An NBA team coming Down Under is the start of something special, writes NBL legend Jason Cadee

I was lucky enough to be part of a Sydney Kings team who were first cab off the rank when it came to NBLxNBA games in 2017, when we faced a Utah Jazz team featuring the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Australia’s own Joe Ingles and Rudy Gobert.

And what an opportunity it was, it’s definitely something you look back on at the end of your career and pinch yourself about.

Just being in that environment was incredible, and a lot of people probably look at NBA pre-season games and see small crowds and think it was like that, but it wasn’t at all. Utah just love basketball and I remember there being around 15,000 to 16,000 people at the game.

Jason Cadee #5 of the Sydney Kings brings the ball up court against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 2, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo: Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images

We just got off to a terrible start but from about quarter time onwards, we actually competed very well – other than losing that quarter we were around the mark.

It’s a completely different challenge when you’re competing against a superstar like Donovan Mitchell and at that time Joe (Ingles) was at his peak and then during the games you felt like you created some opportunities offensively but then you had the daunting task of meeting Rudy Gobert in the keyway. Not an easy task when you have to go up against one of the best rim protectors in NBA history.

Anyway, it was an amazing and a different experience and something I’ll remember forever.

However I think an NBA team like the New Orleans Pelicans coming to Australia is on a complete other level as far as the impact it’ll have on the NBL and on Australian basketball.

I don’t necessarily think people realise how big this is.

Just the fact that we have an NBA team here playing in Melbourne, it’s created an incredible atmosphere and buzz around town as well as on the court. Around 10 to 15 years ago, you could never ever imagine, in your wildest dreams imagine seeing an NBA team playing on an Australian court. It’s extremely cool to see.

I think the biggest thing is that NBA teams use these games a real lead-up for their season. Why? Because it’s not like the NBL where you have a six or eight week preseason, they don’t have a lot of time. They have a training camp, they go and play a few games and they’re off and running as far as their season goes.

The fact that, not only are they here, but that they’re taking it seriously means a lot and makes it more significant that we have them here in Australia.

A photo of the fans during the New Orleans Pelicans against Melbourne United game during a preseason game on October 3, 2025 at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images

On top of that, we have New Orleans here and one of the biggest superstars in the game in Zion Williamson, and that’s despite the injury troubles he’s had so far in his career. We’ve seen the way Zion has transformed himself in the offseason, he looks fit and healthy, and to be the first place he plays in this type of shape is huge for us in Australia and the NBL.

Some of those calibre guys, just seeing them in person is something that you can’t really understand through a TV until you see them on the floor.

I personally, went to the game last night and couldn’t believe how cool it was to see our NBL teams on the floor competing with the New Orleans Pelicans, it’s just special. I think this is a sign of the support that basketball has in this country, not only for our own but for the NBA and the bigger picture as well.

Hopefully this is just the start of something we start to see more and more of as far as NBA teams coming here. I definitely think it is.

Jason Cadee is a columnist and contributor for basketball.com.au and host of the Cut to the Jase podcast. He played 15 years and 424 games in the NBL and won a Commonwealth Games and FIBA Asia Cup gold medal with the Boomers.