Rod Laver is only 14k max isn't it?

Similar, but different.

"The National Football League will stage a regular season game in Australia for the first time, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, as part of a multi-year commitment to play in the Victorian capital from 2026." (Google search)

Gonna be NBA vs NBL which is a big bummer. I'm guessing it'll be Chicago or Atlanta, someone who has a name Aussie on the team.

Larry K got involved, so he's not interested in NBA vs NBA as that doesn't help promote the NBL in any way.

I don't mind it being against an NBL team, I think the players might have a bit more of a go. NBL boys will want to prove themselves and the NBA players wouldn’t want to lose to em.
Better than 2 NBA teams playing a game that means nothing.

The agreement will see Melbourne host two games featuring an NBA team against an NBL opponent. The deal is currently structured for a one-year arrangement, but both the NBL and Victorian Government are keen to make it a recurring event.

I really hope which ever team/s come out they bring the full squad not the rookies looking for extra court time prior to the season starting.

Thats usually what we get when these teams come out here.

Sydney far bigger stadium, NSW so poor though and got nothing left to sell, previous government tried to sell of the stamp duty which was making a fortune and still does. Vic government at least still invested in sports for the punters.

Agreed that it makes more sense for Larry to have it as NBL vs NBA. And given its pre season, that probably gives it a better chance to be entertaining.

The NBA team will likely bring an extended squad pre cuts and play 15-18 guys with the main guys getting no more than about 20 minutes

Count me in, and yeah, would be even better if Daniels or Giddey are on the NBA team.

I hope it's a great event. Aussie basketball deserves something like this now. However the sceptic in me thinks this will be a meh outcome. The NBA will send an unpopular team (with their intention of growing their international fanbase) and play a team of names not many would have heard of, or get too excited about.

And fans going to the game will probably be paying an overly high price for it.

Still, it's about time they came here for a NBA x NBL game.

I'm not a betting man but I would be willing to bet my house the NBL team will be Melbourne United!

LV, "yeah, would be even better if Daniels or Giddey are on the NBA team."

How about if they send an NBA team with nothing but Aussies in it!

" The NBA will send an unpopular team (with their intention of growing their international fanbase)"

I would say Hawks fits all this well.

Either a team featuring an Australian, or a team from roughly the South/West quarter of the US to limit travel time.

If it's that, can rule out big names like Lakers/Warriors - probably rule out Clippers too, but I suppose a chance they see it as a good/rare international branding opportunity given how swamped they are by the Lakers. Phoenix an outsider. So maybe Sacramento, or, if I could put money on it, Utah. They've also participated in all 5 NBLxNBA trips - think they're the only team to do so?

Don't think they would go with an NBL 'all-star' team as there's no shame in a regular NBL club being beaten by an NBA side, but an NBL all-star team losing (possibly twice) to a lesser NBA team running mostly lesser players would be a bad look...

Living in London for years - the NBA pre-season games they had here (before they moved to regular season games, and then moved them to Paris) were always considered 'not really worth it' even to NBA tragics here as they charged a premium for tickets, you'd get only a few token minutes from whatever 'star' player/s, and otherwise you'd watch bench players never getting out of first gear.

Obviously this will be significantly more unique for Australian fans. Hopefully the start of something regular, but you never know, might be a one off, so def. 'worth it'.

As a Sydney guy, bummer it's not in Sydney in the NBA-sized arena there - obviously the two games would sell out in lightning speed in Sydney too - but Melbourne/Victoria will overall support it as an event much better than Sydney/NSW where there's a far more lax attitude with these things. Also with Larry K, never a doubt he would have heavily favoured Melbourne.

So, Melbourne can do a good job and heavily support it and prove the concept as worth it for the NBA, and then hopefully one day there's NBA v NBA in Australia and you could have a game in each city...