Kenny Smith, two-time NBA champ, locked in to spearhead NBL’s Next Stars search

A two-time NBA champion will receive a significant stake in a future NBL expansion team as part of a groundbreaking deal to spearhead the league’s highly regarded Next Stars program.

NBA legend Kenny Smith will receive a significant stake in one of the NBL’s next expansion teams as part of a groundbreaking deal to spearhead the league’s highly regarded Next Stars program.

Smith is set to become the NBL’s No.1 recruiter for their premier pathway program to the NBA following his appointment as Head of Next Stars’ Player Initiatives -

North America.

The two-time NBA champion with the Houston Rockets will be tasked with funnelling the next generation of NBA players directly from high school into the Next Stars Program

As part of the Smith deal he will become a part owner of an NBL expansion team set to be announced in the near future.

NBL Next Star Alex Sarr is a projected lottery pick in the upcoming NBL Draft. Picture: Getty Images

Right now the front runners in the league expansion race are Darwin, Gold Coast and Sydney as well as a potential team in Asia.

The new venture could turn into a lucrative deal for Smith after a 10% stake Melbourne United was recently sold for $4m valuing the club at $40m.

Smith is one of the NBA’s most respected analysts who features on TNT’s coverage alongside Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal.

He believes his extensive knowledge of the game at every level in the United States will be a major asset when it comes to recruiting, developing and mentoring new Next Stars players.

NBA analysts Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP

“Legitimate pathways to the NBA are evolving, and the NBL has a proven track record of getting players drafted,” Smith said. “The NBL identified a key role for me to mentor and support young talent and equip them with the tools to compete at a professional level with a view to making the leap into the NBA.

“I understand what the American athlete is doing from every level. I do college basketball March Madness Final Four, and I’m the voice of the NBA.

“So, there’s no one that knows every aspect that they’re (players) trying to get in the world probably than me.”

Since 2018, the NBL Next Stars program has played a pivotal role in the professional development of NBA draft-eligible talent.

The program’s alumni include first round draft picks LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey, RJ Hampton, and Ousmane Dieng.

Kenny Smith is a two-time NBA champion with Houston Rockets.

This season’s current group of Next Stars features potential first round picks including Alexandre Sarr, who has been ranked No.1 overall in several prominent mock drafts.

NBL owner Larry Kestelman says Smith’s US ambassador role for the Next stars program will solidify the league’s reputation as the No.1 to the NBA.

“The addition of ambassadors and future team owners of Kenny Smith’s calibre and reputation is truly exciting and shows how far we have come, but also indicates to the basketball world where we are headed,” Kestelman said.

“There are currently 11 former NBL players in the NBA and we want to see that number increase significantly and we believe Kenny will help us expand the Next Stars program dramatically to achieve this.

“We are quickly becoming the most legitimate, and best pathway to the NBA.”

Josh Giddey is a former NBL Next Star who made a big impact on the NBA. Picture: NBAE via Getty Images)

Smith confirmed that the ownership component of his NBL role helped seal the deal and indicated that he would have a hands-on role with the recruiting of players for the expansion club when it launches.

“This is what I do for a living,” he added. “I critique players and I do it at the

highest level.

“There’s no one that could say that they could critique the game of basketball better than I

can.

“Maybe as good, maybe the same, but no one could say they do it better.”

Originally published as Kenny Smith, two-time NBA champ, locked in to spearhead NBL’s Next Stars search