NBL analyst and 2018 champion Peter Hooley believes Mantas Rubstavicius’ strong contribution to winning is a major enticement for NBA scouts.

Rubstavicius has scored in double-digits in his last six games, including posting 21, 17, 15 and 16 points in his last four. The Next Star’s strong performances has coincided with the New Zealand Breakers’ four-game win streak, getting them back into the top six.

The Lithuanian prospect has risen to 55 on the best available board for the 2024 NBA Draft, compiled, by ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony, and Hooley expects that ranking to increase as the season progresses.

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“Even if he just plateaus a little bit and that production drops ever so slightly, I think he is still going to climb,” Hooley said on NBL Now.

“These last four games, we haven’t seen that kind of consistent offensive scoring production (in the Next Stars program) for some time, (but) it’s more than that, it is what he has brought to this team to help them get on this little run.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sarr sits above the pack ?<br><br>ESPN’s latest mock draft includes a bunch of rising Next Stars ?<br><br>Read more: <a href="https://t.co/NOyvVn6od9">https://t.co/NOyvVn6od9</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZImxtp7Tga">pic.twitter.com/ZImxtp7Tga</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1742353762487034085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“Mantas is going about his business ... when he was signed, Mody Maor said out of all the Next Stars, he wanted him because he contributes to winning more than the rest. Mody knew, and now we are starting to see exactly that and that’s what’s going to really entice NBA scouts.

“Yes, he can put the ball in the basket but they’re winning, and he is a major part in that.”

Rubstavicius is back on court on Sunday when the Breakers host the Perth Wildcats at 2pm AEDT, live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies, 10 Peach, 10 Play, and Sky Sport in New Zealand.