A selection of Australia’s big-name clubs will battle their American counterparts on a grand scale when the NBL x NBA concept not only continues, but expands later this year.
Three debutant teams – the Perth Wildcats, Adelaide 36ers and New Zealand Breakers – will take part, while Melbourne United and the Sydney Kings will once again be in the mix.
The news was confirmed by the NBL at an Etihad Stadium-based press conference on Wednesday morning.
Melbourne United will kick things off when they take on the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on September 28.
The matchup will pit reigning NBL champions United – who lost to Oklahoma City by just one point last year – against local Melbourne superstar and freshly crowned Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons.
United will later play the Toronto Raptors on October 5, as part of a triple header which will also feature the Adelaide 36ers playing South Australian Ingles and his Utah Jazz, while the Perth Wildcats will take on the Denver Nuggets.
Before then, the Wildcats will face the Jazz on September 29, the Sydney Kings will battle the LA Clippers in Hawaii on September 30 and the New Zealand Breakers will take on the Phoenix Suns on October 3.
Last year’s inaugural NBL x NBA games saw Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane play Oklahoma City, Utah and Phoenix respectively.
2018 NBL x NBA schedule
September 28 – Melbourne United vs Philadelphia 76ers (Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia)
September 29 – Perth Wildcats vs Utah Jazz (Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City)
September 30 – Sydney Kings vs LA Clippers (Stan Sheriff Center, University of Hawaii)
October 3 – New Zealand Breakers vs Phoenix Suns (Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix)
October 5 – Adelaide 36ers vs Utah Jazz (Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City)
October 5 – Melbourne United vs Toronto Raptors (Scotiabank Arena, Toronto)
October 5 – Perth Wildcats vs Denver Nuggets (Pepsi Center, Denver)
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