The great Australian promise that wants to reach the NBA through Duke

Luke Paul has already made a decision about his college future. The Australian guard has announced his commitment to Duke for the 2027-28 season, according to ESPN, betting on one of the most recognized programs in the NCAA to continue his development and move closer to his goal of reaching the NBA.

The Cairns Taipans player explained that one of his main reasons for choosing Duke is precisely the confidence he has in their player development program. Paul is already projected as a lottery pick for the 2028 NBA Draft and believes that his college years could be crucial to achieving that goal.

Luke Paul is clear about his goal: reaching the NBA

The Australian guard has not hidden his aspirations for the coming years. Paul wants to become a lottery pick in the draft and believes that Duke can provide him with the necessary tools to achieve it.

"I want to reach the NBA and be drafted in the lottery, and I trust their player development program to do that," Paul told ESPN.

His commitment to Duke is thus directly linked to his professional goals. The player will join the program for the 2027-28 season after currently continuing his training with the Cairns Taipans, where he competes within the Next Stars program of the NBL.

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Duke stands out among other options

Paul did not only have the option to choose Duke. The Australian guard also received offers from USC, Auburn, Arkansas, Arizona State, Louisville, and Florida.

Ultimately, he decided to bet on Duke and the development program the university offers. The goal of reaching the NBA and being selected in the lottery of the 2028 Draft has been one of the factors that influenced his choice.

The commitment makes Paul the third Australian player to join Duke. Before him, Jack White and Tyrese Proctor also represented Australia in the program.

The third Australian in Duke's history

Paul's arrival thus expands the Australian presence at Duke. The guard will follow in the footsteps of White and Proctor, becoming the third player from Australia to join the program.

For now, Paul remains focused on his current stint with the Cairns Taipans and in the Next Stars program of the NBL. His next big step will be Duke, where he plans to play during the 2027-28 season, with an eye on the 2028 NBA Draft.

Paul's projection already places him as a potential lottery pick, and the player himself has made it clear that this is precisely the objective he wants to achieve. His commitment to Duke is largely due to his confidence that the program can help him make that leap.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La gran promesa australiana que quiere llegar a la NBA por la vía de Duke