WA teenager Luke Paul has been described as a future NBA first round draft pick after becoming the youngest person ever to sign with the NBL Next Stars program.
Paul, 16, walked away from the millions of dollars on offer to play in the US college system amid a belief that remaining in Australia and developing in the NBL will make him a better player.
NBL General Manager of Next Stars Recruitment Liam Santamaria told The West Australian that NBA clubs were already excited by what he could become.
“They got a really good look at him at the NBA Academy Showcase in Abu Dhabi a couple of months ago. One scout at the NBA Academy Showcase event said he was the best basketball player there,” Santamaria said.
“He said that he may not be the fastest, the most athletic or the tallest, but in all the different things he does and the way he sees and plays the game, he was the best basketball player. That feedback from people who have the job of finding NBA talent givens us great confidence.”
Paul made his name playing for Willetton and then moved to Canberra to be part of Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence.
A 198cm point-guard, Paul has looked up to former NBL Next Star players Josh Giddey and LaMelo Ball after watching their success in the NBA.
He also took inspiration from watching former Perth Wildcat Luke Travers get drafted and playing for Cleveland.
While Paul could have accepted lucrative contracts to play at US colleges, he said that wouldn’t have helped him to become the best player possible.
“The money has changed a lot in the college program, but I don’t think it’s the money for me,” he said.
“I love the game of basketball. If I was chasing the money, obviously I’d choose college. But the NBL program and the NBL Next Stars program is such a program where I get to develop against professionals every day.
“The money has changed, but the money is not for me. If I get good enough, the money will come to me.”
Paul and the NBL will spend the next six months deciding which club he should join for next season. He will spend two years with that club before becoming eligible for the NBA draft in 2028. Santamaria said it was important to see what each team looks like before committing to where he should play.
Paul will have enormous hype around him as chases his NBA dream. But he spent time with former NBA superstar Allen Iverson during HoopsFest on Friday and said that taught him a lot.
“I asked him what it was like being the number one draft pick,” he said.
“He said pressure is when your family is sick or you can’t put food on the table. He said why not have the ball in your hands at the end of the game? You’ve worked so hard for this moment. So, why not? That was really cool to have a one-on-one meeting and have a chat with him.”
