Rupert’s NBA Draft Stock Skyrocketing

New Zealand Breakers youngster Rayan Rupert is moving up NBA Draft boards according to ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony.

“The 18-year-old has been able to carve out an important role at a high level of competition while still making enough offensive contributions to stay on the floor, it is a very good sign for his future,” Givony wrote on ESPN.

Givony had some powerful comments on the NBL Next Star, including how he has “solidified his credentials as a potential lottery pick” and has helped impact winning more so than previous Next Stars.

“None of his predecessors in the Next Stars program (Josh Giddey, LaMelo Ball, Ousmane Dieng, R.J. Hampton) was able to contribute to winning the way Rupert has in the NBL,” Givony wrote.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Concern levels in New Zealand are very high after NBL Next Star Rayan Rupert suffered a suspected broken wrist in yesterday loss to Sydney. <br><br>More from Breakers coach Mody Maor ??<a href="https://t.co/XdzPAFy3pu">https://t.co/XdzPAFy3pu</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1589366059077103616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Rupert is currently averaging 6.2 points but his influence is felt far beyond the stat sheet.

“His impact on film clearly exceeds what is suggested by the box score,” Givony wrote.

“Rupert often starts and/or finishes games and has been an essential part of the Breakers' league-best defence, pressuring opposing point guards the length of the floor and disrupting the opponents' offensive flow with his 7-foot-3 wingspan.”

Rupert sustained a broken wrist in round six against the Sydney Kings but Givony believes his strong early season performances will hold him in good stead.

“Fortunately for the injured Rupert, he hit the ground running in New Zealand and built a strong body of work in his first 12 games for NBA teams to study."