Luke Paul: ‘It wasn’t a hard decision’

The newest recruit of the Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans may only be 17 years old, but the highly regarded Next Star has revealed that it wasn’t a hard decision on where to sign.

First committing to the program in January, Luke Paul was heavily targeted by many clubs across the league, including with his hometown Wildcats, but Cairns’ pitch left a lasting mark with the young guard.

“I walked away from the call going ‘I really like this place, and I really like what they’re putting together’, so it wasn’t a hard decision,” explained Luke Paul.

“Fordey has proven to get guys to a higher level, with Taran Armstrong and Keanu Pinder, and he’s told me what kind of roster he’s putting together so it got me very excited.

“He’s not going to bring guys in that don’t want to win, so I think everyone’s going to push each other at training and we want to get back to playoff basketball, and Fordey in particular.”

Arriving in Cairns and ready to work with the 2023 NBL Coach of the Year, Paul will find a tough environment waiting for him under his new Head Coach.

Known for his aggressive coaching style and willingness to push his players to their limits, Forde’s approach is not for the faint hearted, including encouraging players to compete for court time.

However, the Next Star is ready to embrace it as he prepares to take the step to the NBA.

“He’s talked to me about it before and what I’ve seen on TV of what he’s like, but I don’t want to come into an environment where no one cares about me,” Paul said.

“I want to go into that Taipans environment where Fordey is going to push me every single day because he knows where I can get to and I know where I want to get to, so he’s going to get the best out of me.

“And knowing that Jack McVeigh is not going to take it light on me – even though he’s been through a different pathway to me – that he’s still going to push me every single day.

“If I ask him to work out, he’s always going to be there for me, so I know he’s going to push me every single day.”

Preparing to arrive in Cairns next month after a whirlwind 18 months, with the teenager going from Perth and the Wildcats Academy to Canberra’s Centre of Excellence, and now to Turkey for the U17 FIBA World Cup, it hasn’t given Paul much time to reflect.

“I don’t really get much time to reflect on what age I am,” Paul said.

“I just kind of take everything on board but I know the position I’m in and I’m very fortunate and grateful that I get to be in the position I’m in.”

The Next Star will lead his country at the U17 World Cup from 27 June, before travelling to Cairns to begin his professional career.