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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last season saw two NBL Next Stars make their dreams a reality, when the program helped Alex Toohey<\/a> and Rocco Zikarsky<\/a> join the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves respectively in the 2025 NBA Draft. The pair shone throughout their time in the NBL, and it is certainly seen as a strong pathway to the top level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recent draftees include Lamelo Ball<\/a>, Joshua Giddey<\/a> and Alexandre Sarr<\/a>, all of whom were taken in the top 10 of their respective intakes, and played a crucial role in putting the program on the map for prospects looking to be respected for coming through a professional competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This year, there are four confirmed NBL Next Stars, including a pair of returning players with the quartet of players looking extremely promising ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft. Two are currently considered top-10 prospects and could finish the season around that mark on draft night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karim Lopez<\/a> will be backing up his impressive campaign with the New Zealand Breakers<\/a>, and is looming as a lottery selection at the very least, while Malique Lewis<\/a> will be looking to take the next step with the SEM Phoenix<\/a> after showing good traits in his debut campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In terms of new faces, the name Dash Daniels <\/strong>will ring a few bells for Australian basketball fans, given he is the younger brother of NBA Most Improved Player Dyson<\/a>, and is currently impressing for the Boomers at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. He will join Melbourne United<\/a> and look to solidify himself as a top-10 prospect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n