WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, Josh Giddey and Chicago Bulls on wish list, as NBL completes slam dunk for Australian basketball

“It would be great to have them here,” Kestelman said.

Clark was drafted with the first overall pick less than a year ago and is already arguably the WNBA’s biggest name following a record-breaking rookie season. Her Fever topped the league’s attendance figures after consistently selling out games both at home and on the road, and 15,000 tickets for her return to Iowa – where she made her name in the college game – sold out in just 40 minutes for Indiana’s pre-season game against the Brazilian national team.

In April last year, Clark signed a $US28 million-dollar deal over eight years with Nike but earnt just $US76,000 ($120,000) from her rookie WNBA contract with the Fever – highlighting the pay disparity within the sport.

A broadcast deal for this year’s men’s pre-season games has yet to be brokered, with ESPN firmly in the mix.

“This will be a celebration of everything basketball is in this country,” Kestelman said.

Kestelman, who has been involved in the NBL for almost 20 years, has long pursued an NBA game here, although logistics make it difficult for two American teams to tour at once. If two teams were to tour, Kestelman said games against NBL clubs would remain.

The Pelicans’ executive vice-president of basketball operations David Griffin, who took in United training on Monday and was impressed by emerging star Dash Daniels – Dyson’s younger brother – has a long-standing relationship with Kestelman.

Griffin said New Orleans’ full playing roster, including former No.1 pick Zion Williamson, will make the trip to Australia, although that roster could change considerably as the Pelicans have had a miserable campaign, and will be active in the trade and draft periods.

He said Australia’s basketball pedigree made the country a natural fit for pre-season games, recalling his time watching both the Boomers and Opals at the Olympics – in particular the likes of Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Michelle Timms and Rachael Sporn – and Matthew Dellavedova’s voracious defence on Steph Curry in the 2015 NBA Finals.

Whether Dellavedova, now the United point guard, lines up against the Pelicans remains to be seen, given he is off contract, and has been linked to a shift to the Phoenix or Sydney Kings.

United chief executive Nick Truelson said on Tuesday a decision on Dellavedova’s future will be made once the grand-final series against Illawarra concludes. United claimed game one, with game two at John Cain Arena on Wednesday night.

Giddey scored a season-high 29 points to go with 10 rebounds as his Bulls recorded a 121-103 win over the Pacers on Tuesday (AEDT).

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