THE introduction of the Next Stars program in the National Basketball League (NBL) has seen a huge boost in the number of players that have gone on to forge successful careers around the world.

The success stories have included Lamelo Ball, Joshua Giddey and Ousmane Dieng, all of whom were selected in the top 10 of the NBA Draft after completing a season in the NBL.

Now, a new batch of NBL Next Stars will hit the court and test their talents against quality opposition in a bid to take their basketball journey to the next level.

Although each player’s playing time may fluctuate, the program allows NBA Draft prospects – both local and international – the chance to show how well they can perform against fully developed opponents on a weekly basis.

With each passing year, the NBL Next Stars program is becoming a more prominent pathway to the NBA, and is getting much more interest from talented prospects. Although the college path has ruled decades gone by, NBA teams are beginning to value the idea of prospects playing against top talent in the NBL

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be putting each of the 2024/25 Next Stars under the microscope, showcasing what to expect from each player as they take the next step in their respective basketball careers.

From playing style to playing history, the pieces will familiarise fans with the next generation of players suiting up on Australian shores. The series begins on Monday, with Rocco Zikarsky the first cab off the rank.

NBL Next Stars

Rocco Zikarsky

Alex Toohey

Malique Lewis

Izan Almansa

Roman Siulepa

Karim Lopez