The Pelicans are making history as the first NBA team to play in Australia, with two pre-season games scheduled for October at Melbourne Park, organizers confirmed Tuesday.
The New Orleans squad will face off against local teams Melbourne United and Phoenix at the same venue that hosts the Australian Open tennis tournament.
“The significance of this announcement for basketball in Australia and the NBL can’t be overstated,” said Larry Kestelman, owner and director of Australia’s National Basketball League.
It’s been a long time coming.
“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’,” Kestelman added.
The Pelicans, set to play on October 3 and 5, feature point guard Dejounte Murray and two-time All-Star Zion Williamson in their lineup.
Dennis Lauscha, president of the New Orleans franchise, couldn’t hide his excitement about the milestone. “This is an exciting moment for our organisation and a testament to the growing global impact of the NBA,” he said.
“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.”
But there’s a twist that might disappoint Australian fans.
Zion Williamson might not even be with the team by the time they head Down Under. Rumors are swirling that the Houston Rockets are eyeing a trade for the 24-year-old star, potentially offering Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason and Jock Landale in exchange.
Bleacher Report’s Greg Schwartz thinks it might be time for the Pelicans to move on from their injury-prone star, despite Williamson’s impressive recent form averaging 26.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists over his last 15 games.
“The Pelicans should use this rare opportunity to trade the oft-injured 24-year-old now and reset the roster around a new group of young talent,” Schwartz wrote.
He didn’t stop there.
“If the Rockets bow out of the West playoffs early and talk themselves into pairing Williamson with Jalen Green, Alperen ลengรผn, Dillon Brooks, Fred VanVleet and Cam Whitmore, the Pelicans should be thrilled to add Smith, Sheppard and Eason.”
The historic Australian games are part of the NBA’s global expansion efforts, which have seen the league take games to various countries around the world.
