
2025/26 NBL Next Star preview – Karim Lopez
ONE OF the strongest performing players in the program last season, Karim Lopez is entering his second campaign as an NBL Next Star, having already firmed as a top 10 fancy for the 2026 NBA Draft on the back of his efforts. The New Zealand Breakers were thrilled with the level of output and upside […]

NBL Next Stars preview series starts next week
THE 2025/26 National Basketball League (NBL) season is around the corner, which means there will be another crop of Next Stars shining in the professional competition in a bid to make their NBA dreams come true. Last season saw two NBL Next Stars make their dreams a reality, when the program helped Alex Toohey and […]

Kouakou-Heugue set to wonder as Wildcats Next Star
NOA KOUAKOU-HENGUE has become the second Frenchman to join the Perth Wildcats as an NBL Next Star, after joining the pathway for the 2025/26 season following an eye-catching stint on the international stage. A big man who brings plenty of versatility to the table, Kouakou-Heugue stands a mighty six-foot-11, and is rising as a prospect […]

TOP 10 – NBL Next Stars
THE NATIONAL Basketball League (NBL) Next Stars program has proved fruitful as a pathway to the NBA Draft, with plenty of players reaching the top level after honing their craft in a professional competition for a season or two. There have even been a handful of players that have been selected in the Top 10, […]

RANKED | 2024/25 NBL Next Stars
IT WAS another successful season for the National Basketball League (NBL) Next Stars program, with the five players from the year’s class all honing their craft in Australia’s top competition, and capturing the attention of NBA scouts across the globe. The NBA Draft is set to take place in June, and the 2024/25 NBL season […]

NBL25 Next Star review – Karim Lopez
ALTHOUGH not draft eligible until 2026, Karim Lopez certainly made his mark during his first campaign as a Next Star in the National Basketball League (NBL), garnering international attention for his strong performances and certainly boosting his stock moving forward. Lopez joined the New Zealand Breakers for a two-year stint in the Next Stars program, […]

NBL Next Stars under the microscope in new series
WITH THE 2024/25 National Basketball League (NBL) season all wrapped up, some of the competition’s Next Stars have played their final game on Australian shores, while others are gearing up for a big finals campaign to further their NBA Draft stock. The NBA Draft is just four months away, and the NBL fixture has offered […]

Mennenga magic lifts Breakers past JackJumpers
THE FIRST match of Round 17 of the National Basketball League (NBL) season saw the New Zealand Breakers claim a 10-point win over the Tasmania JackJumpers at Spark Arena on Thursday night. With the JackJumpers travelling to New Zealand looking to keep their season alive despite losing key players to injury, the stakes were high […]

United, Sixers impress in double-header
MONDAY night in the National Basketball League (NBL) saw back-to-back clashes take place in the sixteenth round of the season, with Melbourne United and the Adelaide 36ers both claiming wins in their respective clashes. Kicking things off was a clash between United and the New Zealand Breakers at TSB Stadium early in the evening. United […]

Bullets beat Breakers to close out round
IN AN important win for their top-six chances, the Brisbane Bullets defeated the New Zealand Breakers by nine points in the final round of Round 15 of the National Basketball League (NBL). The clash took place at Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Wednesday night, with the two teams sitting outside of the play-in tournament as it […]