Inside the Next Stars Program: LaMelo, Giddey, and the Global Rise of the NBL with GM of NextStars Recruitment for the NBL, Liam Santamaria

2025-08-25

The NBA may be in the U.S., but some of its brightest stars are starting their journeys down under. In this episode of Hoopsology, we’re joined by Liam Santamaria, General Manager of the NBL’s Next Stars recruitment program and ESPN analyst for the NBL. Liam gives us a front-row seat into how the Australian NBL is quietly becoming one of the NBA’s top global pipelines. We dive into: 🔹 The origins and evolution of the Next Stars program 🔹 How players like LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey launched their NBA careers thr...

The NBA may be in the U.S., but some of its brightest stars are starting their journeys down under.

In this episode of Hoopsology, we’re joined by Liam Santamaria, General Manager of the NBL’s Next Stars recruitment program and ESPN analyst for the NBL. Liam gives us a front-row seat into how the Australian NBL is quietly becoming one of the NBA’s top global pipelines.

We dive into:

🔹 The origins and evolution of the Next Stars program

🔹 How players like LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey launched their NBA careers through the NBL

🔹 Why scouts are turning their attention to Australia, Europe, and South America

🔹 What fans get wrong about evaluating prospects

🔹 How international coaching and tech are changing the game

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