New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green expressed confidence in the possibility of an NBA regular-season game being held in Australia, following his team`s dominant sweep of their exhibition series against NBL opponents.
NBA star forward Zion Williamson captivated a packed Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, as the Pelicans concluded their pre-season tour on Sunday with a commanding 127-92 victory over the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
This victory secured a perfect record for the Pelicans in the `NBAxNBL` series against Australian clubs, building on their 107-97 win against Melbourne United just two days prior.
These two matches marked the inaugural appearance of an NBA team in Australia, a milestone achieved after over 15 years of concerted efforts by figures such as former players Luc Longley and Andrew Bogut, and NBL owner Larry Kestelman.
With MLB having hosted a regular-season opener in Sydney in 2014 and the NFL planning a competitive game in Melbourne next year, Coach Green believes the NBA could soon follow this trend.
“It`s definitely a possibility,” Green stated. “Basketball has become so global that it`s common to see teams playing regular-season games in various countries.”
“After this positive experience, I anticipate more NBA teams will visit Australia.”
The upcoming NBA season, commencing on October 21, is set to feature games in Mexico City, London, and Berlin.
Jordan Poole, the Pelicans guard and 2022 NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, shared Coach Green`s positive outlook on the team`s Australian tour.
“The fan interactions and the quality of basketball were excellent; I have nothing but positive feedback,” Poole remarked. “This is definitely something we should make a more regular occurrence.”
Zion Williamson, the former No. 1 overall draft pick, was the primary draw for Australian spectators, albeit with restricted playing time as he prepares for an anticipated breakout season, showcasing his noticeably improved physical condition.
Williamson`s performance clearly surpassed that of his NBL counterparts, as he contributed eight points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks in just 15 minutes against South East Melbourne.
Other key starters, including Saddiq Bey (21 points), Jeremiah Fears (12), and Jordan Poole (15), also delivered impressive performances.
A minor setback for New Orleans occurred when guard Jose Alvarado sustained a right knee injury under defensive pressure from Phoenix import Hunter Maldonado.
For the Phoenix, Jordan Hunter led the scoring with 17 points, supported by Nathan Sobey and Akech Aliir, who each added 16. NBL Next Star Malique Lewis had a mixed outing, recording eight points, five rebounds, four assists, and two turnovers.
This followed a strong performance by another NBA prospect, Dash Daniels — the 17-year-old brother of Boomers and NBA player Dyson Daniels — who enhanced his draft profile while playing for United on Friday.
“He looked solid on the court,” commented Phoenix coach Josh King regarding Trinidadian forward Lewis. “There`s no better way to gauge your abilities than by competing directly against an NBA team. He had many positive moments, as did many of our players, and he will undoubtedly continue to improve.”
“Hopefully, playing against these NBA talents will boost his confidence, showing him that he can indeed compete at that level.”
Since the `NBAxNBL` series began in 2017, NBA teams have secured 25 victories in 26 pre-season matchups against NBL clubs. The sole exception occurred in 2022, when the Adelaide 36ers famously upset the Phoenix Suns.
