Next Star set for stint on sidelines

The Cairns Taipans announced on Tuesday their NBL Next Star, Luke Paul, has sustained an ankle injury during a club pre-season training session.

The 17-year-old guard underwent scans, which revealed minor ligament damage that will sideline him for 6-8 weeks.

The West Australia talent, who is currently in Melbourne with the Boomers' player-led camp, will now miss the 2026 CODE Sports NBL Blitz in Bendigo, with the club aiming to have him return in the early part of the Hungry Jack's NBL27 Season.

"Obviously it's been annoying [sustaining the injury], especially as we had just started pre-season training," Paul said.

"But these things happen to professional athletes all around the world, so you've just got to look at the benefits of it and see which other ways I can improve without being on the court.

"I've been in the gym a lot more over the past few days, working on both my upper body and lower body strength, where I can.

"I've also been talking to people [both in Cairns and here at this Australian camp] about the best way to prepare for the season and how it's going to go."

Despite the injury, the 2026 FIBA U17 World Cup All-Star Five selection is thoroughly enjoying his time in Cairns and can't wait to make his Taipans debut.

"I've been loving my time in Cairns; it's been really awesome," he said.

"We've got a good group of boys up there, and obviously Fordey (Adam Forde) has put a strong group together. The guys have been very welcoming."

After committing in January to become an NBL Next Star, etching his place in history as the youngest-ever athlete to sign with the prestigious program, Paul signed with the Taipans in June.

The Next Stars program has seen seven players drafted in the first round across the last seven NBA drafts, including LaMelo Ball (2020), Josh Giddey (2021), Ousmane Dieng (2022) and Alex Sarr (2024), all being selected inside the lottery.