Melbourne United booked to play NBA pre-season games against Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings

Melbourne United will take a break during the next NBL season to fly to the US to play two matches against NBA opposition.

Chris Goulding dribbles the ball around Raptors star Pascal Siakam. Picture: Getty Images

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Melbourne United has jumped at the chance to play NBA pre-season games against Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings despite a clash with its NBL campaign.

The NBL 2019-20 fixture has yet to be unveiled but United will travel to the US for two games in California between its first and third domestic appearances.

United is the only NBL team to accept the NBA’s invitation three years running after Andrew Bogut’s Sydney Kings elected not to take up the opportunity this season.

Melbourne United’s Chris Goulding takes on Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam last year. Picture: AFP

NBL champions Perth Wildcats also opted out due to the hectic travel toll.

New Zealand Breakers will join United abroad also, with the NBL to unveil its third touring franchise today.

Five NBL teams travelled last year.

United last year faced off against Ben Simmons’ Philadelphia 76ers and NBA champion Kawhi Leonard’s Toronto Raptors.

United almost beat Russell Westbrook’s OKC Thunder in the inaugural NBA-NBL series, going down by one point in 2017.

Melbourne United’s DJ Kennedy dribbles the ball against Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons last year. Picture: AFP

United coach Dean Vickerman is desperate to get a win against fancied NBA rivals.

“If we keep going we give ourselves the best chance to be the team that gets the first win against one of those teams, to be highly competitive right now is the greatest challenge,” Vickerman said.

“We competed fantastic against OKC and Philly, took a bit of hit against the Raptors, you just don’t want to take any of those games for granted.

“You know they can pile on points quickly... we just want to go there and make sure we represent the league the right way.”

Melbourne United’s Majok Majok shields the ball from OKC Thunder’s Carmelo Anthony in 2017. Picture: AFP

NBL chief executive Jeremy Loeliger hailed the longevity — and significance — of the series.

“It’s a reflection of the strength of partnership between the NBL and the NBA and the incredible growth and success of basketball in Australia and New Zealand,” Loeliger said.

“The NBL is now one of the premier basketball leagues in the world outside the NBA and we can’t wait for October.”

The NBA-NBL fixture completes a smorgasbord for Australian basketball fans with Team USA-Boomers internationals next month in Melbourne and the World Cup in China.

NBA Asia global partnerships vice president Francesco Suarez said: “There’s never been a better time to be a basketball fan in Australia.”