The Cairns Taipans have secured the services of 17-year-old Australian basketball prodigy Luke Paul through the NBL's Next Stars program. ## What happened?
Paul, a highly touted guard from Western Australia, will begin his professional career in far north Queensland, adding depth to the Taipans' roster. He was officially unveiled as a Next Star during NBL HoopsFest in January, drawing comparisons to Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey due to his 6'6 frame and natural playmaking ability.
Why it matters for Cairns Taipans
The move marks the Taipans' first Next Star since Bobi Klintman, who featured for the club during the 2023–24 season before being selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2024 NBA Draft. Cairns is an ideal landing spot for Paul, with head coach Adam Forde having built a strong reputation for developing young talent, including players like Keanu Pinder, Mojave King, and Taran Armstrong.
What comes next?
Paul is expected to receive meaningful minutes in a system that consistently backs youth, with the recent addition of veteran Shaun Bruce set to play a key mentoring role. He is currently part of Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence program and competing in NBL1 East, where he averages 8.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in just over 22 minutes per game.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Points | 8.5 |
| Rebounds | 4.1 |
| Assists | 3.5 |
| Minutes | 22 |
The Cairns Taipans' recent form has been mixed, with a record of 1W-0D-2L in their last three games, including a loss to Adelaide 75-99 on 2025-01-19. As of 26 Jun 2026, Paul will turn his attention to the Under-17 World Cup, where he is expected to feature for Australia against Côte d’Ivoire, Venezuela, and Serbia in Group D, with the tournament tipping off in Istanbul on 27 June.