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Jazz, Thunder, Suns to square off against Australian league teams in preseason

By Travis Schlepp

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 23: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz celebrates a late three-point basket as the Jazz beat the Los Angeles Clippers 105-98 in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 23, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 23: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz celebrates a late three-point basket as the Jazz beat the Los Angeles Clippers 105-98 in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 23, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /
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Three of the NBA’s Western Conference teams will face off against some of the top clubs from the Australian basketball league in a historic preseason series.

The National Basketball Association and Australia-based National Basketball League (NBL) announced the big news on Monday after cryptically teasing the announcement throughout the day on Twitter.

The NBA has faced off against international clubs in past preseasons, but this a first for the two leagues.

Opening the intercontinental series is a matchup between the NBL’s Sydney Kings and the NBA’s Utah Jazz. The series will feature two Aussies for the Jazz as Joe Ingles and Dante Exum both come from the ‘Land Down Under.’ Ingles himself spent his early professional career playing for the now-defunct South Dragons.

If that matchup goes anything like Monday’s slam dunk contest, the Jazz might be in trouble.

The Kings-Jazz game tips off on Oct. 2 at the Jazz home court Vivint Smart Home Arena.

Just a few days later, Melbourne United will travel to Oklahoma City to test their mettle against reigning MVP Russell Westbrook and his new best friend Paul George. The Thunder also employ a Kiwi in 7-footer Steven Adams, so there’s Trans-Tasman bad blood. Probably.

United and Thunder square off on Oct. 8 in the Thunder’s home arena.

Wrapping up the historic preseason series is a battle between the Brisbane Bullets and the Phoenix Suns. The Bullets will have to game plan for the explosive offense of young Devin Booker (and maybe Kyrie Irving if you believe the Twitter noise).

Phoenix will host the Bullets on Oct. 13 at the Talking Stick Resort Arena.

The announcement was met with much fanfare on Twitter. Australian National Team star and current Milwaukee Bucks guard Matthew Dellavedova congratulated the two leagues and asked a question that was surely on many people’s minds.

https://twitter.com/matthewdelly/status/892195724221337601

The contest between the two nations lends legitimacy to a growing Australian league and gives NBA players the chance to play against exotic competition.

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Regardless of the score, it’s nice to see the NBA embrace smaller leagues and continue to grow the sport we all love.

Let’s see what you got, Australia. Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi!

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