Legend, Commentator: 'Next Stars Program Unrivalled'

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

The Australian sporting public is yet to fully comprehend the significance of the NBL Next Stars program, according to basketball legend Andrew Gaze.

Gaze’s comments come after the Perth Wildcats’ signing of 18-year-old French phenom Alexandre Sarr, and confirmation that Mojave King and former Breaker Rayan Rupert have been invited to join the NBA Draft Combine.

Gaze – who won seven NBL MVP awards, 15 All-NBL First Team selections, two NBL titles and spent time with the Washington Bullets and San Antonio Spurs in the NBA – says the level of talent the program is attracting is astounding.

“You think of LaMelo Ball who was the number three pick, Ousmane Dieng with the Breakers at number 10, Josh Giddey who was the number six pick. You’re talking top, top, top end [talent],” Gaze said.

“The general sports fan here in Australia, I don’t think, is fully across the magnitude of what this means.”

“You think about any sport, this is probably the most high-profile, big ticket pathway program ... no other sport in Australia has a pathway program like this,” co-host Andy Maher added.

Sarr has joined Melbourne’s Ariel Hukporti and Illawarra’s AJ Johnson as confirmed Next Stars for the NBL24 season, and will become the Perth Wildcats’ first ever player from the program.