NBL 'Now' Star Toohey is next NBA draft pick

Written By

Peter Brown

basketball.com.au

NBL 'Now' Star Toohey is next NBA draft pick

NBL Next Stars set to deliver another NBA draft pick

NBL Next Stars Alex Toohey game is developing to NBA level
Toohey had a career high against NBL's top side
NBA Draft is scheduled for mid-2025

NBL Next Stars Alex Toohey has arrived.

The 20-year-old swingman dropped a team-high 25 points in the Sydney Kings tough 111-108 home loss to the Illawarra Hawks on Christmas Day at Qudos Bank Arena.

He was outstanding the first half, leading the Kings to a nine-point lead midway through the second quarter before head coach Brian Goorjian took him out for a rest.

Toohey came into Christmas Day averaging 10.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 23 minutes. His team-high 25 came on 8-from-17 from the field, as well as four rebounds and three steals in just under 33 minutes. He made all six of his free throws.

Alex Toohey of the Kings drives to the basket during the round 13 NBL match between Sydney Kings and Illawarra Hawks at Qudos Bank Arena, on December 25, 2024, in Sydney. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Former Sydney Kings captain and now NBL colour commentator Brad Rosen was court side for Toohey's NBL career high.

"What makes Alex special is his versatility," Rosen said.

"He can carry the ball, great footwork, good defender and has length. Perfect body for the NBA. If he could work on his shot, he has the capability to forge out a career similar to Joe Ingles.

"That is a very big statement I know but he just seems to be getting better and better at this season goes on.

"He has been extremely impressive. He is also a very smart and educated basketballer."

If the NBA Draft was tomorrow, Rosen doesn't think Toohey would go in the top 10 but his stocks are on the rise.

"At this stage I don’t think he’s a top five prospect but if he continues to perform the way he has he will rocket up the chart," he added.

"I do believe he is a first round pick and somewhere between 15–20 in the draft at the moment."

Alex Toohey of the Kings shoots over fellow NBL Next Star Karim Lopez during the round 11 NBL match between New Zealand Breakers and Sydney Kings at TSB Bank Arena, on December 07, 2024, in Wellington, New Zealand. Photo: Masanori Udagawa/Getty Images

At 2.01m — 6'5" in the old scale — Toohey has the length to be an NBA wing but given the NBA is now a three-point shooting contest, Rosen said he needs to put the work in to be a constant threat at the next level.

"He needs to keep working on his three-point shot," added.

"If he can knock that down consistently then he has the chance to have a fantastic career in the NBA."

Toohey is a now a fixture in the 11-8 Sydney Kings rotation. Goorjian said he was "special".

"I think Toohey is a 25, 26-minute man in this and when you look at it (the box score), I thought we rode him into the ground," Goorjian said of Toohey's 33 minutes against the Hawks and why he took him out in the second quarter with the Kings up nine.

This year's Next Stars program has five players: Toohey, Brisbane Bullets Rocco Zikarsky, New Zealand Breakers Karim Lopez, South East Melbourne Phoenix Malique Lewis and Perth Wildcats Izan Almansa.

And then there is soon-to-be 17-year-old Dash Daniels, the younger brother of budding NBA star Dyson, who just signed with the Melbourne United as a Next Star for NBL26. Dash will train with United for the remainder of NBL25 in preparation for his NBL debut next year.

Josh Giddey of the 36ers attacks the basketball during the NBL pre-season match between the Adelaide 36ers and the Brisbane Bullets at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on November 15, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia. Photo: Kelly Barnes/Getty Images

The NBL Next Stars program is a proven pathway to the NBA having nurtured LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey into NBA Draft picks. Ball plays for the Charlotte Hornets and Giddey for the Chicago Bulls. Ball, 23, was third overall pick of the 2020 NBA draft and Giddey, 22, the sixth pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2021.

Giddey, the Australian Boomers starting point guard, played for the Adelaide 36ers in NBL21 and Ball for the Illawarra Hawks in NBL20.

Innovation and Adaptation

To stay ahead, the program is likely to innovate in areas such as:

Advanced analytics for player development
Virtual reality training tools
Expanded mental health and wellness support

The NBL's Next Stars program has rapidly established itself as a premier pathway for young basketball talent to reach the NBA. Its success in developing players such as LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey, and Alex Sarr has put Australian basketball on the global map. As the program continues to evolve and produce NBA-ready talent, it not only enhances the NBL's status but also contributes significantly to the growth of basketball in Australia and around the world.

The Next Stars program stands as a testament to innovation in player development, offering a unique and effective bridge between youth basketball and the NBA dream.