NBA Scouts Growing Eyes on NBL

In hopes to find the next Josh Giddey or LaMelo Ball, the number of NBA scouts flying over from the U.S to NBL games is heavily increasing.

Australian born and bred Giddey was the sixth pick in the NBA Draft in 2021, while Ball was the third pick for the Charlotte Hornets in 2020. Both grew their NBA draft stocks immensely while playing in the NBL’s Next Stars program.

The NBL grown youngsters have emerged as stars in the NBA, and Indiana Pacers recruiting boss Ryan Carr feels the NBL has become a breeding ground for NBA talent.

"It won’t be long until every NBA team has connections over here, just with the way that the NBL is growing and the improvement in the way players are getting better,” Carr told Newscorp.

“The number of good players per capita, coming from down here, makes it absolutely worthwhile to be in touch and make sure we know what’s going on as the younger guys develop.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Best game of the season for 18-year old French wing Rayan Rupert in front of a bunch of NBA scouts as his New Zealand Breakers clinched a playoff berth in the Australian NBL. Showed some impressive shot-creation chops and played his usual lockdown defense with his 7&#39;3 wingspan. <a href="https://t.co/lSEv0Vydv3">pic.twitter.com/lSEv0Vydv3</a></p>&mdash; Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) <a href="https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1620119709420253184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Carr added the elite coaching and team-first attitude of the NBL benefits players making the jump to the NBA.

The NBL23 season could see a host of players make their way to the NBA.

Next Star Rayan Rupert from the Breakers is projected to be a first round draft pick, while reports have indicated Cleveland Cavaliers draftee Luke Travers, Brady Manek, Keanu Pinder, Xavier Cooks and Robert Franks have all been on the agenda of NBA scouts.