First South American Next Star in the program and played for the Pelicans following his stint in Sydney.

Louzada became a fan favourite during his time in the harbour city and wasn’t afraid of the big moment, as highlighted by his game-sealing three-pointer in Game 1 of the Sydney v Melbourne United Semi-Final series in 2020 – a shot that sent Qudos Bank Arena into raptures.

NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said: "Didi came to the NBL to develop his game, physical attributes and his English speaking skills and all three have gone from strength to strength in the time he’s been in Australia. It’s a tremendous credit to him, the Kings and the league that he will now take the next step into the NBA. His rapid development in the NBL has not gone unnoticed by NBA teams and other NBA draft hopefuls as interest in the Next Stars program continues to grow."