The Next Big Thing

Andrew Gaze, Leroy Loggins, Larry Sengstock.

These are the names synonymous with NBL greatness.

These days, household NBL names aren’t as easy to come by, despite a 50% rise in TV viewership and a 12% increase in attendance last season.
As the league heads into a new age, we consider the players that will be the new stars and the new legends, as well as the one man who will be 'The Next Big Thing'.
 
With the league’s last three MVPs either unsigned (Corey Williams) or inked overseas (Kirk Penney and Gary Ervin) it's time that a new NBL star emerges.
 

A steady stream of Aussie and Kiwi talent is progressing through youth leagues, American colleges and NBL rookie programs.

Unfortunately for us, the majority of the locally bred stars will find professional work overseas, owing to the higher salaries available in European and Asian leagues.

Young players like Jackson Aldridge, Anthony Drmic and Matt Dellavedova are unlikely to be playing in the NBL any time soon.

Excluding the international imports (Who usually don’t stay for long enough to make an impact) only the local talent in the league remains.

To find “The Next Big Thing”, we need only look to the top of the list, Kings centre Julian Khazzouh. Second best in the league’s MVP voting last year, the 25 year old post presence was a standout talent all season long. With career highs in FG%, FT%, assists, points and a league-best 10 rebounds a game, Khazzouh’s 2011 campaign was a well rounded star performance.

When it comes down to it, basketball greatness is judged on two things. Championships and talent. With their recent import additions of Kevin Ratzsch and Jarai Grant, and their crop of young talent around Khazzouh, including Rookie of the Year Ben Madgen, the Kings are primed to make the playoff jump this season and are sure to make some post-season noise into the future. Khazzouh has shown us in his last few seasons the true star talent that he is. With the combination of his considerable skill, and that of the team around him, he and the Kings should be winning in the league for many years to come.

All things considered, there should be no doubt that Julian Khazzouh is, and will continue to be, a superstar in this league as well as the true “Next Big Thing”.