Anonymous
Years ago
How is it that Syndey has Didi treated as a next star when he has already been drafted ? Its like someone getting James Ennis as a next star. He should be taking a regular import slot. Unfair advantage for Sydney.
Ball and Hampton are pre-draft.
Isaac
Years ago
I imagine the distinction is not that they are pre- or post-draft, but that they are yet to play as a professional?
I agree, the press release for the program states they must be eligible for an upcoming draft.
https://nbl.com.au/pages/nbl-next-stars
Zodiac
Years ago
Didi was already playing pro ball for a few years in Brazil.
It's dodgy but the NBL allowed the Kings to get away with it.
Moose
Years ago
Technically he should be an import.
There's no hard fast rule.
Didi is a next star because the NBA team wanted him to learn English and play ball overseas.
Essentially, if he could fluently speak English, he'd be an import.
Presumably, all teams had a chance to bid for him.
But like with any next star, Sydney is always going to be more attractive than say, Cairns.
Sydney has 4 imports ?
Years ago
I dont think breaking rules to potentially win a title is the way to go. They need to cut one of their imports.
Didn't we see all this at start of season, the rule hasn’t changed since. Keep up to date.
"They need to cut one of their imports."
Uh, no they don't.
Moose
Years ago
"The window of opportunity closes faster than it opens" - homicide.
The Kings have a very small window to capitalise on Bogut, so they are pulling out all the stops/
PeterJohn
Years ago
If it doesn't damage the brand, it's okay appears to be the NBL's attitude to dumping or massaging their own rules. In the last couple of years, there've been a couple of decisions in that vein (e.g., Wesley's non-import status a couple of seasons back,allowing a third import) and this is another.
Seems to be working to both improve the brand and the product on court, thus far.
Why is this even a thread.
Technically no rules broken but Didi is only 20 compared to Ennis who was 23 and graduated college if that makes any difference when people bring up Ennis.
"The more black this league the better"
Check Cairns' starting 5 ;)
WookieE
Years ago
So basically OP is a Bullets fan who only just figured this Didi thing out?
I agree that it's dodgy and it would have been better if the NBL came out with the change in rules first and then teams could all take advantage of it, but it's not pulling a swifty, it's just massaging a few things and trying to big up the Next Stars program while they can...
Its not against the rules, but it should never have been a rule in the first place. A second round draft pick stash was already a viable option for an import (like Ennis). TheNext Stars program didn't need to incorporate them as well.
It's a bit dodgy and i don't love it, but at the same time i don't mind because it seems like thats going to be the future of the next star program with the NBA and NCAA making changes. In a couple of years the next stats program might be made up of mainly draft and stash guys.
Perthworld
Years ago
LK has made no secret he is keen for Sydney to win a title.
And Lisch is Australian as a vegemite sandwich but different legitimate rule used. And Bogut spent how many years playing in America he is nearly half US.
Kings need to roll out this small ball line up at some stage, just for the melts
PG: Taylor
SG: Lisch
SF: Ware
PF: Didi
C: Tate
D2.0
Years ago
TBH I am more concerned about the rumours of the money being paid to LaMelo, perhaps acting in concert with this relaxed interpretation of the rule.
The one thing I don't like about LK's NBL is the lack of transparency. They announce one thing, then do another.
Next Stars are supposed to get paid $100k. If Didi is getting paid that, as a drafted but uncontracted player, then no problem.
But you have rumours of Next Stars being paid over 4 times that amount.
If true, I would hate to see a club getting away with paying that to bring in a stashed NBA player "off the books" under the NS program.
I don't think there is a problem with Didi, or any other current Next Star, but once you set the precedent you have to be careful about what somebody does next year.
In a year or two Martin & Wagstaff will retire. With a Naturalised Cotton, and the ability to sign 3 imports, do we really want to see the Cats' bench boosted by a highly paid NBA draftee??
Thunder Jam
Years ago
Rd 6 and you woken up, welcome to the season!
Prather is the most coin in the league if you take Bogut shares out of it.
"Prather is the most coin in the league if you take Bogut shares out of it"
Can we please ban all dipshit Sydney fanbois.
Bogut's Cash deal is over $1M per season, plus merchandising.
Ware's package is $750k per season plus bonuses.
Prather was not on that at his best and in fact signed for considerably less this time around due to his injury concerns.
But sure keep on beating your "Sydney is spending less than Melbourne and Perth" drum.
paul
Years ago
"Next Stars are supposed to get paid $100k."
I would imagine that's 100K to play basketball, but surely that wouldn't preclude other commercial agreements.
Beantown
Years ago
That's dodgy as hell from Sydney. Louzada had 17 points against the 36ers in a game Sydney only just escaped in OT!
I'm all for growing the game, but LK needs to make sure the competition maintains some credibility as well.
Can we ban United dip shits on here that don't no jack. We can all post like this.
Prather signed for two seasons is the highest paid player in the league. Lot leaks out Melbourne since the Kennedy storm over pay last season. Girls talk.
United starting five on more than Illawarra whole team.
I always thought I’d post positive but I’ve succumbed to negative against some, might be time to give it a break.
Who cares the bloke is crap and will not make them better
Curtley
Years ago
Years ago there was a fuss in england when two premier league teams had only foreigners on the field for a period in a game, now its commonplace.
Thatll happen here soon. Probably not ideal tho.
What about sem they have 5 imports including Stevens plus an injury replacement import. I personally feel it's good for the sport, but the NBL doesn’t need any more imports per team. NZ has a few imports as well, then you look at the hawks who officially only have one, I guess that’s why there on the bottom.
Isaac
Years ago
I agree, the press release for the program states they must be eligible for an upcoming draft.Have you asked the NBL for clarification?
It's Kestleman's League and he doesn't have a Board and he can do what ever the hell he wants.
I have been pointing out the 4 import rule for ages and no one cared.
So be it. The all black starters now exist again. That's cool however the last time I recall that was back in th 80's!
anonymous
Years ago
alright listen up anyone could of gotten didi but he chose to go to sydney. lamelo played pro ball in lithuania but because the hawks are last your not talking about that. why would phoenix get armstrong and not play him should of gotten didi but there management is it as good as sydney.
Stephens is NOT an import.
Born in Australia in fact.
"alright listen up anyone could of gotten didi but he chose to go to sydney. lamelo played pro ball in lithuania but because the hawks are last your not talking about that. why would phoenix get armstrong and not play him should of gotten didi but there management is it as good as sydney."
Wasn't it Sydney who went to the league to ask if they could have Didi classed as a next star?
Sounds like Big Trev was having a big cry at the press conference and casually made a comment about the Kings having 4 imports. Sounds like a bully to me who for years have been beating up teams and winning finals and for the first time someone is handing him and his team their lunch. Everything is legal. Kings coach Weaver did an AWESOME job recruiting. More credit should be going to Gaze...I mean Weaver who has shown us what a real coach can do with the talent Sydney has.
Yo dipshit Sydney Fanboi #773156, lets see whose argument holds water:
Ware was offered more than any player in history to re-sign with Melbourne - but he went to Sydney for more money - and you think he's not highly paid?!?
Melbourne had to save money after signing Long to replace Boone. - Had money not been an issue for them, they could have signed anyone. Kennedy, Felix, Patterson, but instead they signed a guy with a crook leg who hadn't played for almost two years. - But you think Prather is the highest paid player in the league.
"United starting five on more than Illawarra whole team" - you say that like it means something. - Bogut alone is probably getting more than "Illawarra whole team"
You should put the bong away and save what braincells you have left.
Hey #773156
Methylamphetimine fucks ya brain cells.
(Stephens is NOT an import.
Born in Australia in fact.)
Yeah your right then he lived in Australia for a few months and his family moved back home to America where his lived until now. I think he's great for the league,a solid player and seems like a good guy too. I’m keen to see him improve and one day play for the boomers.
Didi, Hampton or Lamelo could of be at Perth. The wildcats didn't want a next star.
Where is this shit coming from that Didi was offered to all clubs? That's completely untrue.
It is true. The league send all the details out to the teams. Teams come back to say who is interested, make there pitch and then the player chooses. Simple.
You are not in the know so don't act like your simple statement of untrue makes it so.
^ You shouldn't talk as though it is fact when you have no clue either.
"he league send all the details out to the teams. Teams come back to say who is interested, make there pitch and then the player chooses. Simple"
That was last season. They suddenly changed it this season because the Kings had a guy lined up.
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An Australian basketball forum covering NBL, WNBL, ABL, Juniors plus NBA, WNBA, NZ, Europe, etc | Forum time is: 12:34 am, Fri 31 Jan 2025 | Posts: 968,026 | Last 7 days: 754
