NBL Next Star Didi Louzada Set for NBA

Monday, April 19, 2021

Didi Louzada is set to become the latest NBL Next Star to join the ranks of the NBA.The Sydney Kings have granted permission for Louzada to travel to the United States as he prepares to join the New Orleans Pelicans. The Brazilian guard was drafted with the 35th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks before his rights were traded to the Pelicans and he subsequently signed with the NBL’s Next Stars program.

Didi Louzada is set to become the latest NBL Next Star to join the ranks of the NBA.

The Sydney Kings have granted permission for Louzada to travel to the United States as he prepares to join the New Orleans Pelicans. The Brazilian guard was drafted with the 35th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks before his rights were traded to the Pelicans and he subsequently signed with the NBL’s Next Stars program.

NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said: “We congratulate Didi on everything he has achieved in the NBL and wish him every success for what we all hope will be the start of an exciting career in the NBA.

"Didi came to the NBL to develop his game, physical attributes and his English speaking skills and all three have gone from strength to strength in the time he’s been in Australia.

“It’s a tremendous credit to him, the Kings and the league that he will now take the next step into the NBA. His rapid development in the NBL has not gone unnoticed by NBA teams and other NBA draft hopefuls as interest in the Next Stars program continues to grow.

“Didi will become the fourth NBL Next Star to progress to the NBA after Brian Bowen (Sydney Kings-Indiana Pacers), LaMelo Ball (Illawarra Hawks- Charlotte Hornets) and RJ Hampton (New Zealand-Orlando Magic). LaMelo, who was taken at pick three in the NBA Draft, has shown during his outstanding rookie season in the NBA that the NBL was ideal preparation for the rigours of the world’s biggest league.

“They follow a number of other players who’ve also successfully transitioned from the NBL to the NBA in recent seasons and there’s no doubt that the NBL is now one of the best leagues in the world outside of the NBA.

“The Next Stars program, which this season features Josh Giddey, Mojave King and Justinian Jessup, gives aspiring NBA players an opportunity to develop on and off the court in a world class professional league in the NBL. We are strongly committed to continuing to invest in the program with the objective of developing more NBA players over the coming seasons.”