Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament: How to watch & talking points

Melbourne will host a slice of basketball history on Thursday night when the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament tips off for the very first time outside of Europe.

Panathinaikos B.C. and KK Partizan bring their fierce rivalry to John Cain Arena, setting the stage for a showcase of EuroLeague power against Australia's elite.

The schedule

Thursday, September 198 @ John Cain Arena
7:30pm: Panathinaikos BC AKTOR vs KK Partizan

Sunday, September 21 @ Qudos Bank Arena
4:30pm: KK Partizan vs Sydney Kings
7:00pm: Panathinaikos BC AKTOR vs Adelaide 36ers

Tickets

Tickets for Thursday night's Series Opener are completely sold out.

Limited tickets remain for Sunday's double-header at Qudos Bank Arena, but are selling fast.

>> CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

How to watch

Live on Fox Sports 505, Kayo and Disney+

History

This is the seventh edition of the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament, but the first time it’s been held outside of Europe. Last year the matchup saw a record 42,000 fans attend in the original Olympic Arena in Athens, creating history as one of the most unique and special atmospheres ever seen.

Founded in 1919, Panathinaikos are the current EuroLeague champions, have won that title seven times, and are 40-time Greek champions.

Founded in 1945, KK Partizan have won 49 trophies and are the holders of 21 national champion titles.

Players to watch

Kendrick Nunn (Panathinaikos)
Nunn has been simply incredible since moving to Europe in 2023 from his NBA career. His play has been rewarded with a EuroLeague MVP, two All-EuroLeague First Team appearances and a championship.

Jabari Parker (Partizan)
Parker has joined Partizan after leaving Barcelona, where he had a standout season averaging almost 14 points and 4 rebounds. The former second pick in the 2014 NBA Draft has found a home in Europe and joins his new club on the hunt for a EuroLeague title.

Juancho Hernangomez (Panathinaikos)
The Spanish forward made a European return in 2023 when he signed with Panathinaikos on a multi-year deal. In the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs, he was a standout in Game 1 and named MVP against Anadolu Efes.

Shake Milton (Partizan)
After being waived from the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this year, dynamic guard Shake Milton joined Partizan on a two-year deal. The 28-year-old was a second-round pick back in 2018 and looks to have a standout debut season in Europe.

What to watch

Bryce Cotton’s first game in an Adelaide 36ers jersey (on Sunday) and fans will get to see the five-time MVP doing what he does best. It’s an iconic match-up for Cotton going up against Nunn, as two MVP’s of their respective leagues go head-to-head.

Kendric Davis is one of the most exciting guards in the NBL and will be looking to show Kings fans that he’s picking up where he left off last season. Shake Milton will be on the other side looking to show Partizan fans that he’s the real deal in the European game.

What they said

Nunn: “I’ve seen him (Cotton), he is a good player, very explosive… killing it over there for many years and I’m excited to play against him for sure.”
Code Sports

Parker: “It will be an amazing experience, I’m especially looking forward to it, my mom is from that part of the world, so it will be nice to return to a partially familiar environment.” - Basketball Sphere

Vasiljevic: “It’s great to be part of something exciting and see where we stack up against EuroLeague players.”