word14
Earlier this year
NBA legend Carmelo Anthony has joined the NBL's Next Stars program as a Global Ambassador, the league says. The appointment will also see Anthony join the ownership group of a future NBL expansion team. Sounds very similar to the announcement about Kenny Smith from a few months back, seems like they might both have a stake in the expansion team.
KET
Earlier this year
It's awkward watching the start of the interview on espn where he keeps saying rising stars instead of next stars so the interviewer then says "the uh, stars".
There is a brand they’re trying to push!
That aside, I think this achieves two key things - first is obviously PR/media attention and associated reputation attached with stars as ambassadors. Kenny is a media star and Melo has a not insignificant podcast following.
The second is if you’re coming out of highschool and you can get NIL money, that takes away some of the benefit of joining the NBL. The NBL fights back with not only are you playing with older professionals, will get scouts attention whenever they’re over here rather than competing with hundreds of others, plus the weather, not being forced to study etc. but you also get to connect with and learn from NBA stars.
That’s a pretty material factor IMO.
ME
(he/kangaroo)
Earlier this year
Pretty sure they have a rising stars game in the all star weekend in the NBA so thats probably why the confusion. It's vexing for me to watch people who would know little about the league talk it up with the same NBL mandated talking points, but I understand these interviews arent for me, theyre for players and for the general public. And when push comes to shove, perception is reality. Keep telling people this is the second best league in the world and eventually people will believe it. And the claim is not completely without merit. I'd like to know what league is more aggressive and active in the global space in getting its name out there, and what league produces its game for TV quite as well as the NBL is currently doing. Certainly there are metrics where the NBL is the second best league in the world, if not on court. I am pretty sure even average attendance is up there with top 2-3 leagues in the world also. We can debate the accuracy of the claim til the cows come home but it's a pretty effective PR mantra even if it makes some of us in the know roll our eyes.
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