NBL Next Stars surpass colleges as NBA pathway

• ‍Learn more about the NBL Next Stars in NBL26‍
• 16-year-old Dash signs on NBL Next Stars dotted line‍
• 2025-26 NBL Team Lists and Roster Tracker‍
• Club-by-club: Every NBL1 player in NBL26

Only Duke University and the Kentucky Wildcats have produced more NBA Draft Picks since 2019 than the NBL Next Stars program.

Duke has produced 21 players and Kentucky 17 since 2019 while the Next Stars Program 14.

It's an extraordinary statistic that proves the traditional US college route for a player is a thing of the past. The globalisation of the NBA and multiple professional leagues around the world, especially Australia and Europe, are now significant stepping stones to making it to the NBA.

Without doubt, the NBL Next Stars program is a legitimate pathway to the NBA. In NBL26 there are four Next Stars: Dash Daniels (Melbourne United); Karim Lopez (New Zealand Breakers); Malique Lewis (SEM Phoenix) and Noa Kouakou-Heugue (Perth Wildcats).

Here is a complete breakdown of the NBL Next Stars that have been drafted by NBA franchises since 2019.

NBL Next Stars selected in the NBA Draft

1. Didi Louzada — Sydney Kings (2019–2021): Selected by Atlanta Hawks with the 35th overall pick in 2019 (rights traded to New Orleans Pelicans).
2. LaMelo Ball — Illawarra Hawks (2019–2020): Selected by Charlotte Hornets with the 3rd overall pick in 2020.
3. RJ Hampton — New Zealand Breakers (2019–2020): Selected by Milwaukee Bucks with the 24th overall pick in 2020 (rights traded to Denver Nuggets).
4. Justinian Jessup — Illawarra Hawks (2020–2022): Selected by Golden State Warriors with the 51st overall pick in 2020.
5. Josh Giddey — Adelaide 36ers (2020–2021): Selected by Oklahoma City Thunder with the 6th overall pick in 2021.
6. Ousmane Dieng — New Zealand Breakers (2021–2022): Selected by New York Knicks with the 11th overall pick in 2022 (traded to Oklahoma City Thunder).
7. Mojave King — Adelaide 36ers (2020–2022): Selected by Los Angeles Lakers with the 47th overall pick in 2023 (rights traded to Indiana Pacers).
8. Rayan Rupert — New Zealand Breakers (2022–2023): Selected by Portland Trail Blazers with the 43rd overall pick in 2023.
9. AJ Johnson — Illawarra Hawks (2023–2024): Selected by Milwaukee Bucks with the 23rd overall pick in 2024.
10. Alex Sarr — Perth Wildcats (2023–2024): Selected by Washington Wizards with the 2nd overall pick in 2024.
11. Bobi Klintman — Cairns Taipans (2023–2024): Selected by Minnesota Timberwolves with the 37th overall pick in 2024 (rights traded to Detroit Pistons).
12. Ariel Hukporti — Melbourne United (2022–2024): Selected by Dallas Mavericks with the 58th overall pick in 2024 (rights traded to New York Knicks).
13. Alex Toohey — Sydney Kings (2023–2025): Selected by Phoenix Suns with the 52nd overall pick in 2025 (traded to Golden State Warriors).
14. Rocco Zikarsky — Brisbane Bullets (2023–2025): Selected by Chicago Bulls with the 45th overall pick in 2025 (traded to Minnesota Timberwolves).

NBL Next Stars Post Draft

1. Brian Bowen II — Melbourne United (2018–2019): Went undrafted in 2019 NBA Draft, later signed a two-way contract with Indiana Pacers.
2. Trentyn Flowers — Adelaide 36ers (2023–2024): Declared for 2024 NBA Draft but withdrew; remains draft-eligible post-NBL stint.

NBL Next Stars Undrafted

1. Izan Almansa — Perth Wildcats (2024–2025): Yet to declare. Signed with Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB and EuroLeague after NBL25.
2. Makur Maker — Sydney Kings (2021–2022): Entered 2021 NBA Draft but went undrafted.
3. Mantas Rubstavicius — New Zealand Breakers (2023–2024): Undrafted in 2024 NBA Draft.
4. Nikita Mikhailovskii — Tasmania JackJumpers (2021–2022): Undrafted in 2020 NBA Draft.
5. Terry Armstrong — Illawarra Hawks (2019–2020): Entered 2020 NBA Draft but went undrafted.
6. Tom Digbeu — Brisbane Bullets (2021–2022): Undrafted in 2020 NBA Draft.

US colleges by Number of Draft Picks

1. ‍Duke — 21: Cooper Flagg; Kon Knueppel; Khaman Maluach; Sion James; Tyrese Proctor; Jared McCain; Kyle Filipowski; Dereck Lively II; Dariq Whitehead; Paolo Banchero; Mark Williams; AJ Griffin; Wendell Moore Jr.; Trevor Keels; Jalen Johnson; Vernon Carey Jr.; Tre Jones; Cassius Stanley; Zion Williamson; RJ Barrett; and Cam Reddish‍
2. Kentucky — 17: Koby Brea; Amari Williams; Reed Sheppard; Rob Dillingham; Antonio Reeves; Cason Wallace; Chris Livingston; Shaedon Sharpe; TyTy Washington Jr.; Isaiah Jackson; Brandon Boston Jr.; Tyrese Maxey; Immanuel Quickley; Nick Richards; P.J. Washington; Tyler Herro; and Keldon Johnson‍
3. Tennessee — 10: Chaz Lanier; Jahmai Mashack; Dalton Knecht; Julian Phillips; Kennedy Chandler; Keon Johnson; Jaden Springer; Grant Williams; Admiral Schofield; and Jordan Bone‍
4. Michigan — 9: Danny Wolf; Jett Howard; Kobe Bufkin; Caleb Houstan; Moussa Diabaté; Franz Wagner; Isaiah Livers; Jordan Poole; and Ignas Brazdeikis‍
5. Gonzaga — 9: Anton Watson; Julian Strawther; Chet Holmgren; Andrew Nembhard; Jalen Suggs; Corey Kispert; Filip Petrušev; Rui Hachimura; and Brandon Clarke
6. ‍UConn — 9: Liam McNeeley; Stephon Castle; Donovan Clingan; Tristen Newton; Cam Spencer; Jordan Hawkins; Andre Jackson Jr.; Tyrese Martin; and James Bouknight‍
7. Arkansas — 8: Adou Thiero; Anthony Black; Nick Smith Jr.; Jordan Walsh; Jaylin Williams; Moses Moody; Isaiah Joe; and Daniel Gafford‍
8. Baylor — 8: VJ Edgecombe; Ja'Kobe Walter; Yves Missi; Keyonte George; Jeremy Sochan; Kendall Brown; Davion Mitchell; and Jared Butler‍
9. Arizona — 8: Carter Bryant; Pelle Larsson; Bennedict Mathurin; Dalen Terry; Christian Koloko; Josh Green; Zeke Nnaji; and Nico Mannion‍
10. Florida State — 8: Jamir Watkins; Scottie Barnes; Balša Koprivica; RaiQuan Gray; Patrick Williams; Devin Vassell; Mfiondu Kabengele; and Terance Mann‍
11. Auburn — 7: Johni Broome; Jabari Smith Jr.; Walker Kessler; JT Thor; Sharife Cooper; Isaac Okoro; and Chuma Okeke‍
12. Kansas — 7: Johnny Furphy; Kevin McCullar Jr.; Gradey Dick; Jalen Wilson; Ochai Agbaji; Christian Braun; and Udoka Azubuike‍
13. UNC — 7: Drake Powell; Harrison Ingram; Day'Ron Sharpe; Cole Anthony; Coby White; Cameron Johnson; and Nassir Little