Pelicans to play NBL teams in Australia

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL), in collaboration with Visit Victoria, today announced that the New Orleans Pelicans will play two preseason games against NBL teams in Melbourne this October, marking the first NBA games in Australia.  The Pelicans will play Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix in Melbourne Park on Friday Oct. 3 and Sunday Oct. 5, 2025, with the NBL serving as the official promoter and organiser of the Melbourne Series. 

In addition to the games, the NBA, the NBL and the Pelicans will conduct NBA Cares community outreach initiatives and lifestyle events leading up to and during the week of the games, including a Fan Night on Saturday Oct. 4.  The NBA and the NBL also plan to expand their grassroots basketball development efforts in Asia-Pacific at the youth and elite levels in the coming years.  

>> REGISTER NOW FOR PRE-SALE ACCESS

The announcement was made today in Melbourne by New Orleans Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin; NBL Executive Director & Owner Larry Kestelman; Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos; and NBA Asia Head of Strategy Rajah Chaudhry.

The Pelicans currently feature two-time NBA All-Star Zion Williamson, 2022 NBA All-Star Dejounte Murray and 2015-16 Kia NBA Most Improved Player CJ McCollum.  Tickets for the games and surrounding events will go on sale at a later date.  Fans can register their interest and gain access to presale information and more here.

The announcement builds on the NBA and NBL’s prior collaborations that began in 2016.  Seven NBL teams have traveled to the U.S. to play 24 preseason games against NBA teams.  The NBA twice collaborated with the NBL to host Basketball Without Borders, the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program, in Australia (2016 in Melbourne and 2024 in Perth).  To date, nine players from the NBL’s Next Stars program have been drafted directly from the NBL into the NBA, including Ousmane Dieng (Oklahoma City Thunder), Josh Giddey (Chicago Bulls), LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets), and 2024 No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards).  A record four Next Stars were selected in the 2024 NBA Draft: Sarr, AJ Johnson (Wizards), Bobi Klintman (Detroit Pistons) and Ariel Hukporti (New York Knicks). 

NBA games and programming reach fans in Australia on ESPN and NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service available via the NBA App.  Fans in Australia can shop for the latest NBA merchandise at NBAStore.com.au, the official online NBA Store in Australia.  For more information about the NBA, fans in Australia can visit The Sporting News Australia, download the NBA App and follow the NBA on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.  For more on the NBL, fans can visit NBL.com.au.

>> REGISTER NOW FOR PRE-SALE ACCESS

New Orleans Pelicans Governor Gayle Benson:
“We are honored to be part of this historic occasion for basketball in Australia.  This collaboration with the NBL and NBA to bring the Pelicans to Melbourne provides an exceptional opportunity to engage with our global fanbase and share the rich spirit and culture of New Orleans with basketball fans in the region.  We look forward to competing against Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix, and collaborating with the NBA and NBL to inspire and develop the next generation of athletes across the Asia-Pacific region.”

New Orleans Pelicans President Dennis Lauscha:
“This is an exciting moment for our organization and a testament to the growing global impact of the NBA.  Bringing the Pelicans and NBA to Australia for the first time is a proud milestone, and we are thrilled to be part of this unique opportunity to engage with fans in Melbourne.  We look forward to competing against two outstanding NBL teams and creating unforgettable memories for our fans.  This is just the beginning of what we hope will be a lasting connection between the Pelicans and the basketball community in Australia.”

NBL Owner and Executive Director Larry Kestelman:
“The significance of this announcement for basketball in Australia and the NBL can’t be overstated.  Hosting an NBA team in Australia has been a long-held dream for everyone at the NBL, and to see this initiative finally come to fruition after a 15-year journey shows that much can be accomplished when you ‘Dream Big’.  I want to thank Adam Silver, Mark Tatum, Michael Ma and the team at the NBA for being open to this amazing vision and for their continued support of our League.”

NBA Asia Head of Strategy Rajah Chaudhry:
“These historic games and the surrounding events will not only be a celebration of basketball but will also serve as a catalyst for the continued growth of the game in Australia.  We look forward to working with the Pelicans, the NBL and Visit Victoria to make this a memorable week for the teams, players and most importantly the fans.”

Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos:
“The NBA has surged in popularity in Australia in recent years, and it’s going to be a great opportunity for basketball fans to see the stars of the game up close.”

Visit Victoria Chief Executive Officer Brendan McClements:
“The best of Victoria will be on display to the NBA’s global fanbase, showcasing our state to audiences around the world and encouraging thousands more visitors to see what makes us ‘Every bit different’.”