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\u2019s NBL27 Season.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The other big influence, according to CODE Sports\u2019 reporting, was an NBA star. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 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,\u201d Paul told CODE Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt 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.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n