NBA legend Carmelo Anthony has labelled the NBL as arguably the second best league in the world, saying Australian basketball is making waves in the United States.
Anthony has arrived in Australia as part of the NBL's inaugural HoopsFest, a four-day festival that will see NBL, WNBL and youth teams play in Perth.
The 10-time NBA All Star is a global ambassador for the NBL's Next Stars program and has been pencilled in to be part of an ownership group for a future NBL expansion team.
Anthony, one of the NBA's greatest ever scorers, has noticed the rise in reputation of the NBL on the world stage, especially in the US.
"It's definitely respected," the 40-year-old told reporters in Perth on Thursday.
"The conversations are happening more and more, the topic of NBL is happening more and more (in the US).
"When you start getting that fraternity, everybody talking and directing into one lane and one conversation, that's when you know you have something.
"Because we as a fraternity just don't agree and don't knight a situation right off the bat. We have to believe in it, we have to understand what's happening.
"A couple of people have shown me videos of what's happening over here, the excitement in the crowd and the fans.
"I really got a deeper understanding of why this environment and why this league is arguably the second best league in the world."
Anthony will meet with the NBL's current crop of Next Stars players and hopes he can play a role in helping them achieve their NBA dream.
Since the inception of the Next Stars program in 2018-19 season, the likes of LaMelo Ball, RJ Hampton, Josh Giddey, Alex Sarr and Ousmane Dieng have become first-round NBA draft picks.
Two-time NBA champion Kenny Smith, who is the head of the North America chapter of the NBL's Next Stars program, said the concept was a good fit for the right type of player.
"I would say that this league isn't for everyone, but it is for great players," Smith said.
"There are certain players that need to be pros tomorrow, and that's what this league is for.
"But if you think you need to develop at a slower pace, then that might not be your option."
