Hyped Aussie teen takes major step towards looming NBA career
Updated . First published at
A 17-year-old guard from the Cairns Taipans is taking big strides towards a career in the NBA, announcing his commitment to Duke University on Friday.
Luke Paul, a 201cm guard, will be heading to the US at the end of the 2026-27 NBL season to join the Blue Devils in their 2027-28 college basketball campaign.
Luke Paul of the Taipans is seen warming up. Getty Images
The move will mark the next step in getting eyes on his skills from NBA recruiters as he is widely considered to be a potential first-round pick for the 2028 draft.
Paul revealed his upcoming move on Friday, admitting he only needed one phone call with Duke’s coaching staff to decide it was the right place for him.
“I want to go to a place that is going to help me develop my player performance and get me to the next level, which is the NBA,” he told ESPN.
“I want to get to the NBA and be a lottery pick. I trust in (Duke’s) player development to get me there.
“After the call with coach (Jon) Scheyer, it just felt like a place where it was going to be home for me. All the coaches were on the call, and it just felt like they had the best interests in me as a player and me as a person as well.
“I put trust in them and they put trust in me that we’d be able to do something special. I went away from that call with a lot of confidence that it was right for me.
“I just want to say thanks to coach Scheyer and the rest of the coaching staff.”
Paul made clear that the first item he wants to tick off his list when arriving at Duke will be to win the national championship.
Earlier this year, Paul became the youngest athlete to ink a multi-year deal as part of the NBL’s Next Stars program.
The Next Stars program has produced several talents who have been picked up in the NBA draft, including Josh Giddey, LaMelo Ball and Alex Sarr.
Paul is yet to make his debut for the Taipans in the NBL, having suffered an ankle injury during the team’s pre-season that he is still recovering from.
Prior to that injury, he was named in the FIBA U17 World Cup’s All-Star Five after he helped Australia win bronze at the tournament in July.
The Taipans will take on Melbourne United in their next game on Saturday.
