NBA legend Carmelo Anthony will join the ownership group of a future NBL expansion team after signing on to “attract and mentor top-tier players worldwide” for the Australian league’s Next Stars program.
Anthony, who was one of the NBA’s greatest scorers, playing for six clubs over the course of his 19-year professional career, is the latest in a growing list of American greats getting involved in the NBL and its pathway program, which has produced eight NBA draftees, including LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey.
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The Perth Wildcats’ Alexandre Sarr is also rated at No.2 on ESPN’s most recent 2024 NBA mock draft.
Kenny Smith, who played 10 years in the NBA before going on to be a leading commentator and analyst, was recently also appointed the head of Next Stars Player Initiatives in North America.
The addition of Anthony adds increased credibility to the NBL program and the league, which has proven to be a breeding ground for NBA talent.
“In joining the NBL, I’m excited for the opportunity to not just elevate basketball in Australia but to impact the global landscape of the sport,” Anthony said.
“The recent pipeline of talent that has come out of the NBL and into the NBA has been extremely impressive, and the Next Stars program is a prime example of the league’s commitment to nurturing talent and cultivating elite players. I look forward to working with the league to help play a role in shaping the future of basketball worldwide.”
The Next Stars program was initially introduced as an alternative to the college basketball system, looking for players to spend a year in the NBL in the hope of being drafted.
The recent scrapping of the NBA’s own version, the NBA G-League Ignite, means the NBL program again looms as a pathway for players looking to avoid lengthy college careers.
“Our track record speaks for itself and the Next Stars program is where more and more future NBA stars are developed,” NBL director and board member Nikola Milivojevic said.
“As a master of his craft and legend of the game, Carmelo is the ideal mentor for our Next Stars and the perfect partner for the NBL as we chart a path forward that involves launching more new NBA stars, gaining new audiences, exploring new markets and making an indelible mark globally for future generations. Now with Carmelo on board, along with Kenny Smith, we will take it to a whole new level.”