Revealed: NBL's bid to lure Josh Giddey's Bulls to Aus

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The NBL’s bid to lure Josh Giddey’s Chicago Bulls to Australia has ramped up, with league boss Larry Kestelman flying to America to continue talks, reports Matt Logue and Michael Randall from Code Sports.

Code Sports revealed Kestelman is currently on an annual US tour to visit NBA HQ in New York and multiple clubs alongside the competition’s Chief Operating officer, Vince Crivelli. The pair were in Chicago on Wednesday to watch Giddey’s Bulls lose a close game to defending NBA champions the OKC Thunder.

Kestelman and Crivelli’s trip aims to meet with NBA club officials to further strengthen respected connections and plant seeds for future projects. The NBL has bold plans for more NBA teams to play games Down Under.

Code Sports revealed last March, preliminary discussions are underway with half a dozen NBA clubs about the prospect of coming to Australia, including the Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks.

On the back of securing the New Orleans Pelicans to play against United and the Phoenix last September – the first NBA game on Aussie soil – moves are being made to ensure the historic fixture isn’t a one off.

Chicago and Atlanta would attract enormous interest given the presence of Australian stars Giddey and Daniels. The NBL is also keen to lure NBA teams to Australia with a strong NBL Next Star connection.

The likes of LaMelo Ball (Charlotte), Alex Sarr (Washington), and Rocco Zikarsky (Minnesota) would all be appealing options. The NBL is constantly looking to build on its partnership with the NBA and find ways to capitalise on Australia’s links to the world’s best basketball league.

NBL CEO Dave Stevenson will also travel to America in April to meet with NBA clubs and officials.

For the full story on Code Sports Basketball, click here.