League Explores New Team

Friday, February 10, 2023

With expansion talk reaching fever pitch in recent months, it’s been revealed the NBL is exploring a bold extension of its innovative Next Stars program with the formation of a standalone team.

According to a Newscorp report, young talent from around the globe could come together on a new “Next Stars” team, along with some experienced players, in order to grow the League and attract more international fans.

"Next Stars has been a huge success and we continue to explore new ways to evolve the programme to continue to make the NBL an attractive proposition to the best young talent from around the world as part of their preparations for the NBA Draft," NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said in response to the report.

"That includes looking at ways to continue to scale the initiative and there are many different forms that could take."

The NBL’s ground-breaking Next Stars program has produced three lottery picks in the last three NBA drafts including Ousmane Dieng (pick 11, 2022), Josh Giddey (pick 6, 2021) and LaMelo Ball (pick 3, 2020).

New Zealand Breakers youngster Rayan Rupert is projected to be a first round pick later this year, while Melbourne’s Ariel Hukporti is also expected to make it to the NBA after his comeback season with United in 2023/24.