NBA’s bombshell announcement of games set to be played Down Under

Basketball fans in Australia are set to be treated to a historic outing with the NBA officially confirming a team will be playing Down Under.

Get ready basketball fans, the NBA is officially coming Down Under.

On Tuesday the league confirmed the news we’ve all been waiting to hear with the New Orleans Pelicans set to play two games in Melbourne.

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The historic announcement will be music to the ears of Aussie basketball lovers who can get up close to NBA stars in their own backyard.

The Pelicans will take on Melbourne United and the South East Melbourne Phoenix in two pre-season games ahead of the 2025/26 NBA season.

Both contests will take place at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on October 3 and October 5.

With a roster featuring the likes of two-time NBA All-Star Zion Williamson, 2022 NBA All-Star Dejounte Murray and former Most Improved Player CJ McCollum, fans will be hoping all the stars are in action in Melbourne.

Zion and the Pelicans are heading to our shores. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Something New Orleans Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, David Griffin says is going to happen.

“The one thing that we will do that will be unprecedented is we are going to do a good portion of and be here for our training camp,” Griffin said.

“Our full roster will be in attendance, these games will be really meaningful for us and we know the NBL is going to stack those two teams as well as they can to create a very competitive environment.”

NBL boss, Larry Kestelman, said there was a strong sense of “pride” in getting the deal done.

“The juggernaut the NBA is, to show the trust that it has in the NBL an partner with us shows how far we have come,” he said.

“It’s a special moment for all the fans of basketball … to be able to see it on our shores is an extraordinary moment.

“It’s been 15 years in the making. It’s taken us a long time to get the trust, to get the respect of the biggest basketball organisation in the world.”

Dejounte Murray (left) could be set to light it up in Melbourne. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

NBA IN AUSTRALIA DETAILS

Game 1: Melbourne United vs. New Orleans Pelicans

Friday, 3 October at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Game 2: South East Melbourne Phoenix vs. New Orleans Pelicans

Sunday, 5 October at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Tickets for the event will go on sale at a later date. Fans can register their interest and gain access to presale information and more here.

Originally published as NBA’s bombshell announcement of games set to be played Down Under