Just months after an NBA team played on Australian soil for the first time, with the New Orleans Pelicans suiting up in Melbourne, a fresh wave of current and former stars is set to arrive in the sporting capital to celebrate the 2026 NBA Playoffs at the inaugural NBA House.
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Headlining the event is four-time All-Star DeMarcus Cousins and two-time All-Star and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr., now with the Utah Jazz.
It will be the first time NBA House, an immersive basketball experience and fan event, will be held in Australia.
The event will take place at The Timber Yard in Port Melbourne from Thursday, May 14 to Sunday, May 17, bringing the atmosphere of the playoffs to a local stage.
Jackson Jr., the No. 4 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft who spent eight seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies before his move to Utah, said he is eager to connect with Australian fans.
“I’m excited to be part of the first NBA House in Australia,” he said.
“I know Australian fans are some of the most passionate in the world, and I look forward to celebrating the excitement of the NBA Playoffs with them.”
The four-day event will feature a packed schedule across a 6,000-square-metre space, including a 3-on-3 celebrity game, meet-and-greets with Cousins and Jackson Jr., streetwear showcases and photo opportunities with the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Entertainment will also include appearances from the Sacramento Kings mascot Slamson, the Kings Dancers and the Kings dunk team.
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Cousins, the former No. 5 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, played close to 700 games in the league, including a standout stretch with the Sacramento Kings, and said he is looking forward to the visit.
“Basketball has taken me all over the world, and I’m thankful it’s now given me the opportunity to visit Melbourne for NBA House,” he said.
“I can’t wait to meet Australian fans and experience the NBA Playoffs together.”
NBA House Australia will take place from May 14-17 at The Timber Yard in Port Melbourne.
Alongside the excitement surrounding NBA House, the NBA Rising Stars Invitational is set to return, with a new qualifying tournament heading to Melbourne ahead of the main event.
The Rising Stars Invitational will take place in Singapore from June 22 to 28, featuring 12 boys’ and 12 girls’ teams (under 18) from across the Asia-Pacific region.
For Australian fans, Melbourne has been selected as one of four qualifying cities, alongside Bangkok, Taipei and Tokyo.
With support from Basketball Australia, eight local boys’ and girls’ high school teams will compete for a place on the international stage.
The qualifiers will run from Friday, May 8 to Sunday, May 10 at the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South, Melbourne, with the results determining which school teams will represent Australia at the second NBA Rising Stars Invitational in Singapore.
Two-time WNBA champion Lauren Jackson will headline the event.
The Australian qualifiers will also be streamed live on the NBA Rising Stars Invitational YouTube channel.