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Joe Ingles -- a five-time Olympian and 12-year NBA veteran -- plans to join Melbourne United ahead of the 2026-27 NBL season, multiple sources told ESPN. Ingles is currently in the midst of an NBA playoffs campaign with the Minnesota Timberwolves; once his season is complete, there's an expectation that the 38-year-old will finalise a deal with United in Australia's NBL.
Joe Ingles has interest in returning to the NBL, and the growing sentiment is that he's keeping a close eye on both Melbourne teams. Ingles has spoken with both United and the South East Melbourne Phoenix, while the Adelaide 36ers appear to be the most proactive team chasing the five-time Olympian. Ingles is in his 12th season in the NBA, currently playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Dash Daniels is eyeing a move away from United, and the South East Melbourne Phoenix have emerged as the favourite to land the Next Star. The 18-year-old is one of Australia's budding NBA prospects and the younger brother of Dyson Daniels; he averaged 4.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game for United. The Victorian has met with the Phoenix, and the expectation is they're the frontrunner to add him to their program.
La Laguna Tenerife has secured the services of Australian international point guard Patty Mills until the end of the season, adding a player with an extensive and successful career both in international FIBA basketball and in the NBA. Mills arrives in the Canary Islands after a remarkable journey in the world’s top basketball league, where he played a total of 1,020 games — 921 in the regular season and 99 in the playoffs — across seven different NBA franchises.
We're told after Allen Iverson walked out, that there was a change of heart and he did sign some people's merch, but not everyone's. And so Eli's sister Jada took to social media to express her disappointment in a post that's gone viral. “I just thought it was really not fair on the kids. You know, maybe he might be having a bad day, but those kids are having a bad time, like they're going through cancer.“
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A viral Reddit post has detailed an unpleasant experience involving NBA legend Allen Iverson, with Challenge CEO stating he “let down children and families” during a meet-and-greet in Melbourne last week. The post, shared by user Fit-Tourist2852 on r/NBA - a subreddit with more than 17 million members - described an interaction with Iverson at an event hosted by Cavalo Prestige in Melbourne on Thursday, January 22. “Allen Iverson came to Cavalo Prestige Melbourne to meet 12 kids who are battling cancer,” the post read. “My little brother, who is 12 years old and currently receiving chemotherapy for ALCL lymphoma, was so excited to meet one of his idols. He came out extremely disgusted and disappointed in Allen Iverson’s behaviour - and so were the other families.”
“We were all told we would get to sit with him from 10:45 to 11:30am, and that did not happen,” the post stated. “We were waiting in a downstairs room with his security and all of the kids, and his security told us he was ‘having a bad day’ and didn’t want to come out.” The user also alleged parents were not allowed to be in the room during the interaction, before families were eventually escorted upstairs while Iverson completed a media interview. Families were reportedly promised signed basketballs, jerseys and an opportunity to ask questions - none of which occurred. “After waiting hours, his security firmly told us he is not signing anything at all,” the post continued. “We did not get to talk to him, and he did not say a word to anyone.”
Andrew Bogut: Absolute shit human. No excuses for this. If anyone knows this family pls reach out.
Fox Sports Australia spoke with Challenge CEO David Rogers, who provided a statement on the organisation’s experience. “Challenge was deeply disappointed with the meet and greet involving Allen Iverson,” Rogers said. “There was nothing further we could have done as an organisation to improve the experience and, despite working diligently on the day to manage a challenging and at times disrespectful approach from his management team, we believe Allen Iverson ultimately let down the children and families who came to meet him.”
This incident comes to light just days after NBL legend Chris Anstey publicly expressed his disappointment following Allen Iverson’s failure to appear at a CreativeCubes.Co event in Melbourne on Friday, January 23. The free event was promoted as a guest speaking appearance by Iverson, with fans travelling interstate to attend the Melbourne-based function. However, more than two hours after the scheduled start time, Iverson cancelled his appearance. “So here in Melbourne for an Allen Iverson event - a really good-looking event up on the roof at CreativeCubes.Co, one of the South East Melbourne Phoenix sponsors,” Anstey said on social media. “Some great sponsors involved, people flying in from Sydney and coming from everywhere. Only one problem - Iverson didn’t turn up.”
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The NBL itself has also reportedly been affected by what appears to be poor management by Iverson and his promoters. Reports by CODE Sports suggest Iverson was not fully co-operative with the league during HoopsFest in Perth. Iverson and his team were already planning an Australian tour, which the NBL looked to leverage by having the NBA legend promote HoopsFest. The partnership was announced in late November last year, but recent events suggest that even the league has not been immune to Iverson’s apparent lack of professionalism.
Andrew Bogut: Hopefully the @NBL learns from jumping on any big name that comes to Australia for a cash grab. This is not the first time.
"I landed Thursday afternoon before the game, and by the time I’d landed, I’d already heard how difficult he was being and how much of a sh*t show it was, heard how difficult he was. The staff barely spoke. First interview, they asked him how Australia was or something, and he just laughed — said, “I haven’t left my room.” Just things where I’m like, why would you come if you’re going to be like this? So first of all, he’s already come over, he’s in Perth. He’s probably never flown that far — but he’s late to things. He showed up to a couple of games for maybe 10 minutes, then just upped and left. Larry Kestelman, who’s in the building — he’s a billionaire — they have to do, the NBL almost from what I witnessed, basically sort out an agreement just to get a photo with Larry Kestelman. And I’m guessing Larry’s paying something for him to be there."