NBL Next Stars: How the NBL Became a Pathway to the NBA Draft
What the NBL Next Stars program is, how it works, and the players who used a season in Australia or New Zealand to launch NBA careers, from LaMelo Ball to Alex Sarr.
Updated
Next Stars is the NBL's program for young, NBA-draft-eligible prospects. Instead of spending a year in US college basketball, a player can sign with an NBL club and spend their pre-draft season playing professionally against grown men, with NBA scouts watching every game.
How the program works
- Who it's for: international prospects, typically teenagers projected to be picked in an upcoming NBA Draft.
- How it fits the roster: Next Stars spots sit alongside a club's regular import places, so taking on a prospect doesn't cost a team one of its established imports.
- What players get: a professional salary, a full season of games under FIBA rules, and a spotlight: NBA teams send scouts to Australia and New Zealand throughout the season.
- What happens next: most Next Stars declare for the NBA Draft at the end of their season. Some come back to the NBL.
Why it started
The idea grew out of Terrance Ferguson's 2016–17 season with the Adelaide 36ers. The American guard skipped college, played a year in the NBL, and was drafted in the first round in 2017. The league formalised the pathway as Next Stars from the 2018–19 season, and it has been a regular part of the NBL since.
Notable Next Stars
| Player | NBL club | NBA Draft |
|---|---|---|
| LaMelo Ball | Illawarra Hawks (2019–20) | No. 3 pick, 2020 |
| RJ Hampton | NZ Breakers (2019–20) | First round, 2020 |
| Ousmane Dieng | NZ Breakers (2021–22) | No. 11 pick, 2022 |
| Alex Sarr | Perth Wildcats (2023–24) | No. 2 pick, 2024 |
| AJ Johnson | Illawarra Hawks (2023–24) | First round, 2024 |
The NBL has also launched plenty of homegrown talent. Josh Giddey was not a Next Star (he is Australian), but his 2020–21 season with the Adelaide 36ers took him to sixth pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and showed the league's value as a proving ground for local players too.
Why Next Stars are worth watching
The NBL is a physical, well-coached league full of experienced professionals, so it is a genuine test. Some prospects dominate; others struggle and still get drafted on potential. Either way, you are watching a future NBA player learn in real time.
Every NBL player, Next Stars included, has a page on this site with their season averages, game log, shot chart and percentile profile against the rest of the league. Start from the NBL players list, or put two players side by side with the player comparison tool.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NBL Next Stars program?
Next Stars is the NBL's program for young NBA draft prospects. Players sign with an NBL club for a season of professional basketball before the NBA Draft, as an alternative to US college basketball.
Which NBA players came through NBL Next Stars?
Well-known Next Stars include LaMelo Ball (Illawarra Hawks), RJ Hampton (NZ Breakers), Ousmane Dieng (NZ Breakers), Alex Sarr (Perth Wildcats) and AJ Johnson (Illawarra Hawks).
Did LaMelo Ball play in the NBL?
Yes. LaMelo Ball played for the Illawarra Hawks in the 2019–20 NBL season as a Next Star, then was selected third overall in the 2020 NBA Draft.