Hoops

Hampton Departs

Mixed feelings about the Next Stars.

The Hawks actually did something like this years ago when they signed Doug Overton. Doug had been signed (by Detroit?) and they wanted him to play a year in a pro comp. He was great and he went back to have a decent career in the NBA. But, the thing is, he did stick it out the whole year. And he was older, having done college.

The Next Star kids are great athletes but they are just kids. Playing against men. I started playing men's comps as an 18 year old and getting bruised and beat up by guys in their 20s and 30s. Having said that, the NBL is a "gentler" comp than the NBA. Only 28 games (plus finals), 40 minute games and only 1 or 2 a week. So, in that way, it's a good intro, gives them a year to harden up.

ALso, other players that have done similar things in the past (Ferguson, Bowen) stayed the whole season. This year Lamelo and RJ have both decided (or had the decision made) to pull out early. In the future, if teams will be happy to have a "star" player for half the season, then it could continue. It is then up to the clubs as to how they deal with that.

"Clearly it hurt the Hawks having to play Ball so much it turned into the LaMelo Show with him dominating the ball and shooting way too much."

They need him on offence. If you were going to say where he hurt them, it was down the other end.

You do realise they won more games with him than without him, right?

The reason for the Breakers' lack of success wasn't Hampton's minutes. Losing Delany for the first part of the season, then Rob Loe, then Hopson, then the intermittent stuff cost the Breakers in the first half. Truly believe we were a playoff team with better health.

I don't think Hampton would've gone home this early if not for the hip injury. The key thing for me is the off-court piece and how he interacted during games, he was always on the bench, in timeouts, celebrating with his team. That stood out.

It seems as though Matt Walsh is in discussions with another prospect. The way Walsh is touting it, Jalen Green could be in his sights here (which is odd - I thought Green already ruled out Australia).

Hampton was a class act. Breakers loved having him.

Massive win for all involved.

Exum does have years left in him but had better start moving, not much suggesting that’s going to happen. Ball was predicted as early second round where as he’s going to go a lot hire. New York will be his destination so just depends how the numbers come out as to what pick he’ll be and he’s going to be very very good.

With Exum there's a case to be made that he's an example of why teams would like to see players more, and against competition they can assess. I think, even with taking his injuries into account he hasn't lived up to the #5 hype.

Just to be clear, I think Exum still has a good future ahead of him, but he has certainly not met the potential that was expected from him at that draft position.

Exum is an argument against the March Madness line of thinking. Got on a radar early and then didn't reappear. For some of these guys, private team workouts will matter too. I don't think they will forget about Ball.

"How has it failed you? "

I actually would say that from the point of view of a marketing program, the NBL will see it as a success.

I've been quite vocal in saying I believe the program has been flawed from the begining though in that it has only convinced 1 player (Hampton) to skip college to go pro. The rest were inelgible for college in some way or in Didi's case, already drafted.

The original statement of the program suggested the players would be getting $100k which sememed reasonable too. Anybody still beleive this?

The lack of transparency in players being assigned to teams and eligibility rules seemingly changing on a whim only adds to this program being flawed.

The fact that teams have been left worse off by playing these players, only to have them not see the season out goes to show the lack of international respect the league has, which is ironically, what program is so thirsty for.

But no doubt, from a clicks and buzz point of view, it has been successful. Worth it? (I'll ask this now, and ask it again if/when the Hawks next financial struggle comes up).

I'm extremely conflicted about the Next Stars program. I understand why it exists and it's about growing the NBL outside of Australia as LK realises it can't get much bigger than it currently is here so trying to bring outside interest and dollars into the NBL which is having a positive effect with ex-NBA players buying into NBL teams.

However on court I struggle to see how it's really helping teams. Clearly it hurt the Hawks having to play Ball so much it turned into the LaMelo Show with him dominating the ball and shooting way too much. The Brooks injury seriously hurt too but it was just a one man team after that. In fact they started playing better as soon as Ball stopped playing.

I can't see much of any positives to Hampton's time with NZB you barely even notices him which was probably ideal really. Louzada has been shooting too much in Sydney but they've got the veteran group with title aspirations to put the clamps on him and Terry Armstrong has only got time in a couple of games all season for SEM.

To the people trying to measure the success of the program based on on court results, I'd say that's only part of the equation.

Of course playing kids out of high school for major minutes will be an obstacle to winning unless they are extremely advanced. But the kids did generate a lot of fan interest, especially Ball. And it wasn't just clicks either, local fans came out in droves to catch LaMelo.

He also improved quite a lot in his time here. The Hawks have been woeful since he left

James Wiseman closed up his season early too and Cole Anthony hasn't been playing. It's just the way it is for top picks these days

Hampton was OK. But I'm not convinced that Rusbatch would have done any worse if he got the minutes Hampton did.

Ball played great individually; but it remains to be seen whether or not his individual performance genuinely made the team better and to what extent. I think the team won a few games when Ball was out?

I agree that both did well considering their ages (their potential, especially Ball's, is incredible).

My assessment was only really focused on considering their overall impact/value vis-a-vis how much clubs were forking out on them.

I think value against salary is an important measuring stick in this league (Especially that none have bottomless pits of coin and a dollar spent here is a dollar you can't spend here and vice versa).

Hawks were rubbish, Ball made them worth watching, I’m glad you bloke are not running the league. Hampton was good till he got injured as well. Short memories, Ball had two triple doubles, both Hampton and Ball tested themselves against men and did great. Good luck to them.

The Next Stars program does nothing to make the NBL a more respected league if it is treated like a prep league that one and done guys won't respect.

Hawks biggest issue is they never replaced Aaron brooks appropriately in time or like for like quality.

Reality, agree, both teams suffered. In particular, I feel that the money both clubs allocated towards both (above what the NBL paid) could have been better used elsewhere/spread across the roster.

I always say, imagine if NZB had the couple hundred thousand extra they were paying Hampton to bolster their roster. Could have looked at someone like Tai Webster/Isaac Fotu etc.

I always got the sense that Hampton/Ball never really liked Aus/NZ and were desperate to get back home (and not just for preparation for the draft). e.g. homesick.
I think that may have factored in.

A league with stadiums that leak, have to earn the players respect more so.

NBA Game Cancelled Due to Moisture on Court - Wood Floor ...
Mar 8, 2017 - This is the second game cancelled this season due to moisture on the court. A Philadelphia 76ers game suffered the same fate in December.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I agree with Koberulz. March madness is the showcase that gets young guys paid. Not nbl months earlier with some limited viewing etc

March Madness is a long way away. College players are going to be boosting their stock significantly over the next couple of months, and everyone will have plenty of time to forget about Ball and Hampton.

Draft and stash is the way to go.

A league with stadiums that leak, have to earn the players respect more so.

╭∩╮( ͡° ل͟ ͡° )╭∩╮ to players that leave early. Show the league more respect.

Trial v Woodville last Thursday resulted in a Tigers player landing a couple of punches instead of shaking hands.

Does anyone know if you can be reported in a trial game?