Pelicans praise Australia for 'excellent' experience

Monday, October 6, 2025

New Orleans Pelicans' Joe Dumars gave Australia and the NBL a glowing review after his side's historic tour.

The positive feedback from the historic NBAxNBL Melbourne Series continues to flood in.

This time from New Orleans Pelicans' Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, Joe Dumars, whose side defeated both Melbourne United and the South East Melbourne Phoenix at Rod Laver Arena during their time in Australia.

“I’ve done a lot of travelling with the NBA to Abu Dhabi and all the [NBA’s] Global Games and Australia has done an excellent job of putting this on for us," Dumars said.

Dumars, a two-time NBA champion as a player with the Detroit Pistons, wasn’t alone in his praise for Australia, with Pelicans sideline reporter Andrew Lopez saying the club will return home with a positive message for the rest of the NBA about their experience in Australia, which saw more than 60,000 fans at Melbourne Park over the weekend.

“It’s been a very, very positive experience for everybody," Lopez said in an interview with CODE Sports.

"[It was] an amazing trip, we’ve been well looked after, and we wish it was longer.

“The NBA will be back, it’s just a matter of who, at this point.”

Read the full story here >> Pelicans crush Phoenix 127-92 in Melbourne exhibition clash