NBA fire still burning for JackJumpers star

The Tasmania JackJumpers made one of the biggest splashes in the off-season by bringing home one of the state's brightest young stars in Taran Armstrong.

After beginning his career with the Cairns Taipans, the 24-year-old signed a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors before spending the end of last season in Dubai, placing him as the only Australian on a EuroLeague roster at the time.

With the star guard locked in to lead the JackJumpers in NBL27, his small stint in the NBA has him hungry for another opportunity.

"[I'm] always striving to level up and get better… the NBA is the pinnacle of basketball so of course I want to get there," Armstrong said on SEN Tassie.

"I'm still young enough, where if I do a really good job and find my way through, then I could still have a long NBA career potentially.

"It's not something I've put to bed, but it's not something at the forefront of my mind either."

Armstrong's rapid rise since leaving college early to join the Taipans in 2023 has quickly seen him become one of the most sought-after local talents from around the league.

As the NBL continues to show its ability to give players opportunities in the NBA, he believes that chance resides in the work and taking it in his stride.

"It's one of those things where you have to live day by day, continue to improve, and those things will happen organically," he said.

"They aren't things that you can manufacture or force to happen; either it will or it won't, and I'll work as hard as I can and see if it does."

For now, his mind is focused on representing a state that has wrapped their arms around the JackJumpers since day one, and a fanbase that he's already familiar with, having been on an opposition team in MyState Bank Arena.

"I can't wait [to play there]. It was my favourite place to play when I played for Cairns," he added.

"It was always special coming home, and I'd have a lot of family come along. I always got a good reception too, and the crowd got around me, which I was grateful for.

"It will feel a little different when I'm repping the green with Tassie on my chest; I think that's going to be a special moment for me personally and for my family.

"Hopefully I can snag enough tickets for everyone."

Tasmania's first home game of the Hungry Jack's NBL27 Season is on Monday, September 21 against South East Melbourne.