The New Orleans Pelicans squared off against Australian NBL outfit Melbourne United on Friday night, becoming the first NBA franchise to play a game down under.
The Pelicans arrived in the nation’s sporting capital earlier this week to complete an exhibition 2-game series against NBL powerhouses Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix.
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They broke new ground in doing so, and both leagues hope this is a sign of things to come.
Green’s endorsementÂ
As Willie Green walked off the court following the final buzzer and made his way to the media room to speak to Basketball Network and various other major sporting outlets, he began his press conference with a statement expressing his gratitude to both Australia and the NBA for allowing him and his team to be a part of history.
“First of all, we are extremely grateful to have the opportunity here in this country, to see the excitement from the fans. It was a really competitive game tonight and our guys are really enjoying this trip,” he said.
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Pelicans reign supremeÂ
History aside, it was a great night for Green’s men, who prevailed 107-97 in a highly competitive contest in front of 14,800 fans at a sold-out Rod Laver Arena.
With two minutes remaining, United had cut the deficit to just four points. Green resisted the urge to insert Zion Williamson and the rest of his starters back into the game, even against the crowd’s very public wishes.
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Chants of “we want Zion” chorused throughout the arena in the final moments. Still, his night had been over for a while, as he and the rest of the starting lineup exited the game midway through the third period.
It meant an extended run for others, including rookie Jeremiah Fears, who struggled to shoot the ball but looked lively offensively, and the rest of the box score filled out with Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson scoring 18 and 15 points respectively. In comparison, guard Jordan Poole had 11 points, four rebounds and four assists in the 10-point win.
All in all, it was a monumental night for the NBA, which continues to expand its global footprint.
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In a few years, we could look back on this evening as a key moment in time, when the NBA broke ground in a new geography that’s ready to welcome them back every preseason.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 4, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.