Basketball Australia plans to lure NBA superstars Steph Curry and LeBron James Down Under
BASKETBALL Australia has revealed ambitious plans to bring NBA superstars Steph Curry and LeBron James Down Under as part of a USA Dream Team tour.
BASKETBALL Australia has revealed ambitious plans to bring NBA superstars Steph Curry and LeBron James to Sydney as part of a USA Dream Team tour.
With Australia on the cusp of a potential golden era of basketball, officials are looking to capitalise on the increased interest in the game.
The Daily Telegraph can confirm Basketball Australia boss Anthony Moore wants to lock in a match between the Boomers and the Dream Team in the lead-up to the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China.
That has the potential to pit the likes of Curry, James and Australian-born Kyrie Irving against local stars Andrew Bogut, Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova and potential NBA No. 1 draft picks Ben Simmons and Thon Maker.
Such is the potential of the Boomers’ roster, the Australia-USA clash could be a preview of the gold medal match at the World Cup.
“It would be awesome to have LeBron and Team USA play a game (in Sydney)”, Moore said.
In addition to hosting the Dream Team in Sydney, Moore has identified a number of key targets, including:
*The Boomers to play a match against the Dream Team and other top-ranked nations in America and Europe in the lead-up to the Rio Olympics next year;
*Talks are underway for Australia to host an NBA three-on-three tournament and eventually an NBA game; and
*Basketball Australia, the NBL and Basketball NSW are to meet with the NSW State Government early next year about the prospect of the USA Dream Team playing at a new multipurpose stadium at the proposed Wentworth Park site.
There are currently eight Australians playing in the NBA, where Bogut’s Golden State Warriors beat Dellavedova’s Cleveland Cavaliers in last season’s finals.
The Boomers are tipped to emerge as a potential powerhouse with Louisiana State University forward Simmons rated a No. 1 pick in next year’s NBA draft.
Maker, a 216cm Sudanese-born 18-year-old, has been compared to NBA greats Kevin Durant and Kevin Garnett.
BOOMERS IN SYDNEY
Moore said the opportunity was there to capitalise on the unprecedented interest in Aussie hoops.
“The opportunity exists for us to start conversations with Basketball USA about what an Australian tour would look like before heading to the (2019) World Cup,” Moore told The Daily Telegraph.
“Team USA in Sydney would be very exciting.
“We’ve seen the success of the Major League Baseball season opener with scenes of the Opera House, Sydney Harbour and the bridge.
“It’s iconic and it would be awesome to have LeBron and Team USA play a game there.
“The last time Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne was full for a game was Team USA versus Boomers and Opals prior to the Sydney Olympics in 2000, so we know the experience is really positive and has good memories.”
Moore, who shares a close connection with NBA Asia’s senior vice-president and managing director, Scott Levy, is pushing to join forces with the NBA to promote the game Down Under.
While the NBA has taken regular-season games to international destinations like London and Mexico, Moore believed luring the Dream Team to Australia was a more practical target.
“That could be more realistic than two NBA teams coming out and play a pre-season game at an absolutely astronomical expense,” Moore said.
“We think (a game) would be enormous, but realistically it’s 2017, 2018 and beyond.
“The NBA has different objectives and we just need to try and line those up.
“The three-on-three opportunity is one avenue that could come sooner, but Team USA coming out to prepare for a World Cup — that’s suddenly a lot more realistic.”
RIO FANCIES
Led by seasoned NBA stars Mills and Bogut, the Boomers will head to the Rio Olympics next August with one of their strongest sides.
Moore believes this provides Basketball Australia with an invaluable chance to work with the NBA to promote the Boomers on an international stage.
“We are looking at opportunities like the Boomers playing against the USA Dream Team in America in the lead-up to Rio,” he revealed.
“That could also include games against other Olympic teams.
“We had our board meeting recently and we’ve also discussed getting into Europe to play games.
“There is also a chance to work with our airline partner Virgin to run a promotion to take a bunch of Australian fans over to watch a game in America.
“I want us to be in a position commercially that by Rio everyone who is staying up late to watch Australia compete in all sports is also wearing a Boomers or Opals singlet.
“With the NBA’s assistance we can bring this to life.”
The Boomers will assemble in Australia next July in the lead-up to Rio for two matches against rival Olympic nations and Moore was hopeful Simmons would be available.
SYDNEY’S NEW KINGDOME
With the iconic Sydney Entertainment Centre to be demolished on New Year’s Day, basketball in the harbour city is on the lookout for a new inner-city venue to call home.
Moore confirmed talks were well underway for a game between the Boomers and the Dream Team to take centre stage on the NSW State Government’s proposed site for a new $150 million indoor venue at Wentworth Park.
“There is a coalition of sports, including netball, tennis and volleyball competing with us for that space,” Moore said.
“We can fill the venue, but they just need to build it.
“We’ve sent a letter of support on behalf of the Sydney Kings to the NSW premier saying we are really keen.
“We are also attending a meeting at the premier’s office in the New Year.
“Bob Elphinston the president of Basketball NSW and former FIBA global president will be attending, as will the chairman of the NBL, Graeme Wade.
“The Entertainment Centre is going, so there is an opportunity to have a multi-sport arena in downtown Sydney to host a game with the USA Dream Team and that would be huge for basketball in Australia.”
THE NBA LINKS
Moore helped build a licensing program for NBA Australasia in the 1990s on the back of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, while he also generated promotions for the Australian Cricket team in the height of the team’s world dominance under the captaincy of Steve Waugh.
“The conversation with Scott was how do we work with the NBA to promote the accessibility and stories of our athletes,” said Moore, who will visit America after Christmas to speak with a number of people in the NBA and WNBA.
“It’s massive for us with eight players in the NBA and Ben Simmons potentially going No. 1 in the Draft.
“It’s about working with the NBA across multiple platforms, because we are in this amazing period where we have so many Australians playing in the NBA and more to come.”
Moore has known Levy for more than five years through his extensive career in sports administration, including time at the NBA, so he went out of his way to connect with him when he started at Basketball Australia last October.
He knew Levy, who is well respected in the NBA, was the man to help him capitalise on a golden period for basketball in Australia.
Moore is also well qualified to spark change.
He has worked in elite sporting organisations for more than 20 years, including Cricket Australia and numerous AFL clubs.
Led by Moore, Basketball in Australia has a clear direction for the future and it’s why Levy and his team at NBA Asia are so keen to build a strong connection.
“We see great things for basketball in Australia and we are looking for ways to support,” Levy said. “If we can work together, hopefully we can spark some more interest.”
HOW THEY COULD LINE UP IN 2019
BOOMERS
C Andrew Bogut
F Thon Maker
F Ben Simmons
G Dante Exum
G Patty Mills
Bench
Cameron Bairstow
Aron Baynes
Matthew Dellevadova
Chris Goulding
Isaac Humphries
Joe Ingles
Brock Motum
Dejan Vasiljevic
DREAM TEAM
C Anthony Davis
F LeBron James
F Kevin Durant
G Russell Westbrook
G Steph Curry
Bench
James Harden
Kyrie Irving
Blake Griffin
Kawhi Leonard
Paul George
Klay Thompson
Originally published as Basketball Australia plans to lure NBA superstars Steph Curry and LeBron James Down Under
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