NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The New Orleans Pelicans will travel Down Under this fall, playing two preseason games in Melbourne, Australia, the NBA announced Monday (March 10).

The Oct. 3 and Oct. 5 games in Melbourne will mark the first time an NBA team has played in Australia. The Pelicans will play exhibition contests against Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix, teams from Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL).

The announcement was made in Melbourne by Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin, NBL executive director and owner Larry Kestelman, and NBA Asia head of strategy Rajah Chaudhry.

Gayle Benson, owner of the Pelicans and the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, said, “We are honored to be part of this historic occasion for basketball in Australia. This collaboration with the NBL and NBA to bring the Pelicans to Melbourne provides an exceptional opportunity to engage with our global fan base and share the rich spirit and culture of New Orleans with basketball fans in the region.”

In addition to the games, the NBA, the NBL and the Pelicans will conduct NBA Cares community outreach initiatives and lifestyle events leading up to and during the week of the games, including a Fan Night on Oct. 4. The NBA and NBL also plan to expand their grassroots basketball development efforts in Asia-Pacific at the youth and elite levels in the coming years, according to a joint statement.

Pelicans president Dennis Lauscha said, “This is an exciting moment for our organization and a testament to the growing global impact of the NBA. Bringing the Pelicans and NBA to Australia for the first time is a proud milestone, and we are thrilled to be part of this unique opportunity to engage with fans in Melbourne. We look forward to competing against two outstanding NBL teams and creating unforgettable memories for our fans. This is just the beginning of what we hope will be a lasting connection between the Pelicans and the basketball community in Australia.”

The NBL, comprised of nine teams from Australia and one from New Zealand, was founded in 1979 and is regarded as the world’s top domestic basketball league outside of the NBA.

Tickets for the games and surrounding events will go on sale at a later date. Fans can register their interest and gain access to presale information and more here.

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