Zion Williamson leads New Orleans Pelicans to victory over Melbourne United

Such absurdity would have been passed off as a joke — much like the state of the NBL before Larry Kestelman’s audacious rescue first revived, then rebuilt, then rocketed the near-dead Aussie league to a level only a select few could have envisioned.

And so, after years of high-level talks, weeks of build up and two whirlwind days of on-the-ground fanfare, the New Orleans Pelicans’ history-making turn as the first NBA team to play a game on Australian soil was one for the dreamers.

You know, the kids bounced around the uneven pavers in the backyard emulating Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant or Kevn Garnett — courtside on Friday night and feeling the love from an appreciative Rod Laver Arena crowd.

Those dreams are now a triumphant reality after Zion Williamson and company put on a show — in the face of a plucky Melbourne United group who punched well above its pay grade in a 107-97 showstopper.

Those in attendance will look back and remember not-quite-as-big-Z, all A$300 million worth, trampling down the floor like a rampaging rhino and launching like an eagle to catch an alley-oop and throw it down with the magnitude of the 7.2 richter Las Vegas earthquake that prematurely ended his 2019 NBA Summer League debut.

They’ll talk about exquisitely-skilled former Golden State Warriors NBA champion Jordan Poole’s first action as a Pelican.

They’ll marvel at Trey Murphy III snaking his way all over the court and getting buckets like a training drill on his way to a Pelicans’-high 18 points.

They’ll be able to say they were there to see baby-faced teen lottery pick Jeremiah Fears’ first official action as a professional basketballer — particularly if he develops into the superstar many predict.

For the ‘I-only-follow-the-NBA’ crowd, they’ll remember this when they’re chasing tickets to their first NBL game,

Those who’d long-drifted away from the Aussie league — and there are many — will be able to say ‘that was the moment I fell back in love with the NBL’.

Oh, and we’ll all be able to say we bore witness to 17-year-old Next Star prodigy Dash Daniels’ test run against the level of talent he’s destined to face on the regular as a projected NBA draft lottery pick.

Daniels is already playing a key role for United and he was right at home at the level, finishing with 11 points, 6 rebounds — and just one turnover — trusted by coach Dean Vickerman to close late.

While it was New Orleans’ first real hitout of the 2025-26 pre-season, well-organised United’s entertaining, efficient display ensured fans were on the edge of their seats all night.

The Pels — albeit far superior in talent — looked like a team just beginning its journey together, as United operated with the precision of an outfit that’s begun its new season with three straight wins.

Veteran Tassie transfer Milton Doyle continued his sterling start to life at United, splashing an all-net trey to get his night underway and looking every-bit the NBA player in pacing his team with a game-high 25 points.

If United can maintain this level of play throughout NBL26, it’s going to be a long year for the rest of the NBL.

As for the entertainment value, celebs and sports stars lined the sidelines, Garnett joined by former teammate Ray Allen and a gaggle of AFL players.

Crooner-slash-actor Harry Connick Jr’s face might have turned to stone if he cracked a hint of a smile as the jumbotron lingered on him a little too long. He made up for it later on with a double ridgy-didge do-over.

It’s been a while since Tones and I Dance Monkey-ed her way into the world’s ear sockets but the local favourite and long-time Melbourne United fan thrilled the bumper crowd at the main break.

The roars of ‘we want Zion’ erupted late, but there should be some satisfaction the star of the show went all out for 15 minutes and scored as many points

For the OG hoops fan, the atmosphere inside Rod Laver was not unlike that of a traditional mid-1990s Melbourne Tigers v South East Melbourne Magic clash.

Think Andrew Gaze and Lanard Copeland v Sam Mackinnon, Bruce Bolden and Bear Ronaldson, Messrs Lindsay Gaze and Brian Goorjian patrolling the respective sidelines in front of 15,000.

Any kid who rolled into ‘Flinders Park’ with mum and dad knows exactly what I’m talking about. You might have even been lucky enough to go behind the scenes at the VIP pre-or-post-game functions in the depths of Melbourne Park, where the hot pockets were abundant and an Andrew Parkinson or Ray Gordon would captivate with a story or two.

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They were once the halcyon days of the sport in Australia, fuelled by the phenomenon of Michael Jordan.

The halcyon days are back — and then some.

And, with a sold-out fan night back at RLA tomorrow night, it’ll be over to the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Sunday to fly the NBL flag and close out one of the most important events in the past, present and future of Australian basketball.