Noi Hopeful of NBA Draft Dream

Cairns Taipans youngster Kouat Noi remains hopeful of being selected in next month’s NBA Draft.

Noi has attracted NBA interest in the lead-up to the draft and has confirmed he is still talking to teams less than a month before the picks are made.

While November 18 promises to be an anxious day for the 22-year-old, he believes he will achieve his NBA goal one way or another.

“The draft is creeping up right now so I’m getting a bit nervous but as I continue to get better my confidence will build up,” Noi said.

“(I am) still doing NBA interviews, I’ve done interviews with a couple of teams so far. One of my dreams is to be an NBA All-Star and I will play in the NBA one day…it’s only a matter of time.”

Taipans coach Mike Kelly added the club has received multiple inquiries about Noi.

“We have talked to a lot of NBA teams that have called and asked about him,” Kelly said.

The Athletic draft expert Sam Vecenie has Noi included in his top 100 big board at number 94.

Cairns has another budding NBA prospect in NBL Next Star Mojave King and Noi is looking forward to helping him fulfil his potential.  

“He is a very talented kid and as he continues to build his body and compete against the older guys here, I think he will improve a lot,” Noi said of King.

“Just keep pushing him, that’s what I am here for and I am excited for the young kid.”