Now *this* is something the NCAA should be concerned about.

Whilst not ideal, I think the NBL can adapt. Look to sign the Aussie kids into the program and really target some second round draft picks from the previous years draft ala Didi. Some American kids/agents might also prefer the NBL given its stature as one of the best leagues world wide in a country that feels close to home.

It really hurts the college system, which is also a bonus for the NBL as the more normal it becomes to not go the college route, the chances we have of attracting these top prospects will only increase.

The NBA's selfishness strikes me a lot here. I mean, what should it matter if NBA draft prospects don't play in the USA? Why couldn't they let the NBL have this one? They're going to be playing for you in ONE FUCKING YEAR. You're a multi-billion dollar business. I don't see how the NBA can pretend to care about the longterm growth of basketball internationally while taking opportunities for foreign market to grow domestic interest in the sport.

Isn't the G League meant to be full of me-first players, resulting in a jungle ball style? And isn't there constant turnover with NBA- meaning less roster stability and less chance for coaches to develop a solid structure?

Or are those just cheap stereotypes?

If there's validity to those criticisms then the NBL has more going for it than just a better salary. It will prepare players better for the NBA- which, if they've got a good head on their shoulders and a wise agent advising them - is something they should be most interested in anyway.

Why should money be the main consideration when most of these guys go on to make tens of millions of dollars?

I only read the OP before

Now that I've read the article itself...

[yearlong developmental program with G League oversight that will include professional coaching, top prospects and veteran players who will combine training and exhibition competitions against the likes of G League teams, foreign national teams and NBA academies throughout the world, sources said.

.....

The primary objective will be assimilation and growth into the NBA on several levels -- from playing to the teaching of life skills.]

This addresses my question

Definitely a major threat to Next Stars then.

Oh well, it was good while it lasted. If Larry Kestleman has forced a major reshaping of the way the NBA develops it's future stars, then that's a job well done. What say you, Larry critics?

The G League has changed a lot with nearly all teams having their own aligned teams. Very high quality play now.

I say the next stars program has attracted only 2 Americans that have chosen the NBL over the college system and one of their did not play.

It's clear that guys like Hampton and Ball we're being paid well in excess of their ability to help the side win games too so it was highly unsustainable.

What does their ability to help the side win have to do with how sustainable it is?

If they're spending too import money on a player who isn't ready to help the team win, fans will stay away. As Hawks fans did.

The team aren't spending it, the league is spending it. And fans have been avoiding Hawks games for years.

Is the league footing the whole bill? Is that confirmed? There is a distinct lack of transparency on this. Some insist they're getting 100k as per the first version of the program media kit. Others say the league pays 100k and teams are free to pay more. You're saying the league pays the whole amount. Can you point to anywhere where this is confirmed as I genuinely haven't seen it.

kharma

Don't think it will impact NCAA much, the scheme is meant for an elite not everyone, my guess up to 10 HS leavers may get something similar in a given year, even this would require lots of resources to achieve (it's not all in money). College will still remain one of the most important sources for non-draftees. So NCAA will still keep making a big buck. Next stars is a different story, there is no chance that anyone in this league can match that kind of money for a potential lottery pick, needs to be a crowd draw card like Melo.

Unfortunately there is a typical American selfishness & arrogance to the way Major Leagues are run.
And its sad. There are around 20 US States (that's whole states, not just major cities) that have no major-league sport. (no NBA, NFL, NBA, or NHL)

MLB has essentially gutted the rest of baseball in America. All the AA & AAA teams are now development "farms" for MLB affiliates.

What's disappointing about this, is that once again, the Americans have acted to protect "their turf", rather than seeing the mutuals advantages offered by the NBL.
It remains to be seen exactly how this program will unfold, but basically they are going to pay these kids $500k to sit around choking the chook for a year, just to stop the NBL pinching a bit of their limelight. It's going to cost them a LOT more than that to implement a program that would better the development they got playing in the NBL

Also, considering that Americans will rush to sue if the egg in their McMuffin is overcooked, I can see lawsuits developing. If a kid is a "top-rated" highschool prospect, and denied entry to this elite program, he'll sue the NBA. If a kid is accepted and fails to get drafted, he'll sue alleging they defrauded him of a college education.

Putting aside the virus, and its lingering economic impact, if we can continue to innovate and adapt, this could actually be a good thing for the NBL.
With this pathway now officially open, there's going to be a lot more kids wanting to make choice to go pro, and those who don't get into this programs will be ripe for the picking.
Ok, so we won't get the RJ Hamptons or Jalen Greens, but maybe that's a good thing? Taking somebody touted as a top-5 pick, and turning them into a top-5 pick, is hardly noteworthy. But if we can take a kid who missed the NBA programs, and get him drafted (or even playing) ahead of those selected, then that will be a huge endorsement for our league.

"Come on Cram do you really think the Hawks had enough money to be spending $0.5m on LaMelo."

When has lack of money stopped an NBL team spending lots of it anyway? Especially in the current LK model where unlimited spending is plan a, b, C and d.

Their rationale for this is weak, they don't want to have to travel to scout those players?

They are playing in Sydney not Afghanistan.

I however don't see this as the end of the Next Stars, what about the not so highly touted Hs'ers? The four star prospects who don't want college may still want to come over to the NBL?

They'll sit on the bench like Armstrong.

Yes, there appears a strong emphasis on development of elite players (both on and off the court) IN THE USA (and not in the NCAA) and reducing the tyranny of distance for NBA Scouts/Recruiters.

I don't know much about the G-League but I can envision the NBA growing this program into Development Hubs (perhaps based at a central location of each of the 6 Divisions) with games eventually being played between each hub instead of G-League teams and some exhibition games.

It also appears to provide another pathway for cut/retiring players to stay involved as active mentors.

I expect this will impact on NBL teams also attracting exciting young talent to stay in Australia.

*exciting young local talent*

Also, considering that Americans will rush to sue if the egg in their McMuffin is overcooked, I can see lawsuits developing.

If a kid is accepted and fails to get drafted, he'll sue alleging they defrauded him of a college education.

Right now there's a fairly big gap in how good g league teams are in developing talent. The raptors use their team well and have developed Siakam, FVV and others through that program. In contrast, they sent Deandre Daniels to Australia...

G League is always going to be preferred by the NBA and it's clubs as it makes it easier to get to their games or even watch them on tv at a suitable time. If that program becomes successful enough it'll get far more eyeballs than the NBL ever could purely based in timezone.

and yet it's held up as emblematic of Americans as a whole.

You suck, NBA. Couldn't even let us have one year :(
Boooo!!!

The difference in the USA is that judgements are determined by juries, and they award damages based on pain & suffering (including emotional distress, etc, etc, etc) AND they award punitive damages.

In Australia, you have to prove that you suffered actual economic loss, and that's all you can claim. That also limits the lawyers taking cases on contingencies. It does happen here, but its comparatively rare, and the case has to be a slam-dunk before a lawyer will touch it.
In America, they will roll the dice on just about anything.

It's why so many decisions in the USA are driven by fear of litigation.
Now obviously they will have considered this, and consulted many, many lawyers, I'm just interested to see what form the final program takes.

Also defendants in the US must generally pay for their own legal expenses even if they win, unlike Australia, which creates opportunities for SLAPP lawsuits and lawsuits designed only to extract a settlement out of court to avoid legal expenses. Then there is the freedom for lawyers to advertise. There is a good reason why the US has a reputation for litigiousness.

I think it's great for Aussies, this gives Australian natives more opportunities.

Instead of NBL teams looking for Americans, they can focus on grooming hometown talent.

Also if an Australian prospect wants to go to the NBA, then they have a better opportunity by going to the G League for a year to groom instead of wasting a year at college. Ie: Ben Simmons