Cut to the Jase Episode 6: Next Stars GM Liam Santamaria

• The Next Stars program has been running since the 2018-19 season
• In 2024, the NBL had four players selected at the NBA Draft, including second overall pick, Alex Sarr.
• Current Next Stars Karim Lopez and Dash Daniels are both predicted to be lottery picks in the 2026 NBA Draft

The long list of former NBL Next Stars to make the jump to the NBA gets even longer with Rocco Zikarsky and Alex Toohey the latest to step up.

Zikarsky and Toohey, who spent two seasons with the Brisbane Bullets and Sydney Kings respectively, join the likes of Josh Giddey, LaMelo Ball, Alex Sarr and Ariel Hukporti as fellow Next Stars alumni in the NBA.

And as the 2025-26 NBA season tips-off, the man behind the Next Stars program in general manager Liam Santamaria joined Jason Cadee on episode six of 'Cut to the Jase' to talk about the pair's journey from prospects to NBA talents with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors with both signing two-way deals with their franchises.

Santamaria also speaks about the progression of the Next Stars program built from what the Adelaide 36ers and former coach Joey Wright did with Terrance Ferguson in NBL17, to now leading to elite talents such as Giddey signing $100m deals.

He also takes us though the process of attracting some of the world's best young talent to Australia, how the program has helped the NBL build a reputation around the world and whether we could see something similar in the WNBL in the near future.

With two projected top 10 picks in the 2026 NBA Draft in the current Next Stars class in Karim Lopez from the New Zealand Breakers and Dash Daniels from Melbourne United, we also discuss their paths into the NBA.

OTHER TOPICS ON EPISODE 6 WITH JASON CADEE

• Why it's such a big year for Aussies in the NBA
• His JC5 Points in 5 minutes from the NBL, including a tribute to veteran sharpshooter Chris Goulding and a special shoutout to Cairns Taipans star Jack McVeigh
• NBL Round 6 tips from Cadee and Brayden Heslehurst

CUT TO THE JASE EPISODES

• Episode 1: Jason Cadee shocked at Montrezl Harrell release
• Episode 2: Indy Cotton and Roman Siulepa
• Episode 3: Nathan Sobey ahead of NBLxNBA
• Episode 4: Basketball Australia CoE's Peter Lonergan
• Episode 5: WNBA and UC Capitals star Jade Melbourne