The New Orleans Pelicans successfully concluded their pre-season tour of Australia with a clean sweep against their National Basketball League (NBL) counterparts, igniting discussions about the potential for future NBA regular-season games on Australian soil.
New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green expressed optimism about the prospect of the NBA holding a regular-season game in Australia, following his team`s dominant performance and clean sweep in their exhibition series against NBL rivals.
Star forward Zion Williamson captivated yet another sold-out audience at Melbourne`s Rod Laver Arena. The Pelicans concluded their successful pre-season trip with a convincing 127-92 victory over the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Sunday.
This win secured a perfect record for the Pelicans in the `NBAxNBL` series against Australian clubs, building on their earlier 107-97 triumph over Melbourne United just two days prior.
These two groundbreaking matches marked the first time an NBA team played in Australia, a significant achievement that came after over 15 years of dedicated advocacy from figures like former NBA stars Luc Longley and Andrew Bogut, alongside NBL owner Larry Kestelman.
A Global Game: NBA`s Australian Ambitions
With Major League Baseball having launched its regular season in Sydney in 2014 and the National Football League scheduled to host a competitive game in Melbourne next year, Coach Green sees a clear path for the NBA to follow suit.
Green affirmed, It`s a possibility, for sure. The game has become so global that you see teams competing in regular-season games in various countries.
He added, After this positive experience, I believe we will see more NBA teams making their way to Australia.
The NBA has a history of expanding its global footprint, with upcoming regular-season games scheduled for Mexico City, London, and Berlin in the season commencing October 21.
Pelicans guard Jordan Poole, an NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors in 2022, echoed Green`s enthusiasm regarding the team`s Australian tour. Poole stated, The fan interactions, the quality basketball… I only have positive things to say. It`s definitely something we should make a more routine occurrence.
Williamson`s Impact and Team Performance
As expected, former No. 1 overall draft pick Williamson was the undisputed star attraction for the Australian fans. He played limited minutes, however, as he continues to build form, showcasing his vastly improved physique in anticipation of a predicted breakout season.
Williamson clearly demonstrated his superior talent against his NBL opponents, impressively tallying eight points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks in just 15 minutes of play against South East Melbourne.
Other standout performers for the Pelicans included starters Saddiq Bey with 21 points, Jeremiah Fears with 12, and Jordan Poole contributing 15 points.
However, the tour wasn`t without its concerns, as New Orleans guard Jose Alvarado sustained an injury to his right knee while under defensive pressure from Phoenix import Hunter Maldonado.
NBL Talent Shines
For the Phoenix, top scorers included Jordan Hunter with 17 points, and both Nathan Sobey and Akech Aliir each adding 16 points. NBL Next Star Malique Lewis displayed a mixed performance, recording eight points, five rebounds, four assists, and two turnovers.
This game followed an impressive Friday showing from fellow NBA hopeful Dash Daniels, the 17-year-old brother of Boomers and NBA star Dyson Daniels, who significantly boosted his draft prospects while playing for Melbourne United.
Phoenix coach Josh King commented on Trinidadian forward Malique Lewis`s performance, stating, He looked good out there. There`s no better opportunity than to actually play against an NBA team to gauge where you stand.
King added, He had many positive moments, as did a lot of our players, and he will undoubtedly continue to improve. Hopefully, playing against these NBA talents instills confidence in him moving forward, showing him he can indeed compete at this level.
Historical Context of NBAxNBL Series
Since its inception in 2017, the `NBAxNBL` series has seen NBA teams win 25 out of 26 pre-season games against NBL clubs.
The sole upset in the series occurred in 2022, when the Adelaide 36ers famously defeated the Phoenix Suns.
