Carmelo Anthony, Kenny Smith, Future NBA Star Karim Lopez Title “Within NBL” All-Star event

The NBL is a man’s professional basketball league It consists of nine teams in Australia and one in New Zealand. It started in 1979. years, and the season moves from October to February, and each team plays 28 games. NBL set hostility in North America thanks to some young players who go there to play before their NBA draft years.

Karim Lopez is one of those players at the upcoming draft 2026 and joined Kenny Smith and Carmelo Anthony For a special event “within NBL” on the recent ceremonies of all stars.

The NBL Next Stars program is a player development program unique to NBL. It is also about 2018-19 and proves as a way to the NBA. It allows each selected program to play a professional basketball program before they are eligible for the NBA draft. The program gives them access to the elite coaches and exposures of the NBA scouts for the draft. Also young players give a place to live when they are not far from home and focus on top shape and available when it is time for draft exercises in North America.

The program currently has five players: Karim Lopez from New Zealand, Alek Toohei from Sidney Kings, Rocco Zikarski from Brisbane Bulles, Izan Almansa, and Malikue Levis from Southeast Melbourne Phoenix. Lopez is in class 2026, while the other four will be in the draft 2025. years. Toohei is the highest projection on no. 32.

NBL also had four players chosen in the draft NBA 2024. Years. The The most important choice was Alek Sarrwho went to another.

Meet the “inside NBL” event panelists

The first panelist for the All-Star event was Kenny Smith, which is not a stranger to “inside …” Pigs for plates. Of course, Kenny Jet is one of the beloved panelists on the show “Within the NBA”, but its role in the NBL is like the head of the following stars in North America. Smith will also be the owner of a future expansion team.

“The legitimate roads of the NBA develop, and NBL has Proven log preparation record“Said Smith via Associated Press.” NBL identified a key role to mentor and support young talent and equipped them to a tool to compete on a professional level to skip jump in the NBA. “

The second panelist was Carmelo Anthony, the NBA legend and colleague is the owner of the future club NBL Expansion. It is also a global ambassador for the program of the next star. The role of Anthony is to attract and mentor top players around the world and rise the program.

“In joining NBL, I’m excited for the possibility Not only raises basketball in Australia, but to influence global scenery of sports, “Anthoni Via NBL.com said.

The third panelist was Lopez from the switch. Although it does not meet the requirements to the draft NBA 2026, many view it as a lottery prospect in that class. It is also one of the best Mexican prospects of basketball ever.

Lopez’s choice to leave the Spanish club in Europe and join the program of the next star is one of the most important indictments of the program. The League hopes to participate in the program, together with Kenny Smith and Carmelo Anthony, and NBL All-Star event, brought more end-perspectives to take their career, especially if it is next season.