Paul chooses Far North and Forde

The Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans have secured one of Australia’s brightest young talents, signing 17-year-old guard Luke Paul as a Next Star on a multi-year deal.

In January, Paul became the youngest-ever athlete to sign with the league’s Next Star program and despite being courted by multiple clubs, chose Cairns to begin his career.  

"I talked to multiple teams, but the pitch that the Taipans gave to me was hard to turn down," Luke Paul said.

"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, and it’s all really exciting."

Part of the pitch that excited the Western Australian was the Taipans’ track record of developing talent, which includes Taran Armstrong, Keanu Pinder and Bul Kuol.

Another convincing element was the club’s strong 2026-27 core, which includes Boomers Jack McVeigh and Reyne Smith.

"Fordey has a proven track record of developing players and getting the best out of everyone," he said.

"All players want to win in the game of basketball, and Fordey’s not going to bring guys in that don't want to win.

“I also don’t want to go into an environment where no one cares about me, and I know that won’t be the case with Cairns and Fordey, who I know are going to push me and help me get where I want to be.

“Each time we step on the court, we’re all going to push each other, and help get Cairns back to playoff basketball, which I’m confident we can do with the likes of Jack and Reyne already on the roster.”

Head Coach Adam Forde, who recently re-signed with the Taipans on a new two-year extension, is excited to get to work alongside Paul and help the 17-year-old achieve his NBA dream, while comparing him to other top Australian point guards.

“Luke Paul's exciting, he's just turned 17, and he’s massive at 6’6",” Head Coach Adam Forde said.

“He’s got big hands and really good vision, so there are obviously similarities with him and the likes of Josh Giddey and Taran Armstrong.

“His ability to navigate the screen, look for his teammates and pick his moments makes him an exciting prospect.”

Paul, a product of the Perth Wildcats Academy and Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence, will lead Australia in the FIBA U17 World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey, later this month.

Following that event, the talented teen will head to Far North Queensland to begin preparations for his rookie season in the NBL.

“He's got a big future, and it's a two-year plan that we're looking at Luke with,” Coach Forde said.

“During those two years, we’re planning how we can progress him to the point where he’s NBA-ready.

“We’re fortunate that Luke, his family and team are trusting us to take care of that process for him.

“He's of the right mindset, too. What I love about Luke as a Next Star, he knows that nothing's promised, nothing's given, and he's going to have to earn everything.”

Paul becomes the third Next Star to make the move to Cairns, with former-Taipans Mojave King (2020-21) and Bobi Klintman (2023-24) also joining the club before being selected in the NBA Draft.