.
The former Cairns Taipans import appeared on Episode 5 of NBL: Alumni, where past imports share stories from their time in Australia.
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Groves began his professional career after going undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, earning a Summer League opportunity with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
His first full professional contract came with Polish Basketball League club Anwil Włocławek, but after just 15 appearances, the club decided to release him – an experience he had never faced before.
“It was right after Christmas, like a day or two after Christmas, they cut me,” Groves said.
“They were like, ‘you’re going to play this last game for us on New Year’s Day, and then after that you’re gone.’ So I was like, all right.”
After playing one final game, Groves was allowed to remain in his apartment briefly before being told a replacement was arriving.
“They let me stay for a few days, but eventually they were like, ‘yeah, we’ve got our new guy coming in,’” he said.
“They said, ‘we can fly you home or you can do whatever you want to do.’”
Now without a contract, Groves faced a difficult decision: wait in Europe while his agent searched for a new opportunity, or return home – a tough blow for any rookie early in their career.
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“My agent was working for me, trying to get me a job, but he was like, ‘yeah, we’re still kind of waiting,’” Groves said.
“I had the team manager drive me and my fiancée to the airport in Warsaw, and we lived in a hotel for close to a week.”
Each morning brought the same uncertainty.
“We’d go down every morning and I’d be like, ‘yeah, can I add one more night?’ It was crazy.”
After nearly a week of waiting, Groves’ next opportunity came from an unexpected source – an Instagram direct message.
“I got a DM from some random guy saying, ‘Hey, I’ve got an opportunity in China. What’s your agent’s number?’”
“I let my agent know and he was like, ‘yeah, this guy’s actually legit.’”
Soon after, an offer arrived.
“As you can imagine, China has a lot of money,” Groves said.
“Going from Poland as a rookie, getting cut, and then having a team in China offering me crazy money – I was like, this is insane.”
Groves signed with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association, but his stint lasted just five games before he was released for the second time in his career. Fortunately, another opportunity was already lined up, this time with Rasta Vechta in Germany, where he played 17 games and described it as one of the best environments he’s been part of.
“My favourite thing about Germany was my teammates,” he said.
“They were all around my age, and I’d played against some of them in college. There were a lot of connections.”
After enduring two releases, Groves felt a renewed sense of freedom.
“I was a lot more comfortable. I was like, ‘man, I’ve been cut twice – I’ve got nothing to lose,’” he said.
“I had great teammates, a great coach and great people around me. The whole organisation was amazing, which made the transition really easy.”
Despite finding stability in Germany, Groves’ path eventually led him to the NBL. College connections from his time at Eastern Washington – including Illawarra Hawks forward Mason Peatling and Tyler Harvey – gave him insight into the league, which had long been on his radar.
“I had a lot of NBL connections from Eastern Washington,” he said.
“Obviously Mason Peatling, Tyler Robertson, and Tyler Harvey – there’s just a crazy pipeline of Australians and NBL guys.”
Conversations with Harvey helped sell Australia’s appeal.
“He told me Australia is a great place to live. The basketball is top-tier, but the lifestyle is incredible for an overseas player.”
A phone call from Cairns head coach Adam Forde ultimately sealed the deal.
“My agent texted me and said, ‘Cairns are really interested – coach Forde’s going to call you,’” Groves said.
“Everything he talked about lined up with my goals. He had a perfect plan laid out for me.”
Groves signed with the Cairns Taipans in April 2024 and went on to play 22 games, averaging 13.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 0.9 blocks.
Now playing for the Saga Ballooners in Japan’s B.League, Groves hasn’t ruled out an NBL return – something fans would happily welcome after he became one of the league’s most likeable imports.
“I wouldn’t say I’m closing the door anywhere,” he said.
“My wife and I talk about it all the time. We absolutely loved Cairns and loved playing in Australia. There’s definitely still a window there if the situation makes sense.”
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