Hoops

RJ Hampton slipping in draft?

Ask 100 Americans, both fans and sportscasters who Josh Giddey is and not one would know. Last year everyone knows ball and most knew Hampton, noone gives a flying flip who Giddey is. He's not a next star, just a kid staying home like hundreds before him, Ingles etc.

Agreed with the above the lack of production from our third import T-Ferg was a factor in losing the GF that year.

Agreed with the above the lack of production from our third import T-Ferg was a factor in losing the GF that year.

To be fair it's not just him, losing Childress as well.

Black eye in it that he was perceived as a top 5 pick, now he looks to fall out of 1st round. Would have hoped to solidify position here even with injuries. Now with g league offering ridiculous money we will end up with lesser players if any at all. Ball the only winner as well as Ferguson.

Ball @3. Never ever was going to be #1.

Next stars is dead, it should be next stashed, players drafted and stashed in the nbl by nba clubs.

NBAdraft.net which is one of the more accurate mocks has him currently at 17 & he's consistently been on the slide.

I agree Hampton definitely looks a better player than Ferguson.

People need to keep in mind this quote is from a journo and therefore is based on what sources are telling him i.e. where he is most likely to land. Where he lands means nothing as the draft is based on hype and NBA scouts often get things wrong anyway.

He looked a lot better than the kid that played for Adelaide a few seasons back and he went first round. He was very good till he got hurt and struggled after that but overall he did great.

RJ's outcome from Next Stars is not an indictment of Next Stars as a programme.

RJ was injured for much of the season, and when playing he was OK without being great. In fact NZ started winning when he stopped playing.

He probably has a higher ceiling than what we are seeing, so he should be OK.

I think the bad taste comes down to the Ball hype after his season and triple doubles etc. Hampton was rated higher, yet based on "the tape" underperformed by comparison. End of the day Hampton was what he was, a kid playing against men in a team of veterans with a more strict "director of coaching". If the roles were reversed and Hampton ends up at Hawks, where injuries lead him to take a bigger role and he's not deferring to better teammates, plus the coach basically telling a teenager "Here's the ball, do what you want, don't worry about shot selection and turnovers" then suddenly Hampton gets the hype.
Imo, Ball will get a few oohs and ahhs but as referred above, his shot selection and turnovers will find him wanting in NBA. Hampton on the other hand had to earn his minutes and practice against pro's (Glen Rice JR excepted). He did make bad choices at times but that was exactly what was expected by the team and his handlers. He will be way superior to Ball in all respects if he finds himself in right situation. If he falls imagine a Miami or Toronto guiding him. Spurs will be too high I imagine but if they're around the late lottery that would be another great spot.
I can just see the Knicks with 3rd pick taking Ball and absolutely turning it into an even bigger circus.

What's the betting on LaMelo not being in the top 10? Love to have a piece of that action.

The NBL players union has threatened the Townsville Crocodiles with legal action if the club doesn't honour its contracts.

The move - which is backed by the club's players - is set to place further strain on Barrier Reef Basketball Pty Ltd, which last week announced it was handing in its NBL licence amid losses totalling $2.5 million.

Mr Colbran said Basketball Australia and the union were trying to make the company trade insolvent.

"We've given everything the last 20 years to players and it's come to this, and the players are in this position partly because of poor performance," he said.

"If we trade insolvent, we are in breach of the law. The only way we can pay out debts is if I lend money, which is what's happening."