Thanks! Here’s your article, corrected with improved grammar, flow, and structure—while keeping the tone, quotes, and HTML fully intact:

—

The NBL has cemented itself as a genuine incubator for NBA-level talent in recent years. With that credibility has come fresh attention, as more international stars join the league and global fans tune in.

This NBL22 season saw South East Melbourne center Zhou Qi establish himself as one of the league’s premier interior forces. The 25-year-old Chinese national team big man is hoping his stint in Australia can springboard a return to the NBA. Princepal Singh (India) and Kai Sotto (Philippines) both continued their pro development in the NBL, signing with the NZ Breakers and Adelaide 36ers respectively—each having featured in the inaugural G League Ignite Program the year prior. Germany’s Ariel Hukporti (Melbourne), France’s Hugo Besson and Ousmane Dieng (both with New Zealand), and Tom Digbeu (Brisbane), playing alongside Chinese national team center Chuanxing Liu, round out a growing list of global talent. The message is clear—the NBL has the world’s attention.

That attention has shown up in real ways. Whenever the 36ers or Phoenix hit the road, fans follow. When Zhou Qi visited Sydney early in the season, the stands had visible clusters wearing his Phoenix jersey and CBA merch. Fans posted selfies and game snaps across Chinese and Aussie social media, and dozens stayed post-game holding homemade signs and chanting for Zhou, who finished that night with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks.

The buzz around Qi and Sotto has translated directly to NBL jersey sales. Both players cracked the top five, with Zhou taking the No.1 spot and Sotto not far behind.

Giannis meets hundreds of Greeks in New York and gives the shirt off his back to a fan wearing a BBB hoodie 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/qlCQsG16xp

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 4, 2018

It’s a level of fandom that mirrors the NBA’s global rise. Players like Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) and Luka Dončić (Slovenia) are now welcomed with diaspora flags and home-country supporters at every arena they enter.

Amazing to be at QBA today to see so many Chinese fans come out to see Zhou Qi. This video is 10 mins after the game finished as Zhou left the court. More than 1500 new Chinese fans experienced a Sydney Kings game day so hope a few come back. #WeTheKings #RiseWithUs #NBL22 pic.twitter.com/LxOQrnsonP

— Michael Johnstone (@michaeljnrl) December 18, 2021

France, fresh off an Olympic silver medal, is another hotbed. ‘Envergure’ (French for “wingspan”) is a site tracking French NBA prospects, including the NBL trio of Besson, Digbeu, and Dieng. The team behind @Envergure\_Pod explained France’s struggle to retain talent:

“Pros are more and more aware that we need infrastructure if we want to keep the talent. Developing the League—everybody wants it—but the French Basketball Federation moves slowly like an ocean liner.”

🔴SCOUTING REPORT 🏀 (English version)

Hugo Besson was a bucket in the French 2nd division
Hugo Besson is a bucket in the NBL
Will Hugo Besson be a bucket in the NBA?

This, the nuances to his game, his incredible family tree

By @BenoitLelievre https://t.co/ZFQHODmqI3

— Envergure (@Envergure_Pod) March 1, 2022

The appeal of these international players goes far beyond national pride. Ryan (@getbucketsryan), a Filipino expat based in Sydney, launched a YouTube channel covering Kai Sotto’s NBL journey. He’s documented his trips to 36ers games across Adelaide, Brisbane, and Illawarra. I met up with him during a Kings/Breakers doubleheader—his first live Kings game.

\

Catching up with @GetBucketsRyan (center) at the Kings/Flames doubleheader. Shot by @TerrenceJohnMedia\

While Envergure covers the NBL from France, Get Buckets does so from Australia. Both speak to international audiences. Ryan told Aussie Hoopla: “As a new content creator, my priority was finding my voice. I tried English-only and Filipino-only videos but realised I was most authentic speaking bilingually.”

Yash Matange of NBA India shared a similar insight: “Because of Rui Hachimura, \[Japanese fans] have a feed entirely in Japanese. That bridges the gap for fans who don’t read English.”

VIDEO: Usapang Rookie Draft Stock ni Kai Sotto at Ousmane Dieng (Translation: Talking about Kai Sotto and Ousmane Dieng’s Draft Stock)
[https://youtu.be/WlmyvaZjTZM](https://youtu.be/WlmyvaZjTZM)

The NBL’s Next Stars program and the NBLxNBA exhibition series have created a legitimate NBA pathway. Success stories like LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey helped shift perception. With global access growing, the league’s reach has never been wider.

Rajat Raghuram, a basketball fan who grew up in the US before moving to India at age 11, found the NBL through Twitch during the pandemic. “LaMelo got me curious, and the product itself kept me watching,” he said. Even before Princepal Singh arrived, Rajat was already on board. Through watching, he became a Perth Wildcats fan, drawn in by the passion of the Red Army.

“India doesn’t have a strong product yet,” Rajat admitted. “Technically, we’re behind. And because people chase success, they pretend basketball doesn’t exist here.”

He’s part of a growing but tight-knit Indian basketball fanbase. Yash Matange cautioned: “There’s definitely a small group that appreciates pure basketball—no matter the age, no hype needed.”

As an Aussie hoops fan growing up in the ’90s, I remember when we were in the same spot. Shane Heal standing up to Barkley. Gaze getting that Spurs ring. Now, Australia trails only Canada in NBA representation.

Streaming and social media have helped push NBL visibility to new heights. Australia ranks among the NBA’s biggest global markets. That curiosity has sparked a rise in Aussie content creators tapping into global interest with local knowledge.

Jackson MacDonald is one of them. I found him via his coverage of Princepal Singh. “People in the US just check the box scores. They don’t watch. It’s about spotlighting guys who deserve it,” he told Aussie Hoopla.

He said language barriers may have hindered Princepal’s stint with the Breakers. “He never got minutes. And I was at the game the other night—one in five jerseys was Zhou Qi. They’ve brought in a whole new crowd.”

That attention brings noise. “It’s great in parts,” Jackson said. “But I’ve gotten death threats from Filipinos.” Kai Sotto’s fanbase is passionate, but volatile. “Look at the number of YouTube videos they’ve made—some are even about me.”

It’s the flip side of viral energy. As we’ve seen with Ben Simmons or LeBron and Westbrook, content thrives around polarising players. Performance isn’t always the point.

Kai has flaws but has grown steadily. He’s put together a draft reel in his rookie season and conducted himself professionally—especially considering the lingering baggage from the 2018 Boomers-Gilas brawl. Kai wasn’t involved, but the shadow remains. He’s handled it all with class.

Jackson is philosophical about the drama. “People do it for the engagement. Someone responds, they get corrected, and it creates more content. It’s a loop.”

The Next Stars program hasn’t translated to playoff wins. But it has delivered merchandise, media attention, and viral growth. Outside of Perth, most teams struggle to build a long-term identity due to short-term imports. Melbourne’s run with Jock Landale proved it can work—but it’s rare.

\

The standard-bearers in instant jersey sales: LaMelo Ball and Zhou Qi

For hype and exposure, Next Stars is working. It’s elevated the NBL into the global hoops conversation. But as the spotlight grows, the question becomes: what does that attention *do*—and is the price worth it?