Louzada propels Kings

ALL four of the NBL’s Next Star signings entered the DEC on the final day of the Blitz and it was the one already drafted to the NBA who grabbed the headlines.

While the majority of the attention during the league’s pre-season competition has been on prospective 2020 top 10 picks LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton, Brazilian Didi Louzada provided the highlights during Sydney’s demolition job of Perth yesterday. A second-round pick (35) by the Atlanta Hawks in June — his draft rights were then traded to New Orleans — Louzada joined the Kings a fortnight later.

The sweet-shooting 20-year-old, who already has two years of professional basketball under his belt with Franca in his home country, poured in a game high 29 points, including 8-11 from deep, as Sydney crushed the defending champions 103-71.

Hampton again showed why NBA scouts are salivating over his untapped potential with another impressive outing in the day’s opening match between New Zealand and South East Melbourne.

The 18-year-old scored a team high 20 points, to go with five rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks in a performance which demonstrated his ability to slip seamlessly into the professional ranks.

His efforts were still not enough to stop the Breakers from going down against the Phoenix, who prevailed 102-95.

Terry Armstrong, the fourth Next Star who is a projected second-round NBA selection in 2020, scored four points in 11 minutes of action for the league’s newest club. Unfortunately Ball did not take the court for Illawarra’s showdown with Melbourne United because of a slight injury.

Ball sat out with back tightness but is not considered in doubt to miss the club’s season opener in a fortnight.

Brisbane took home the LogginsBruton Cup as Blitz champions after defeating the NBL1 All-Stars and Adelaide, while Phoenix import John Roberson was named Ray Borner medallist as best player of the series.