NBA basketball superstars coming as Team USA takes on Australia

NBA star Eric Gordon has told Melbourne sports fans to expect plenty of action when Team USA and Australia clash here next year.

NBA star Eric Gordon has told Melbourne sports fans to expect plenty of action when Team USA and Australia clash here next year.

The high-flying Houston Rockets player said many NBA superstars were keen to come out for the Etihad Stadium matches.

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Paul George has already said he is keen to play in the series and hopes are high that LeBron James and Steph Curry will also line up.

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Houston Rockets star Eric Gordon in Melbourne. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Gordon, in Melbourne for a series of basketball camps, is keen to take on Victorians Ben Simmons, Matthew Dellavedova and Dante Exum in the two-match series.

“We’re going to have a very strong and powerful team, as always,” he said.

“We have a lot of good players that come into USA basketball every year and you will see a lot of the stars. Just know that you’re going to see the best of the best playing for the USA.”

Former NBA All-Star Allan Houston, Aussie basketball great Luc Longley and new Victorian NBA recruit Mitch Creek will today hold a press conference in Melbourne before the general release of tickets to the Boomers-USA series on Wednesday.

NBA star Ben Simmons back home with mum Julie Simmons. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Tickets to the Melbourne matches next August will cost between $149.90 and $449.90 for adults.

NBA three-point champion Gordon said the US would need to bring a strong team to beat Australia in the lead-up to the FIBA World Cup in China.

“We have a good side every year, some of the top players from the NBA will always look forward to being on that team,” he said. “I think it’s a big deal for both teams because the Aussie team is capable of beating anybody and everyone around the world is getting stronger. Everybody just wants to beat the US.”

Gordon heaped praise on Melbourne-born NBA Rookie of The Year Simmons.

“He has good skills,” he said.

“The good thing about him is he really uses his size and his creative passing ability is definitely his top strength.”

But he said Simmons needed to remember where he came from and to stay grounded as he navigated fame and fortune.

“It’s definitely tough,” he said. “You definitely just need to keep the focus on basketball and everything will come.”

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