The star of Max Mackinnon continues to rise after a standout performance at the 2026 adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy.

Mackinnon, the son of NBL legend Sam, played a big part in helping the Next Stars team defeat Eurocamp 1 66-62 in a hard-fought final, tallying 21 points (on 8/14 shooting, including 3/6 from three).

This performance, which earned him the Finals MVP award, included a momentum-shifting triple with just over eight minutes left on the clock, to bring the Next Stars back to within four points.

Following the decider, Mackinnon, who led the tournament in points (18.7) and three-pointers made (8), reflected on his and the team’s excellent showing to go one better than last year’s result.

“It was great coming together before the games started, I appreciate Liam [Santamaria] and Phil [Handy] for sorting that,” Mackinnon said.

“We were able to get a few days together, have some practices and get used to each other.

“It was cool playing with a good group of Aussies, Kiwis, Europeans and even Yuto [Imanishi] from Japan.

“It shows how much talent is coming from Australia and around the world, which helped to finish on top at the camp and win.”‍

Mackinnon, who played five games with the Brisbane Bullets during the Hungry Jack’s NBL22 Season and just completed his senior season at LSU, was proud of how he played at the prestigious international pre-NBA Draft showcase.

“Since moving to the United States and playing college, I’ve had a chip on my shoulder to keep proving people wrong and showing what I’m capable of,” he said.

“Every summer, I’ve focused on just ‘stacking days’, and the work will figure itself out. It was great to show scouts and teams what I can do.

“It [the Eurocamp tournament] is great exposure for not only NBA teams but also European teams for the future.

“Someone is always watching and tuned into games, and you never know what will happen down the track.”

Next Stars Head Coach Phil Handy explains he was pleasantly surprised by Mackinnon, who he is confident has a really bright future in the sport.

"Obviously, Sam and I go way back, having played together in Western Sydney, but I was really surprised by Max," Handy said.

"I knew he was a great shooter, but he really surprised me with his skills, and to be honest, he reminds me a lot of Austin Reeves, whom I had a chance to coach with the [Los Angeles] Lakers.

“I was really impressed with Max’s basketball IQ, just how smart he is, his ability to create a shot, and his passing ability.

“He had a great tournament, and I was really happy to have the opportunity to coach him.

“He’s definitely a different player than his father, but extremely talented.

Mackinnon, 22, was one of four Next Stars players, alongside Dash Daniels, Malique Lewis and Oscar Cluff, to be mentioned as tournament standouts by ESPN's National Director of Recruiting Paul Biancardi.

‍>> READ MORE: NEXT STARS WIN EUROCAMP TITLE, CLAIM AWARDS