Carmelo Anthony and Kenny Smith, two great NBA figures, have finally come together—not on an NBA court, but in the Australian NBL. While the two icons never got the chance to play together in the NBA, they’ve now joined forces in a different way. Both have taken up roles as owners and head figures of the NBL’s Next Stars program, an initiative designed to mold future basketball talent.

Just hours before the action tipped off, Smith revealed that Melo joining the NBL wasn’t just a big deal for young hoopers but also a long-awaited personal dream come true. During a press conference in Perth, Kenny couldn’t hide his excitement, especially when talking about Melo’s involvement.

“I’m already part of that, you know, so hopefully Melo wants to come with us,” Smith shared in the press conference, hinting at how he’d been hoping for Anthony to join him in NBL ventures for quite some time. Smith has been part of the NBL since April when he was appointed as head of the Next Stars player initiatives in North America. His goal? To help launch the careers of young talents, hoping to break into the NBA.

Then, just two months later, Smith’s wish was fulfilled when Melo also stepped into the role of global ambassador for the Next Stars program. As per ESPN’s Marc J. Spears, Carmelo Anthony also started discussions about becoming a part-owner of one of the future NBL teams.

This program has already paved the way for several rising stars, such as LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey, and Alex Sarr, the recent No.2 NBA draft pick. “It’s time that the rest of the world knows exactly what’s happening over there in Australia,” Melo said, highlighting his belief in the NBL’s increasing prominence on the world stage.

On top of their NBL ventures, Smith and Anthony sat courtside for the season opener between Tasmania JackJumpers and Melbourne United. United clinched a win, 88-79, in what was a thrilling rematch of last season’s Grand Final. Both NBA legends expressed their awe at the league’s growth and were clearly excited about the future.

Carmelo Anthony and Kenny Smith praise the NBL

With the HoopsFest madness going on, the four-day event, featuring NBL, WNBL, and youth teams, has put Australian basketball on full display. Carmelo Anthony, in particular, has been quick to point out that talks about the NBL are heating up back in the U.S. “The topic of NBL is happening more and more,” he shared, even going so far as to call it the “second-best league” in the world.

Interestingly, Melo’s interest in the NBL didn’t come out of nowhere. “A couple of people have shown me videos of what’s happening over here,” Anthony said during the press conference, referring to the fans and atmosphere that caught his attention. He’s now even more convinced of the league’s growing reputation, calling it “arguably the second-best league in the world.” Melo will be meeting with the Next Stars players and hopes to guide them on their journey to the NBA.

On the other hand, Kenny Smith offered a slightly different perspective. The 2× NBA champ believes that while the NBL is perfect for certain players, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. “This league isn’t for everyone, but it is for great players,” Smith explained. He emphasized that the NBL is the right fit for players ready to turn pro immediately, while others may need a slower development path elsewhere.