“Promising” Conversations with Next Stars

NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger has revealed conversations around potential NBL Next Stars for next season are “really promising”.

The comments come after Newscorp revealed projected number one NBA draft pick Victor Wembanyama came close to joining the Next Stars program, an endorsement of the strong pathway the NBL is to the NBA.

Wembanyama chose to stay in his home country France to play for Metropolitans 92, to remain close to his parents and family.

As attention turns to who could join the Next Stars program next season, Loeliger is optimistic the NBL will be able to attract some highly touted prospects.

“I’m still really confident in the program and our recruitment conversations for next season are really promising,” Loeliger told Newscorp.

“I think the key to the program’s success in the longer term is having that good mix of American, European and Australian talent.”

New Zealand Breakers wunderkind Rayan Rupert is a Next Star this season and is projected to be a first round pick in this year’s NBA Draft.

The Next Stars program has produced NBA lottery picks in three successive years including Ousmane Dieng (pick 11, 2022), Josh Giddey (2021, pick 6), and LaMelo Ball (2020, pick 3).

Six Next Stars have progress to an NBA roster, including Dieng, Ball, Giddey, RJ Hampton, Brian Bowen Jr and Didi Louzada.