Melbourne is set to make basketball history, with an NBA team scheduled to play in Australia for the first time. The Victorian Government, NBL, and NBA are finalizing a deal to bring an NBA franchise to Melbourne in October 2025 for a two-game exhibition series, sources told ESPN.
The event will mark the first time an NBA team has played on Australian soil, a significant moment for basketball fans across the country. The games will be played at Melbourne Park, with Rod Laver Arena emerging as the likely venue. The opponent for the NBA team is still being decided, with Melbourne United, South East Melbourne Phoenix, or a specially selected NBL All-Star team among the options.
“This will be sold out regardless of who comes,” former NBA champion Andrew Bogut said. “It is going to be NBA versus NBL … it is exciting. It will probably be Chicago or Atlanta, one of those squads, which will be awesome.”
The visiting NBA team is yet to be confirmed, but among the franchises in consideration are the Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Houston Rockets. A major factor in selecting a team is the presence of Australian players, with Melbourne-born stars like Josh Giddey (Bulls), Dyson Daniels (Hawks), and Jock Landale (Rockets) being potential draws.
“There is a desire to bring an NBA team with an Aussie on its roster,” a source told the Herald Sun. “That would be ideal for the first of what is hoped will be a multi-year deal with the NBA.”
The deal is currently for one year, but both the NBL and the Victorian Government have expressed interest in making it a recurring event. The NBL’s owner, Larry Kestelman, has been in direct discussions with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, building a relationship between the two leagues that helped pave the way for this groundbreaking series.
The NBA has long viewed the NBL as a gateway to the Asian market, and Melbourne’s successful hosting of international sporting events, including the 2019 Boomers vs. Team USA games that drew over 50,000 fans to Marvel Stadium, made it an attractive choice.
Victoria’s successful bid means the state has once again outmaneuvered Sydney in securing major international sporting events. NSW Premier Chris Minns has faced criticism after failing to land this event, following Melbourne’s recent success in securing NFL regular-season games featuring the LA Rams at the MCG.
“We are seeing a missed opportunity while Victoria secures world-class events that should be coming here,” NSW Tourism Association chief executive Natalie Godward said.
While the NBA has played regular-season games in Tokyo, London, and Mexico City, this will be the first time an NBA team has traveled to Australia for official exhibition games.
“It’s a huge moment for basketball in Australia,” said a league insider. “This is something fans have been waiting for, and it will only strengthen the connection between the NBA and the NBL.”
The final details of the deal, including the NBA team involved and the NBL squad they will face, are expected to be announced in the coming months. With the game being in Melbourne it’s believe the most likely opponent would be Melbourne United, South East Melbourne Phoenix or NBL select game. However, one thing is certain: Australian basketball fans are in for an unforgettable experience when the NBA finally arrives in Melbourne.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
