Australian grassroots basketball continues to make strides, with the announcement of the NBA Rising Stars Invitational Australia Qualifiers.
The NBA, in partnership with grassroots hoops organisation Basketball Magic, will host the first NBA Rising Stars Invitational Australia Qualifiers in Melbourne from Friday, May 8, to Sunday, May 10, at the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South.
Two-time WNBA champion, three-time Most Valuable Player of the Year, and five-time Olympic medallist Lauren Jackson will headline the tournament, which will determine the boys’ and girls’ high school teams that will represent Australia at the second annual NBA Rising Stars Invitational in Singapore, to be hosted in June 2026.
“Being part of the inaugural NBA Rising Stars Invitational in Singapore was an unforgettable experience,” Jackson said.
“It’s incredible to witness how much the game has grown throughout the region, and new initiatives such as the Australia Qualifiers will provide high-school players with invaluable exposure. I look forward to seeing the next generation of Australian players in action.”
The Australia Qualifiers will feature eight boys’ teams and eight girls’ teams from across the country, identified in collaboration with Basketball Australia.
Across three days, the tournament will feature pool games on Friday, May 8, and a single-elimination tournament on Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10, with the winners going on to compete at the 2026 NBA Rising Stars Invitational.
NBA
“Australia has an established basketball ecosystem that consistently produces premier talent at every level of the game,” NBA Asia Head of Strategy Rajah Chaudhry said.
“In collaboration with Basketball Magic and Basketball Australia, the first Australia Qualifiers will showcase the nation’s top high-school basketball programs, creating a direct pathway for standout boys’ and girls’ teams to experience the NBA Rising Stars Invitational in Singapore this June.”
The NBA Rising Stars Invitational Australia Qualifiers will be livestreamed on the NBA Rising Stars Invitational YouTube page.