Around 12 months ago, there was a genuine prospect of LeBron James coming to Australia and playing basketball.
The exhibition matches between the Boomers and the USA had local basketball fans giddy when the man himself and other of the NBA’s best were a possibility of coming to Melbourne to play.
Tickets were expensive – well, expensive to a normal person – but they were still snapped up. Flights, accommodation fully booked for the weekend. The thing is, it was only a possibility.
LeBron soon announced that he wouldn’t be coming to Australia due to prior commitments – and if you believe the Twitterverse, those commitments are filming the highly anticipated Space Jam 2. Many were disappointed, but other stars were in.
And then they weren’t.
Even Ben Simmons was in, then out, then in again.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Lonzo Ball, left, in action against 76ers’ player Ben Simmons. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
NBA number 1 draft pick Zion Williamson is the latest to withdraw.
The matches were losing their sparkle and fans losing their patience, with some suggesting that if the players pull out after promoters advertised that the biggest names in world basketball would feature, then full refunds should be offered.
As for who will be there? We’re talking 20 current NBA players, some Australian basketball stalwarts and past NBA champions, including players who are the stars of their team such as Damian Lillard and Kemba Walker.
It’s still a game worth watching.
I’m a little young to remember Michael Jordan’s talent and influence on the game, so I see LeBron as my Jordan. And for a lot of kids attending, these future stars are their LeBron.
We may not get to see the current superstars of the NBA next month, but the future will be there. Slam dunk champion Donovan Mitchell, Celtics prodigy Jayson Tatum, Lakers man Kyle Kuzma and our very own Ben Simmons.
While I will never be able to tell my grandkids that I saw LeBron James play in Australia, I may get to tell them about a ‘future LeBron’ which may be more relevant and exciting to them.
If you were lucky enough to get tickets, go to the game, witness history in the capacity the opportunity presents, and go the Boomers!
lapsedcyclist
Roar Rookie
What this pointless five game series is basically a revenue raiser for the promoter. (World Ranking in brackets) Two games versus Team USA. (1) Two games versus Team Canada. (23) One game versus Tall Blacks. (38) Boomers (11) (Quarter-finalists at 1994 FIBA World Cup & 5th position overall) vs the might of Team USA (1), I expect two 20-30 point defeats. This series comes 25 years after Australia's peak performance at a World Championship. A five game tournament versus (Lithuania (6), Slovenia (7), Russia (10), Brazil (12) & Philippines (31) would have provided a better preparation.
Ray
Guest
How do we know it wasn't the plan all along just to get us to buy tickets at inflated prices. If not offered money back the tickets should be discounted heavily. Stars were always going to pull out... but every single one of them? False Advertising.
astro
Roar Rookie
I think anyone who follows the league must have known there was a very good chance the Team USA coming to Oz wouldn't be Lebron, Davis, Leonard, Curry etc...This happens every World Cup year...the top-line players take the rest, the younger players step in. As a great example of what you're talking about in this article, look at Team USA in 2010. None of the players in the 2008 Olympics elected to play in 2010 World Cup. Some of the players who did? A few 21yr olds named Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose and Kevin Love. And Steph Curry at 22ys old.