Hoops

Jalen Green out of NBL Next stars race

Next Stars was always going to be niche. In 2 years now they've had 5 players, only 2 of which (Hampton and Armstrong) fit the original template of guys choosing to come to go pro rather than college. Ball was ineligble for college, Bowen sanctioned and forced to sit and Didi obviously already drafted.

It looks like working out ok for Hampton, but Armstrong clearly made the wrong call.

While there may be 1 or 2 guys a year that make the proactive choice to go this route, you're more likely to get guys who are ruled inelgible or forced to sit for a year. Even then, there will always be competition from clubs in other league with more money.

The lack of transparency with the NS program has always been a fault too. I think one day we'll find Ball and Hampton are getting far more than what the league is willing to admit. I also beleive someone like Ball would have had some sort of minutes promise.

The final problem of the program is that most 18 year olds are simply not ready to contribute to winning basketball at NBL level, meaning you either play them for the sake of the clicks or you don't and they never play, like Armstrong. If they play, the NBL becomes nothing but a G-League developmental league. Not a good look.

I'm happy with draft and stash.
Bring players over "to learn" english.
Sydney have done it this season let other teams do it next season.

"Love hearing experts talk about something they know f all about,"

You will enjoy being part of Hoops then as the posts here are 95% speculation and opinion and 5% fact.

That is what makes it interesting!?

A huge part of Didi playing here was to learn English. He's a bit of an anomaly.

I think they need to adjust the NS rules, but I don't know that the program is under threat.

You have to assume there's a high level of intelligence behind what the NBA teams do, so stashing non-required players like Didi in the NBL will always be an attractive option. Especially if we're paying!

I'm sure that our taking guys like Ball and Hampton irks some people, but is it enough of a threat to prompt costly retaliation??

I'm not 100% clear on the reasons behind the 12 months removed rule? It seems to me that a lot of these kids are already 18, so the legal impediments should be absent. I know there is a lot of socio-political heat associated with the idea of recruiting kids out of high-school, but they already put restrictions on the colleges recruiting so could just as easily extend that to the pros.

Keep in mind that the pros don't necessarily want these kids, they just don't want anyone else to get them first. Having the kids turn pro (and thereby negating any other sports scholarship offers) and play in a quality league like the NBL, which is both neutral and doesn't compete with the NBA, is probably a good solution.

There was a lot of talk about the G-League adopting its own program. I don't know if that happened, or is happening?? Maybe it created more problems than its solved??
Last thing anybody wants to see is a flood of kids turning pro, flooding the G-League, and being kicked to the curb after 1 or 2 seasons.
As corrupt as their system may be, the NCAA will claim the high-ground, pointing out that they are offering kids a "quality education" (sic) and the chance of a career outside sports.

The BIGGEST danger to our program is kids like Terry Armstrong. If he gets bounced after a season, can't get a gig anywhere, and winds up mowing lawns for a living instead of going to college, then the NBL is going to look like a bunch of dickheads.

Next stars will be non existent when the NBA removes the one and done rule

Yes. That's why next season is important

Next stars will be non existent when the NBA removes the one and done rule

COlleges won't directly be paying players beyond cost of attendance for a long time. They are looking at allowing players to earn money for their likeness but this would be outside payments from the institutions. Players in the NBL can get paid for their likeness anyway. The process of paying students to play sport is actually quite complex in the US.

Next stars will be non existent next year with college's paying their players.

Whilst I like the draft and stash players, they won't bring in the crowds and exposure that predicted top draft picks will

"More draft & stash players will be playing in our league from next season"

Like one of the current Next Stars, Didi Louzada?

Next stars will be non existent next year with college’s paying their players. More draft & stash players will be playing in our league from next season

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Matthew Knight (Perth) 2
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Peter Crawford (Townsville) 1
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Rob Beveridge (Perth) 45
Andrej Lemanis (NZ) 36
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