With the announcement that the New Orleans Pelicans will visit Australia for a pair of exhibition matches, let's take a look at how NBL teams have matched up against NBA teams in the past.
Seven NBL teams have made the trip to the United States for a total of 24 games, but this will be the first time an NBA team visits Australia.
The most impressive of all NBL teams' visits to America came when the Adelaide 36ers travelled to Arizona to face off against the Phoenix Suns in 2022. The 36ers shocked the basketball world by defeating the Suns 134-124.
The Suns had their regular starting five on the court with Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Miles Bridges, Cam Johnson and DeAndre Ayton making up the squad. But thanks to an inspirational performance from Robert Franks (32 points) and Craig Randall (35 points), the 36ers secured the win.
Both Melbourne-based NBL teams will be hoping to achieve a similar result when the Pelicans come to town. The Pelicans are currently led by two-time NBA All-Star Zion Williamson, along with stars CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray.
However, not all of these intercontinental matchups have gone as swimmingly for the Australian teams. The first group of NBL teams to head overseas were the Sydney Kings, Melbourne United and Brisbane Bullets in October 2017.
The Sydney Kings were the first to face off against the Utah Jazz and suffered a heavy 25-point defeat, which would be a continuing trend for most NBL teams for years to come. But in the following game Melbourne United managed to impress, losing by only one point to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
After the success of the NBL teams' first trip to the USA in 2017, the league sent over two additional teams in 2018. Melbourne United, Perth Wildcats, Sydney Kings, New Zealand Breakers and Adelaide 36ers all had the chance to compete against the world's best.
The closest any NBL team came to winning on this visit was the New Zealand Breakers, who lost to the Phoenix Suns by only five points, with Corey Webster impressing with 27 points.
In 2019, only three NBL teams made the trip to America. The Adelaide 36ers, New Zealand Breakers and Melbourne United. No team came close to winning this time, with the smallest losing margin being 14 points for New Zealand, who lost to the Memphis Grizzlies and Melbourne, who fell to the Sacramento Kings.
One notable performance from this trip however was when Melbourne United played the Los Angeles Clippers. The game's leading scorer was Montrezl Harrell, who scored 22 points and would eventually find himself on Adelaide 36ers roster himself in years to follow.
Two years of COVID-19 disruptions meant no teams could make the journey, but in 2022, the Adelaide 36ers were the first to return to America. They recorded their famous victory over the Suns, but the following year, the baton was passed to the Cairns Taipans and New Zealand Breakers, who tried to get the job done in 2023.
Genuinely hope that Adelaide beating the Suns helps make people realize how much talent there is worldwide playing hoops. So many players overseas are every bit as good as the last few guys on NBA rosters. So much a matter of timing, contract structure, etc.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) October 3, 2022
Both 2023 and 2024 saw heavy losses for the Breakers and Taipans, leading to 2025, where the Pelicans will aim to achieve a victory on foreign soil, an achievement only one NBL team has managed thus far.
With each passing season, the NBL is gaining more respect on the world stage, thanks to the quality of the competition and player development.
The Next Stars program has been crucial in developing the league and nurturing future NBA talent. To date, nine players from the NBL's Next Stars program have been drafted directly into the NBA, including Ousmane Dieng (Oklahoma City Thunder), Josh Giddey (Chicago Bulls), LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets) and 2024 No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards), to name a few.
The Pelicans' upcoming visit to Australia not only strengthens the growing relationship between the NBL and the NBA but also provides a significant opportunity to showcase the talent and competitiveness of the Australian national league. As the NBL continues to grow in stature and gain international recognition, events like these play a crucial role in furthering its reputation and opening doors for future collaboration and player development on the world stage.
