Nearly six months after signing with the NBL Next Stars program, it was announced this week that rising talent Luke Paul is joining the Cairns Taipans for the Hungry Jack’s NBL27 Season.

The 17-year-old explained that the attraction of playing under proven developmental coach Adam Forde and alongside Australian Boomers Jack McVeigh and Reyne Smith were big factors in his decision to sign with the Far North Queensland franchise.

The other big influence, according to CODE Sports’ reporting, was an NBA star.

“It’s pretty cool to be compared to a guy like Josh Giddey, obviously, he came through the Next Stars program, and I talked to him, and he gave me some advice on the program,” Paul told CODE Sports.

“It was just like some advice on his decision-making on what team he went to when he was in the position I was in, and what he was looking for on a team and what went into choosing a team.

“Obviously, Josh is an incredible player, and I take a lot of his playmaking game and that side of the game out of his game and put it into mine.”

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In January, Western Australia talent Paul etched his place in history as the youngest ever athlete to sign with the prestigious Next Stars program.

Giddey played one season with the Adelaide 36ers during the Hungry Jack’s 2020-21 campaign, averaging 10.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game, to secure the League’s Rookie of the Year trophy.

The current Chicago Bulls star is one of six players from the Next Stars program to be drafted in the first round across the last six NBA drafts, including LaMelo Ball (2020), Giddey (2021), Ousmane Dieng (2022) and Alex Sarr (2024), all being selected inside the lottery.

Read the full story here >> Inside the pitch that sold NBL Next Star Luke Paul on joining Cairns Taipans