NBA royalty descends on Melbourne

The historic NBAxNBL Melbourne Series is set to bring basketball royalty and fan festivities to Australia next week.

Headlining the celebrations are NBA champions and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, who will appear at a special Fan Night at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday, October 4.

Garnett is a 15-time NBA All-Star, 2004 NBA MVP and 2008 NBA champion, while Allen is a two-time NBA champion and 10-time All-Star, celebrated as one of the greatest three-point shooters in league history.

The event will celebrate the NBA, the NBL and the game of basketball with entertainment including a skills challenge, three-point contest, half-court shootout, mascot appearances, performances by the Pelicans dance team, and a live musical set from singer-songwriter Tones And I. Fans can secure tickets to Fan Night via Ticketek.

In addition to Fan Night, the NBA, the NBL and the New Orleans Pelicans will host a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA clinic earlier on October 4, as well as lifestyle events leading up to and during the week of games.

On the court, two-time NBA All-Star Zion Williamson and the Pelicans will take centre stage with back-to-back matchups against Melbourne United on Friday, October 3, and South East Melbourne Phoenix on Sunday, October 5, both at Rod Laver Arena.

>> CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS TO ALL EVENTS

Williamson averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists last season and will look to thrill fans in his first trip Down Under, sending a warning that he's in the best shape of his life.

“I haven’t felt like this since college, high school. I can walk into a gym and just feel good,” he said this week.

“And during that timeframe last year, I really felt a shift in my body to where I would look at him and be like, ‘It feels good to feel good.’ I haven’t felt like this since college, high school. I can walk into a gym and just feel good.”

As part of the action-packed weekend, there will also be an open training session on Thursday afternoon, and a special Louisiana Luncheon on Sunday, giving fans even more opportunities to get up close with basketball’s biggest names.

What tickets can I buy?

- Game 1 – New Orleans Pelicans vs Melbourne United - Friday, October 3, 2025 - 7.30pm AEST
- Game 2 – New Orleans Pelicans vs South East Melbourne Phoenix - Sunday, October 5, 2025 - 2pm AEDT

- Pelicans Open Training – Thursday, October 2, 2025, 1pm AEST: Includes an exclusive first look at the team’s training, player Q&A and more
- NBAxNBL Fan Night – Saturday, October 4, 2025, 6pm AEST: A showcase event with player performances, basketball challenges, live entertainment and more

>> CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS TO ALL EVENTS