Cairns boy Williams on returning to tackle the Taipans

Returning to Cairns was not something Adelaide 36ers Assistant Coach Kerry Williams had given too much thought to before this week’s trip to face the Taipans.

Williams played 105 NBL games for Cairns between 2008 and 2013 before taking on various roles in the administration and basketball departments at the club.

Born and raised in the town, he takes pride in his connection to the area, and his playing and coaching record with the Taipans.

“Cairns is where my family is,” Williams told Adelaide 36ers Media shortly after landing back in his hometown.

“It’s where everything I've known is. My grandparents are buried here, my father's buried here.

“I went to primary school and high school here. I obviously got to represent the Taipans as a player and as a coach, and work in the office.

“It’s where I started and got all of my opportunities.

“I won’t call it home anymore because Adelaide is home now, but Cairns obviously is a special place in my life.”

As for facing his former mentor, Taipans coach Adam Forde, and sitting on the opposition bench at the Cairns Convention Centre on Thursday night, Williams admits it will be a strange feeling.

“It’s going to be weird walking out there and being on the other side of the bench, but you know being a competitor, that’s number one,” he said.

“Adelade is my team and I want to win, so I’ll do everything I can to help our team to win.

“I miss my family and all my relatives who are in Cairns but once I step out there, I don’t know how I’ll feel but I know I just want to play a role in a win.”

After four seasons as an assistant coach at the Taipans and stints in the coaching staff for the Australian Boomers, Williams made the bold move to Adelaide, hoping to further himself in a new environment.

It’s a move he’s enjoyed already.

“I spent my whole life in Cairns so I'm stepping out and learning something different.

“I learnt so much from my time in Cairns and from Fordy and everyone there, but Adelaide is a major market and obviously learning from Mike now and being part of the club, I’ve learnt a lot more and seen a lot more in both the office and in the basketball space.”

The game gets underway at 7:00pm ACST / 7:30pm AEST.