NBL Has Prepared Me For NBA: Hampton

RJ Hampton says his season playing in the Hungry Jack’s NBL was the ideal preparation as he gears up for next week’s NBA Draft.
 
After playing as an NBL Next Star for the SKY Sport New Zealand Breakers in the 2019/20 NBL Season, Hampton is expected to be a first round pick in next week’s NBA Draft.
 
In an interview with NBL Overtime, the 19-year-old said playing in the NBL had put him ahead of other potential top draftees. “I think it has helped me tremendously,” Hampton said. 
 
“Playing with those guys I played with on my team, playing against those great guards in the NBL…I think I’m one-two steps ahead of those guys coming out of college.
 
“I know certain actions, I know certain defensive schemes to where when the coach does put me in or when I do step on that floor on December 22^nd, it’s not a huge learning curve.
 
“Being able to learn from Scotty Hopson, Corey Webster, Sek Henry, that’s only going to help me.”

Fellow NBL Next Star LaMelo Ball is also set to be selected in the first round after his stand-out season with the Illawarra Hawks where he won the NBL Rookie of the Year. The NBA Draft will be staged next Thursday (Australian time).