NBA and TAB to host ‘Gary Payton’s Block Party’ in Sydney
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Tabcorp (TAB), the official wagering partner of the NBA in Australia, have announced details of ‘Gary Payton’s Block Party’ – a free fan event celebrating basketball and the NBA later this month.
Headlined by NBA champion and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Gary Payton, the Block Party presented by TAB will take over Magic’s sports bar at Hotel Steyne on Manly Beach, on Saturday, March 23 in Sydney.
The event will feature a viewing party to watch the game between Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers at 1.30pm on ESPN, fan meet-and-greets and Q&A sessions with Payton, photo opportunities with the Larry O’Brien Trophy, appearances by local personalities, NBA merchandise giveaways and more.
“Between the success of Australians in the NBA and the national teams’ recent success on the world stage, basketball’s popularity in Australia is at an all-time high,” said Payton.
“I look forward to visiting Australia once again and to meeting the country’s passionate fans at my block party.”
EVENT | Don’t miss Gary Payton’s Block Party 🏀 Free and open to public, be there early and avoid disappointment!
WHEN: 23 Mar (Sat), 10:30am to 4:30pm
WHERE: Magic’s Sports Bar @ Hotel Steyne
WHAT: Q&A with Payton, Sixers vs Lakers viewing party. NBA merch giveaways and more 👀 pic.twitter.com/ldfprzZeuH— The Pick and Roll 🇦🇺🏀 (@PickandRollAU) March 2, 2024
Nicknamed ‘The Glove’ for his defensive prowess, Payton had a storied NBA career spanning 17 seasons, winning an NBA Championship with Miami Heat in 2006 and being named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1996 – the first point guard to collect the award – to go with nine NBA All-Star selections and nine NBA All-Defensive First Team selections.
Payton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 and was named in the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
For many, though, Payton’s legacy lies primarily with his 13-season tenure with Seattle SuperSonics. The second overall pick for SuperSonics in the 1990 NBA Draft, Payton became a legend for the franchise, which controversially relocated to become Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008.
Payton formed half of one of the all-time great NBA duos with Shawn Kemp, peaking with the SuperSonics trip to the NBA Finals in 1996 (going down to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in six games). In the twilight of his career, Payton featured in the NBA Finals again in 2004 with the Lakers – a loss to Detroit Pistons – before winning an elusive Championship ring in his last full season in the league.
The Glove’ is also a two-time Olympic gold medallist as part of the United States’ 1996 and 2000 tournament-winning teams.
“At TAB, we are proud of our collaboration with the NBA to grow the sport in Australia,” said Kate Waugh, Head of Sponsorships for TAB.
“The TAB App is home to a thriving basketball community, and we can’t wait to bring that community together in-person at Gary Payton’s Block Party in celebration of our shared passion for basketball.”
The 2023-24 NBA season is airing live 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, and at the NBA Stores in Melbourne and Sydney. For more information about the NBA, fans in Australia can download the NBA App and follow the NBA on Facebook, Instagram and X.
