Hoops

RJ Hampton out for 4 weeks

oh ahhh yeahh Hampton is quitting

Rumour has it that Ball was offered to multiple teams, including Cairns. They turned it down. Seems like a smart move.

As long as this isn't used by the (AFL) media for a good laugh at our expense (again)

Terrence Ferguson was recruited by 1 NBL coach as an athletically talented but underdeveloped kid from high school, so he could skip College and get drafted after 1 season. He plays out the season, his team makes finals. He is used as a role player by his team.

NBL run with this idea. They dress it up as a Next Stars program and promote the idea and the young players. This season 2 kids who are athletically talented but underdeveloped are recruited from high school so they can skip College and get drafted under 1 season. They are both given starting roles on their teams, and are expected to run the point. They both “experience injuries” just before Christmas, their teams don’t look like making the finals (and are absolute shit storms) and we are now speculating that they will not return for the remainder of the season.

Progress?

(I haven’t included Didi, he’s already a “seasoned” pro in comparison).

Didn’t factor in on these guys making their personal business decision. But if the clubs were at all smart and forward thinking, they would’ve seen this potentially coming. If they would’ve adjusted in anticipation, then they wouldn’t be bottom 2.

The breakers and Hawks were well within their rights to go out and get a decent team assembled outside of the next stars guys, which they didn’t. From a league point of view, it’s win.

Both parties used each other.

"Its not win-win for NZ or the Hawks."

Pretty sure Jersey sales and memberships are non-refundable

I think there's a right to be sceptical.

The nondescript way the injury is advertised; its like they don't want people to know exactly what's wrong so they can have the flexibility to spin whatever they need to after the 4/6 weeks is up (e.g. if they described it as a sprained ankle people would rightfully hold them to account if he didn't come back after the 4 weeks). I heard it being described as a "long-term injury". LaMelo's is also nondescript being based off "specialist opinion".

I'm sure that we'll give it 4 - 6 weeks, then at the end of that time, there will be another media release that RJ is heading home to rehab his hip injury based on specialist opinion or something like that;


Frankly, I don't know if I've seen enough to suggest to me that RJ is a lottery pick. But at the end of the day the draft is a comparative exercise, so can't fully say that without knowing the other talent. But on its own, I haven't seen enough to suggest top 15.

What a remarkable coincidence.
Him & Melo will both be back in action in a month I am soooooooooooooo sure about that!!!

Will they end up going home for Christmas.

let's wait and see or support their teams

Flights home for Christmas. Tin foil hats my ass, get in the real world. These kids used the nbl and the nbl used them, win win, but it’s over.

So, if the deal with Next Stars is that we expect to only have them until Christmas, do we still go with the program?

Much as I disliked the idea in the beginning because of all the emphasis on the entertainment and social media, I still think it has been great for the game here and hope it continues.

Hasn't Hampton's draft position dropped since coming here? Prob needs to show a bit more to move up, thought he was estimated to go at #3 before he came to the NBL, now he's projected at #5?

No tin foil hats...just reality. This is the BEST case scenario for the Next Stars program, guys choose to skip collage and play in the NBL and get drafted high, making other potential lottery picks come.

Its the risk the league and teams will have to take if they want a 'Next Star', when their stock is highest they may bail to protect it.

Hell of a coincidence! I would really like to think that this is just one of those things, but the cynic in me just won't let me do so.

To be fair though, I can't blame Hampton for bailing. The Breakers have been a mess this season after showing some promise early on.

It would be one thing if they're both just pulling these stunts to go back home for Christmas but if they both don't play for their teams again this season I think this will be the end of the Next Stars program.

Just read Botys latest blog,

I think Boty has hit the nail on the head.

Show the coaches the door,

I'd like to see Maher/Arsego, get Smyth involved if him and Maher are willing to work together, given the go for the last few games, see how they go and advertise the job and review all candidates in the offseason the get the right man for the job. Couldnt get any worse than the current coaches and more fans would come so the change could pay for itself, Maher could end up doing a Heal and improving results and winning the job longer term, which would be awesome imo.