European basketball giants exploring Melbourne and Sydney for prestigious tournament with NBL

Following confirmation the NBA will play in Melbourne, two European giants have headed to Australia scouting major cities to host a prestigious basketball tournament. JESSICA ROBINSON has exclusive details.

The NBL’s mission to stamp itself on the global stage has taken another step forward, with two powerhouse European teams currently in Australia scoping out the potential to host a prestigious and unique tournament later this year.

Executives from Serbian giant KK Partizan and current EuroLeague champions, Greece’s Panathinaikos, have toured Melbourne this week and were in attendance at the Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix throwdown at John Cain Arena on Saturday night.

The officials will also visit Sydney as they decide on the best location to host the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament, which has never been held outside of Europe.

The European attraction comes after the confirmation that one or more NBA teams will descend on Melbourne in October of this year to face off with the NBL.

MONTE CARLO, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 07: Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade celebrates at the end of during the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 26 match between AS Monaco and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade at Salle Gaston Medecin on February 07, 2025 in Monte Carlo, France. (Photo by Alfonso Cannavacciuolo/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images)

As the league plans to attract more international talent and eyeballs, the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament would see two NBL teams host the European giants in a four-game series this September, to be broadcast globally.

If confirmed, it would mark a mega two months of international basketball for Australian fans.

“To have executives from two of the biggest basketball teams in the world in Australia is an honour and incredibly exciting,” NBL Director and Board Member, Nikola Milivojevic, said.

“The potential of having the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament in either Sydney or Melbourne is a major coup for the NBL and Australia.

“It will bring more world-class basketball to our shores, attract visitors from across the globe to the host city, and strengthen cultural and sporting ties between Europe and Australia.

“Both clubs are out here to scope out the best potential location and venue for the tournament, and we look forward to discussions continuing over the coming months.”

Australian Dante Exum previously played for Partizan. Picture: Nikola Krstic/MB Media/Getty Images

Seven time Euro League champions, Panathinaikos boast thousands of fans down under, especially among the large Greek population in Melbourne and Sydney.

The younger brother of NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kostas, currently plays for Panathinaikos and in a present NBL crossover, Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth played for the historic Greek team across 1991-92.

“We think that this is the time that our tournament can go out of our borders,” Giannis Lyras, Head of Sponsorship at Panathinaikos Basketball said.

“Here (Australia) there are too many Greek people, so we’re thinking of them. It’s a perfect country to do the tournament here, I hope people can make it.”

With 21 national titles, KK Partizan also has strong local ties, with the likes of Australian Boomers and NBA players Dante Exum (Dallas Mavericks) and Jock Landale (Houston Rockets) having previously lined up for the Serbian team.

“Dante Exum messaged me two days ago when he heard about the tournament and said he would like to come here and be a part of (the tournament),” Dule Karavesovic, General Manager of Partizan Basketball, said.

“It’s been a few months thinking about this. We are looking forward to coming here to meet our people.

“Serbia has a lot of people living here, and we want to show Partizan proudly to everyone here.”

Aleks Maric, a former Sydney King and Australian Boomers 2012 Olympian was a champion for both powerhouse sides.

A record 42,000 fans attended the tournament at the original Olympic Arena in Athens last year, and if the series is to be confirmed, crowds of up to 72,000 could witness the spectacle.

Originally published as European basketball giants exploring Melbourne and Sydney for prestigious tournament with NBL