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NBL TO FAST TRACK NEXT STARS OF THE NBA

02/03/2018
   

 
NBL TO FAST TRACK NEXT STARS OF THE NBA
  
 
The National Basketball League (NBL) has launched an innovative new player development program to fast track future stars of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
 
Under its ‘Next Stars’ program to be introduced for the 2018-19 season, the NBL will contract overseas players and develop them in Australia to give them the best chance of being drafted into the NBA.
 
The initiative follows the drafting of Terrance Ferguson by NBA team Oklahoma City Thunder after he elected not to go to college in the US, instead spending the 2016/17 NBL season with the Adelaide 36ers straight out of high school. He went on to be drafted number 21 in the First Round of the 2017 NBA Draft.
 
NBL Owner and Executive Chairman Larry Kestelman said: “Unlike other countries where players and agents deal with clubs, the NBL will directly contract the players. We will make sure the players get the development they need as part of the program with our clubs, giving them the best chance of success.
 
“The NBL provides strong visibility back to the US. Our league is closest to the NBA in terms of style of play and game day presentation. We will work to build a program to provide the right access to NBA teams and scouts alike.
 
“While they are in the NBL we will work with the players to help them develop an acute understanding of the life of a professional basketballer on and off the court and ensure they are equipped to make the transition to their professional careers. “
 
Next Stars players must be eligible to nominate for the NBA Draft, and will be hand-picked by a panel of experts to be appointed by the NBL.  Once selected, the pool of Next Stars players will enter into a contract with the league which will then place the Next Stars in NBL teams. Further details of how they will be placed will be announced shortly.
 
Those players selected will play at least one season with an NBL Club before nominating for the NBA Draft the following year (or potentially the season after).  
 
Kestelman said the program would be funded by the NBL in its first year, so that clubs could add an extra player to the 11 players currently on their rosters without any significant burden on them financially.  Any transfer fees that may be payable would be shared between the league and the relevant club.
 
NBL Chief Executive Jeremy Loeliger said: "The NBL is considered one of the best leagues in the world – it’s a grown man league and Next Stars will give these up and coming players an opportunity to create a name for themselves on the way to being drafted into the NBA.
 
"As Terrance Ferguson demonstrated, there are guys coming directly out of high school who have NBA aspirations and are good enough to be drafted. This will give them the chance to develop in a world class league in the NBL and push their claims for the NBA."
 
 “The system affords players who do not wish to go to college or cut their college careers short, the opportunity to demonstrate to international scouts they have what it takes to play professional basketball against fully grown men in one of the best professional leagues in the world where there is a long history of developing young, up and coming stars destined for the NBA,” Loeliger said.
 
“Importantly we understand that these are young adults who need to develop their life skills as well as their basketball skills. We will ensure they are equipped with the skills needed to succeed on the big stage while also having the chance to earn a professional living and pursue other endorsements that wouldn’t be available to them as college athletes.
 
“And they can do this in a familiar culture and with an attractive lifestyle – and all during an Australian summer. For a young athlete looking to prepare themselves for an NBA career it doesn’t get much better.
 
"We have a record number of Australians playing in the NBA right now and Australian basketball is probably more highly regarded around the world than it has ever been," Loeliger said.
 
"We see this an opportunity to further strengthen the talent pool of the NBL and enhance its standing both domestically and globally."
 

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