The NBA has gone offshore to find preseason opponents, hosting three Australian NBL clubs in the buildup to the regular season.
On Monday the NBA announced an agreement with the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) to host three teams during the preseason in October.
The Sydney Kings, Melbourne United and Brisbane Bullets will play the Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns respectively; a massive get for the NBL and great exposure for young Australians and New Zealanders looking to make the leap to the NBA.
The opportunity to play the world’s best on their own floor before they tackle the NBA regular season will excite and inspire anyone in the two countries that picks up a basketball between now and the end of the tour.
It’s no charity act by commissioner Adam Silver after years of begging by NBL boss Larry Kestelman, either.
Roy Ward of The Age reported Kestelman was invited by the NBA to send teams to America. It’s all a result of the reputation basketball down under is creating for itself by ensuring they produce a quality product rather than pleasing the masses with clubs scattered all across the country.
Larry Kestelman says @NBL was invited by @NBA to play those preseason games. #NBL18
— Roy Ward (@rpjward) August 1, 2017
Originally beginning in 1979 with nine clubs, expansions, reductions and relocations have produced an ever-changing landscape. Now with eight clubs, the NBL has found its winning formula. Parity, rivalries and a growing number of big-name imports have the league as strong as its ever been.
Torrey Craig is the latest NBL import to add his name to the growing list to make an NBA roster on the back of strong seasons in Australia.
More from NBA
- Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
- Constructing the NBA’s perfect all-under-25 starting five
- Grading every NBA team’s highest draft pick in the last five years
That winning formula is now being rewarded by the most recognized basketball league in the world – but the NBL isn’t done yet.
Kestelman told the Courier Mail he is “very confident” they will one day be able to return the favor and have an NBA game played in Australia.
The invitations to play speaks volumes of the respect the league has created for itself. These players are no pushovers; in fact, they are more likely to do the pushing in what is a lot more physical style of play than what many in America will be used to.
What they lack in flare, they make up for in fight and hustle, as evidenced in the highlights of their most recent finals game:
Former NBL MVP Joe Ingles began his professional career in the league while fellow Australian, Dante Exum, also has an affiliation with many of its players. Those two, in particular, will be certainties to take the court when the NBL side’s visit in October, with Ingles telling ESPN:
"“As an Aussie who began my career in the NBL and now entering my fourth season with Utah, I am very proud of the growth of the game in my home country and can’t wait for the Jazz and Salt Lake City to play host to Sydney this fall.”"
Next: The biggest winners and losers of 2017 NBA free agency
With Matthew Dellavedova and Thon Maker being two other Aussies in the NBA on the same team, it’s a shame the Milwaukee Bucks couldn’t get involved. Maybe next year. After these three games in which the NBA’s superstars will be pushed to perform, expect the invite to extend beyond 2017.