Pelicans To Play First NBA Games In Australia

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL) have jointly announced a historic moment for Australian basketball fans, as the New Orleans Pelicans are set to play two preseason games in Melbourne this October.

This marks the inaugural NBA games to be held in Australia, with the Pelicans facing off against NBL teams, Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix, at Melbourne Park on Friday, October 3, and Sunday, October 5, 2025, with the NBL will take being the official promoter and organiser for the Melbourne Series.

Beyond the games themselves, the partnership will include substantial community engagement efforts through NBA Cares initiatives, as well as various lifestyle events leading up to and during the event week.

Commenting on the pre-season event, New Orleans Pelicans Governor, Gayle Benson, said: “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,” Benson said.

NBL Executive Director, Larry Kestelman, added: “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’.”

A Fan Night is scheduled for October 4, while the NBA and NBL are poised to enhance their grassroots basketball development initiatives throughout the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on both youth and elite player development in the coming years.

This announcement represents an evolution of the ongoing collaboration between the NBA and NBL, which commenced in 2016, since then, seven NBL teams have ventured to the U.S. to contest 24 preseason games against NBA opponents.

The leagues have previously worked together for Basketball Without Borders, which aims to aid basketball development and community outreach globally, hosting events in Australia in 2016 and planning for a 2024 edition in Perth.

Details regarding ticket sales for the games and associated events will be released at a later date, but fans are encouraged to register their interest for presale information.

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