THE INCLUSION of the National Basketball League (NBL) Next Stars program has put the competition on the global map in the past five years, now more loaded with talent than ever before.

The program brings some of the best NBA Draft hopefuls down under, competing in a league that is highly regarded around the world and may prove a better indicator of a player’s chances of succeeding at the top level than the college system.

There have been some proven superstars make a name for themselves at the top level after their time as a Next Star, only furthering the hype around the program.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be taking a retrospective look at where the graduates are now and how their respective careers have fared since departing, continuing with the 2020-22 period, which saw some high-profile players emerge through the system.

2020/21

Didi Louzada – Sydney Kings

The first South American prospect to come through the system, Louzada was selected in the NBA Draft with the 35th pick after showing strong signs as a member of the Kings. During his time in the time in the Harbour City, he was not afraid of the big moment, highlighted by a dagger three-pointer against United, that cemented him as a fan-favourite.

After being selected by the Atlanta Hawks initially, he was moved to the New Orleans Pelicans, but had some adversity that interrupted his first two years in the system, from suspensions to season-ending injuries. He was involved in a trade that sent him to the Portland Trail Blazers, playing seven games for the team and averaging five points including his sole starting appearance in the NBA.

More recently, he has returned to his home nation of Brazil to compete, currently playing for the Flamengo team, but was signed to the Valley Suns, an expansion team in the NBA G-League in mid-June, so his story is still being written.

Joshua Giddey – Adelaide 36ers

In a landmark moment for the program, Giddey was the first Australian player to signed to a Next Star contract, turning down offers from college teams. His time as a Sixer was so successful that he was selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to the Oklahoma City Thunder, with the team impressed by his campaign in the NBL.

He became a crucial part of the Thunder’s young core, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. Giddey became highly renowned for his inbound passing, and is regarded as the best in the league at generating scores from inbounding the ball. Over the past few months, he was traded to the Chicago Bulls, and will slot into their starting lineup nicely.

Australian fans will likely know him more for his international performances as a member of the Australian Boomers. Giddey has become the face of the team as a starting point guard, and is clearly the future of Australian basketball at the Olympic Games and World Cups.

2021/22

Ousmane Dieng – New Zealand Breakers

Dieng was the first European player to join the NBL through the Next Stars system, and was another success story. He was picked with the 11th pick in the NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, but was traded on draft night, also joining the Oklahoma City Thunder with Giddey.

He was never going to light the world on fire immediately, but has shown solid signs of growth during his time with the Thunder. Over two seasons, Dieng played 72 games, starting in one match. He has spent a lot of time playing in the team’s G-League affiliate.

In April of 2024, Dieng won a G-League title with the Oklahoma City Blue, and was named Championship Game MVP, after posting 25 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks in the title match.

Tom Digbeu – Brisbane Bullets

Digbeu was the Bullets’ first ever Next Star signing, joining the team after one year as a professional player in Lithuania, so he had some runs under his belt. He showed glimpses of potential, but averaged just four points per game and did not make many waves on the draft boards.

Despite going unselected at the 2022 NBA Draft, he still signed to a G-League team in the Motor City Cruise, but he played just one game.

He headed to France to play professionally, averaging 16 points per outing and truly showing what he is capable of, and played in Spain for the 2023/24 season, where his court time fluctuated too much to post eye-catching numbers.

Mojave King – Adelaide 36ers

King was the first Next Star to sign with two separate NBL teams, and although his journey to the NBA took longer than expected, he still reached the top level after years of proving his worth in competitions around the world, including for the G-League Ignite team.

He was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2023 NBA Draft, with his draft rights immediately traded to the Indiana Pacers. However, he spent his time in Indiana suiting up for the team’s G-League affiliate, the Mad Ants, averaging 3.9 points in 8.9 minutes of court time.

In 2024, he returned to the NBL as a member of the New Zealand Breakers, and has been a starter for their first two games of the season, averaging 12 points a game and starting the season in strong form on the offensive end.

Justinian Jessup – Illawarra Hawks

Jessup has one of the most interesting Next Star stories, joining the program after being drafted to the NBA, rather than before. He was selected by the Golden State Warriors late in the 2020 NBA Draft, and was sent to the NBL to develop his game at the Hawks, averaging 13 points per game across two seasons and proving a damaging sharpshooter.

Although never retained by the Warriors, he continued to play professionally in Spain during the 2022/23 season, averaging 11.6 points per game in a strong European competition. He was announced to be returning to the NBL as a member of the Breakers for the 2023/24 season, but played just two games before being ruled out with a pelvic injury.

In 2024, he suited up for ratiopharm Ulm in the Basketball Bundesliga, and still has plenty of professional basketball in the tank if he can stay healthy.

Makur Maker – Sydney Kings

The final graduate of the 2022 Next Stars class was unlucky to not get selected at the NBA Draft, having won a title with the Kings in his final season in the NBL, but still played in some high-quality competitions in the years that followed.

He suited up for the Chicago Bulls in the 2022 NBA Summer League, and played for the Toronto Raptors’ and Washington Wizards’ G-League teams throughout 2022 and 2023. He also had a stint playing in China’s National League, averaging a whopping double-double of 28.1 points and 11.2 rebounds per game.

Last month, he signed with the Al-Ittihad Jeddah team in the Saudi Basketball League, looking to further impress NBA scouts in a strong competition.