NBL unveil NBA legend Carmelo Anthony as a global Next Stars ambassador and club owner of future expansion franchise

He’s already a ten-time NBA All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medallist, but Carmelo Anthony is adding another string to his bow as he is set to be a NBL club owner.

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks reacts after he is called for a foul in the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on February 12, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement Elsa/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Ten-time NBA All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medallist Carmelo Anthony has emerged as a shock owner of a future NBL expansion team.

Anthony, who played 1,343 NBA games for six clubs, has been unveiled as a Global Ambassador of the NBL’s innovative Next Stars program.

This appointment also includes the basketball great joining the ownership group of a future NBL expansion team - adding ‘team owner’ to his impressive list of career achievements, on-and-off the court.

Anthony will work to attract and mentor top-tier players worldwide and elevate the Next Stars program to new heights.

The NBL recently appointed sports commentator and two-time NBA champion Kenny Smith as its Head of Next Stars Player Initiatives in North America.

Anthony, a sports icon and entrepreneur, is keen to bring unparalleled experience and expertise to the NBL and the Next Stars program.

“In joining the NBL, I’m excited for the opportunity to not just elevate basketball in Australia, but to impact the global landscape of the sport,” Anthony said.

“The recent pipeline of talent that has come out of the NBL and into the NBA has been extremely impressive, and the Next Stars program is a prime example of the league’s commitment to nurturing talent and cultivating elite players. I look forward to working with the league to help play a role in shaping the future of basketball worldwide.”

Happy 40th birthday to the legendary Carmelo Anthony 🙌

🎯10x All-Star
🎯6x All-NBA selection
🎯10th most points in NBA history
🎯2012-13 Scoring Champion
🎯NBA 75th Anniversary Team

(via @NBAHistory) pic.twitter.com/pMrv1fmIBg

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 29, 2024

Next Stars began in the 2018-19 season and has quickly become a premier and proven destination for draft-eligible talent from around the world to fast-track their on-court development in order to reach the NBA.

Since its inception, eight Next Stars have been drafted to the NBA, with notable first round picks such as LaMelo Ball, RJ Hampton, Josh Giddey, and Ousmane Dieng.

The 2023-24 Next Stars class was the largest in NBL history, with eight players in the program from Australia, Lithuania, Germany, Sweden, France and the United States. Six of the eight Next Stars are currently preparing for the upcoming NBA Draft, with French phenom Alex Sarr of the Perth Wildcats projected to be a top three selection.

What would you think of a Carmelo Anthony owned NBL team? Picture: Getty Images

Anthony will add valuable knowledge to the Next Stars program as one of the greatest players and scorers in NBA history, playing for the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Los Angeles Lakers across his 19-season career from 2003-2022.

He was the third overall pick in the 2003 draft and after a stellar college career at Syracuse, which included a National Championship in 2003, Anthony enjoyed immense success in the NBA.

The multidimensional scorer’s list of accolades includes 10 NBA All-Star appearances, the NBA scoring leader in 2013, 2 All-NBA Second Teams and 4 All-NBA Third Teams. Anthony was also named in the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, dedicated to the 75 greatest players in the league’s history.

Next Stars 🤝 @NBApic.twitter.com/7kfMLJRZWJ

— NBL Next Stars (@NBLNextStars) June 3, 2024

NBL owner Larry Kestelman believes Anthony’s appointment as a Global Next Stars ambassador is a testament to the growing global strength of the Australian men’s domestic competition.

“This is a huge statement of confidence in what this league is all about and especially over the last 10 years what’s been achieved by myself and our team since taking ownership of the league,” Kestelman said.

“I’m so proud that we have a global superstar like Carmelo Anthony joining the program. His job is to help us promote the Next Stars program, help us attract the right talent, but also with the vision of him being a part owner of a future expansion team. The credibility that brings, the global exposure that brings to the League cannot be understated.

“The NBL is already regarded as the second best domestic league in the world and for us to be more global and more relevant, and presented in the right light to the world, I think Carmelo will absolutely no doubt do an amazing job at that.

“This league is growing from strength to strength and this new announcement signals the arrival of the NBL, not just in the local market, but our ambitions to be a more global league and without a doubt, the best pathway to the NBA.”

Originally published as NBL unveil NBA legend Carmelo Anthony as a global Next Stars ambassador and club owner of future expansion franchise