NBA Prospect Tom Digbeu Joins Bullets as NBL Next Star

The Hungry Jack’s National Basketball League (NBL) is pleased to announce that Tom Digbeu will join the Brisbane Bullets in the 2021/22 season as part of the NBL Next Stars program. 

Digbeu is another exciting European youngster to join the Next Stars program and his sights are set on the 2022 NBA Draft. Digbeu is currently ranked 77th on ESPN’s list of the top 100 prospects entering next year’s NBA Draft.

The 19-year-old is the son of former NBA draftee Alain Digbeu and he last played for BC Prienai in the highly regarded Lithuanian basketball league. Digbeu had a breakout performance of 27 points and 11 rebounds against European powerhouse Zalgiris last season. 

Digbeu has had a decorated junior career, having risen through the ranks of FC Barcelona's basketball academy. He attended the 2018 NBA Basketball Without Borders (Europe) camp and impressed alongside the likes of current NBA players Deni Avdija and Aleksej Pokusevski. 

Digbeu also played in the 2017 Jordan Brand Classic that featured the likes of current NBA players Killian Hayes, Theo Maledon and Isaiah Stewart.

Born in Spain, Digbeu is eligible to play for both the Spanish and French national teams, as his father Alain is of French descent, and has reportedly been approached by both. 

Hungry Jack’s NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Tom Digbeu to the Brisbane Bullets and to the NBL’s Next Stars program.

“Digbeu joins a growing list of highly talented Europeans to join the ranks of our Next Stars this season, along with Russia’s Nikita Mikhailovskii (Tasmania JackJumpers), France’s Ousmane Dieng (New Zealand Breakers) and Germany’s Ariel Hukporti (Melbourne United).

“The NBL has never been stronger and its status in world basketball has never been more prominent. The league has proven itself as a legitimate and consistent pathway to the NBA and it is now a prime destination for top young players from all around the world.

“Digbeu has strong basketball pedigree and possesses all the tools to be an NBA player. We look forward to watching his development at Brisbane this season as he joins a new and exciting group of Bullets.”  

Brisbane Bullets CEO Peter McLennan said: “We are really pleased to welcome Tom to the Brisbane Bullets. 

“As a Club, this is our first foray into the Next Stars program and we are excited to have Tom onboard as that player. Throughout the process Tom impressed us with his level of maturity. His eagerness to want to come to Brisbane, play for the Bullets and work hard for the team was appealing.

“His playing experience, combined with his versatile skill set will be an asset to the group.

“The Bullets have had great success developing young talent and we believe we can help Tom grow as a player and a person.”

Digbeu said: “I am absolutely excited to have the opportunity to play with the Brisbane Bullets in the NBL.

“The Bullets will give me a real chance to develop as a player and as a young man.

“The NBL is very well known around the world for its competitiveness, and I know that I will have to play at my maximum level of effort to deserve playing time. This is what I promise to my new club and to the fans, that I will work at my top level every single day.

“I thank Brisbane and the NBL for this amazing opportunity.”