It promises to be a historic week for the NBL, with as many as six NBL Next Stars in the mix to be selected in the NBA Draft.

Perth Wildcats’ superstar Alexandre Sarr headlines the group, with the seven-footer projected to be in the Top 5. If selected with one of the first two picks, Sarr will become the highest selected NBL player with LaMelo Ball taken at No.3 in 2020.

Respected media outlet The Athletic has Sarr predicted to be taken by the Atlanta Hawks at No.1, while ESPN, Yahoo, and Bleacher Report have the 19-year-old at No.2 to the Washington Wizards.

Sarr averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 27 appearances for the Wildcats, while playing a pivotal defensive role in Perth’s run to the Playoffs.

Cairns Taipans’ Bobi Klintman and Illawarra Hawks’ AJ Johnson are also firming strongly, with both a chance to be selected in the first round.

Klintman’s projections range from 23-36, while Johnson, who has put together an impressive pre-draft process at the NBA Draft Combine and individual workouts, is in the 27-48 range.

Adelaide 36ers’ Trentyn Flowers, Melbourne United’s Ariel Hukporti, and New Zealand Breakers’ Mantas Rubstavicius are all chances to be drafted.

Johnny Furphy is set to be the next Australian to make the NBA, with the Melbourne-born forward expected to be selected in the middle of the first round.

The Next Stars program is a proven pathway to the NBA for young prospects across the world. Five Next Stars have been drafted directly from the NBL to the NBA - Ball (pick 3, 2020), RJ Hampton (pick 24, 2020), Josh Giddey (pick 6, 2021), Ousmane Dieng (pick 11, 2022) and Rayan Rupert (pick 43, 2023). 

The influence of the Next Stars program on the basketball world is growing, with NBA legends Carmelo Anthony (Global Ambassador) and Kenny Smith (Head of Next Stars Player Initiatives) recently joining the program.

The first round of the NBA Draft will take place at 10am AEST on Thursday June 27, while the second round will take place at 6am AEST on Friday June 28. Both rounds will be broadcast on ESPN.