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Years ago
NBA Draft Expert Chad Ford Praises Hampton, NBL
NBA Draft expert Chad Ford has spoken glowingly about the Australian National Basketball League as well as RJ Hampton's development during his time with the New Zealand Breakers.
Ford, a former ESPN NBA Draft Insider and host of the NBA Big Board Podcast, has described the NBL as "a step above" US college basketball and outlined why the league provides a viable alternative for elite pro prospects.
Speaking on the Locked on Bucks Podcast, Ford stated that he also expects Hampton to be a lottery pick, thanks largely to his elite athleticism and a strong year of development in the NBL.
“I know there are a lot of people who criticize these young American kids when they go overseas and feel like they’ve copped out of college or they’ve sold out,” Ford said.
“But the Australian league, in the minds of most NBA scouts that scout both college and international basketball, is a step above what you’re getting in college basketball.
“I know that’s hard for college basketball fans to hear. They think that basketball at Duke and Kentucky is just one step down below the NBA but it’s multiple steps down.
“The Euroleague and what’s happening in Spain, for example, or even in Germany is a level that’s higher than the NCAA. I think Australian basketball has reached that level too.”
https://nbl.com.au/news/nba-draft-expert-praises-hampton-nbl
