BOGUT TO HEADLINE BLOCKBUSTER OPENING TO NBL SEASON
Andrew Bogut will make his debut for the Sydney Kings against the Adelaide 36ers at Qudos Bank Arena in the opening round of the 2018-19 Hungry Jack’s NBL Season.
The Kings will kick off their campaign against the last year’s runners up on Saturday October 13in a blockbuster seven game opening round of the new season.
It’s one of a number of highlights of the schedule for the 2018-19 season released today. These include:
The first ever Melbourne Cup eve clash between the Sydney Kings and Melbourne United at Hisense Arena on Monday November 5
An open air game between last season’s Grand Finalists Melbourne and Adelaide at Hisense Arena on Boxing Day
Two New Year’s games with the Illawarra Hawks to play Brisbane Bullets at the WIN Entertainment Centre and Cairns Taipans hosting the Perth Wildcats at Cairns Convention Centre
Eight games across the Australia Day weekend including Sydney to host Perth at Qudos Bank Arena on January 27 and Adelaide to host Melbourne on January 28
New Zealand to host four regional games
An increase in the number of Sunday games from 32 to 35 in a win for families
The season to start a week later on October 11 to accommodate seven games featuring five NBL teams in the NBA Preseason
Reigning NBL Champions Melbourne United will open their title defence against the Illawarra Hawks at WIN Entertainment Centre on Friday October 12 followed by the New Zealand Breakers at Hisense Arena on Sunday October 14.
The new look Brisbane Bullets will play Cairns Taipans in the Queensland derby, Perth and Adelaide will renew their fierce rivalry at Titanium Security Arena and Illawarra will play Perth to complete the opening round.
NBL Chief Executive Jeremy Loeliger said the league hoped to break the all-time attendance record for an opening round of 48,007 set back in 1995.
“With Andrew Bogut returning and a free agency period which saw a number of players move teams we are confident we will break the record,” he said.
Bogut, who signed a two-year agreement with the Kings after a stellar 13-year career in the NBA, will also feature in the first ever Melbourne Cup eve game between Melbourne and Sydney at Hisense Arena on Monday November 5.
“This game is set to ignite the rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney and should be another sell-out after a season of record attendances across the league last season,” Loeliger said.
“This is a very exciting time for the NBL and Australian basketball. The game is enjoying enormous momentum and we think the NBL is the second best league in the world after the NBA.
“We are committed to offering a world class entertainment product fans can enjoy whether they are watching in stadium or on broadcast.”
There will again be two breaks between November 26 and December 4 and February 18 and 26while the Australian Boomers take part in the FIBA World Cup qualifying games. Tip off times for all games will be released at a later date.
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